One Teaspoon From Disaster

Valentine's Day Supreme

• Posted February 11, 2006 2:33 AM
• 0 Comments

You haven't planned a thing for Valentine's Day and your loved one is not-so-secretly expecting something thoughtful, sweet and romantic.

Go buy her a nice fondue pot and after she unwraps it, put it to use for a wonderful Valentine's Day treat. (So you'll need to shop for the ingredients, too.)

The recipe for the best chocolate fondue I've ever tasted is below, along with a cheese fondue recipe that isn't too bad either. This little slice of white-chocolate heaven is simple to make, just be sure to melt the ingredients slowly on the stove top. (The cinnamon turns the fondue a tan color. You haven't done anything wrong!)

Also, after you've transferred the melted chocolate to the fondue pot, be sure to stir it often and adjust the flame below. Otherwise the sugar will scortch the bottom of the pot and be very difficult to scrub clean. Trust me.

Fresh fruit, like strawberries and bananas, are wonderful with this. Even better are cheesecake squares, brownie bites and chunks of glazed cake -- all in the grocery store bakery. For the cheese fondue, I suggest red and green apple slices and crusty bread pieces.

Be sure to pick up a bottle of wine and flowers while you're at the store.
Thoughtful, sweet, romantic: Mission accomplished.

White Chocolate Fondue
2 Tbsp. Triple Sec
½ C. coconut milk
9 ounces white chocolate, cut in pieces
1 Tbsp. coconut, grated
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
Simmer Triple Sec and coconut milk in a saucepan. Remove from heat and add chocolate. Stir until melted. Transfer to pre-heated fondue pot and add grated coconut and cinnamon. Stir and keep warm.

Italian Cheese Fondue
½ tsp. cornstarch
1 C. milk
18 ounces Fontina cheese (or 9 ounces Gruyere and 9 ounces Gouda)
Pepper
Salt
3 ½ Tbsp. unsalted butter
4 egg yolks
Grate cheese. Stir cornstarch in 1 Tbsp. of milk. Pour the rest of the milk in a saucepan or fondue pot and boil. Lower heat and add cheese. When cheese is melted, add cornstarch mixture and cook for two minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Beat egg yolks and add to mixture. Keep warm over fondue burner.