Family Fondue Dinner

My children love dip. The day our pediatrician recommended giving Lira ranch dip to encourage her to eat her vegetables truly changed our lives.

Recently, I was thinking about how much I love The Melting Pot… even though I have only been once in my life and it was almost ten years ago. Fond memories. But, then it occurred to me that my children’s love for dip and my affection for fondue might be a match made in heaven.

So, I am planning a family fondue night. Since we do not have a fondue pot, I will prepare the fondue on the stove and then pour it into a microwave safe bowl. That way, if I need to reheat it, I can. We have soup/salad bowls which are large but shallow to avoid tipping and spilling. I plan to have more than one bowl on the table so the children can have one within reach.

As for forks, I think regular dinner forks will work the best since fondue forks can be difficult for little fingers, not to mention the sharp prongs. You could also use bamboo skewers but the food will probably slide off. Nothing will make a child more frustrated than a growling tummy and a tasty morsel that will not stay on the fork.

Family Fondue Main Course

Cheese Fondue with the following dippers:

•  Chicken, cooked and cubed
•  French bread, cubed
•  Carrot sticks
•  Broccoli florets
•  Cherry tomatoes
•  Cucumber slices

I will also have ranch dipping sauce and ketchup available.

You could also serve:

•  Cooked ravioli or tortellini
•  Boiled potato, cubed
•  Pretzel sticks
•  Breadsticks
•  Cooked beef, cubed
•  Ham, cubed
•  Brussel Sprouts, steamed
•  Pearl onions
•  Asparagus
•  Artichoke hearts
•  Tortilla chips

For Dessert

Chocolate Fondue with the following dippers:

• Pineapple chunks
•  Strawberries, halved
•  Orange slices
•  Graham crackers
•  Marshmallows
•  Rice Krispie(r) treats, cubed

You could also use:

• Pound cake, cubed
•  Brownies, cubed
•  Banana slices
•  Cantaloupe, cubed
•  Apple slices
•  Grapes
•  Pear slices
•  Orange sections
•  Cookies
•  Cheesecake, cubed
•  Vanilla wafers

Have you had a family fondue night?