Drunken Chocolate Berry Fondue Food

DRUNKEN BERRIES

Steps:

• Combine the red wine, star anise, cinnamon stick, cloves, brown sugar and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. Strain into a medium bowl. Add the berries and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, 2 hours.
• To serve, spoon some of the berries and mulled wine into a coupe glass. Top with a scoop of frozen yogurt and garnish with some freshly grated cinnamon.

CHOCOLATE FONDUE

Steps:

• To make the sauce, in a small bowl, combine the chocolate and 1/2 cup milk or cream and melt gently in a barely simmering water bath or microwave on Medium (50 percent) power for about 2 minutes.
• Stir until smooth.
• Add more liquid if the sauce seems too thick or look curdled.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Use warm fondue immediately or set aside until needed and rewarm briefly.
• Have forks, skewers, or pretty (or goofy) swizzle sticks available for guests to dip with.
• If the fondue gets too thick or cool, reheat gently (without boiling) for 1 minute in the microwave on Medium (50percent) power or set in a pan of barely simmering water.
• Leftover sauce keeps several days in the refrigerator.
• It is a prefect topping for ice cream.
• Note: This is a versatile recipe that can be tailored to your taste and the type of chocolate you are using.
• For the most intense chocolate fondue, use milk, rather than half-and-half or cream, and omit the butter.
• For even greater intensity, choose a bittersweet chocolate labeled anywhere from 66 percent to 70 percent and use the greater amount of liquid called for.
• Butter or cream results in a softer, mellower chocolate flavor.
• Ideas for dipping: Kumquats or segments of seedless clementines, oranges, or ruby grapefruit- If possible, separate the citrus into segments without breaking the membrane.
• If you set the segments on a rack to dry in a warm place or in the oven, preheated to 200° F, then turned off for several hours, the membrane will dry like crisp paper and the juices will burst in your mouth when you take a bite.
• Chunks of pineapple Chunks of fresh coconut or large curls of dried coconut Chunks of banana Dried fruit such as apricot, mango, papaya, pineapple, or Bing cherries Strips of good-quality candied orange, grapefruit or lemon peel Cubes of pound cake or angel food cake, or toasted cubes of brioche or challah Cigarette cookies, fan wafers, graham crackers or digestive biscuits, or pretzels Marshmallows or meringues Toasted shaved almonds (to sprinkle on after dipping).

DRUNKEN WATERMELON

Steps:

• With a knife, shave off the stem end of the watermelon, just enough so that it sits flat. Cut the top off the watermelon, about 3 inches down. Scoop out half of the watermelon with a melon baller and set aside
• Scoop out remaining watermelon, leaving the rind-bowl. This will be your punch bowl. Transfer scooped out melon (not the melon balls) to a blender and puree; may be done in batches. Push watermelon puree through a strainer to remove pulp and any seeds. Return watermelon water to the watermelon punch bowl. Stir in tequila, triple sec, and melon balls. Top off with lemon-lime soda. Serve cold over ice.

DRUNKEN WATERMELON

Steps:

• With a knife, shave off the stem end of the watermelon, just enough so that it sits flat. Cut the top off the watermelon, about 3 inches down. Scoop out half of the watermelon with a melon baller and set aside
• Scoop out remaining watermelon, leaving the rind-bowl. This will be your punch bowl. Transfer scooped out melon (not the melon balls) to a blender and puree; may be done in batches. Push watermelon puree through a strainer to remove pulp and any seeds. Return watermelon water to the watermelon punch bowl. Stir in tequila, triple sec, and melon balls. Top off with lemon-lime soda. Serve cold over ice.

CHOCOLATE RIVER OVER DRUNKEN BERRIES

Steps:

• Soak berries in liqueur for 20 minutes.
• Melt chocolate with cream and salt over low heat until smooth and combined.
• Remove berries to 2 dessert bowls with slotted spoon. Drown drunken berries in chocolate river, top with mounds of whipped cream and garnish with orange zest and chocolate shavings.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY FONDUE

Steps:

• Break up chocolate bar and place into a medium bowl.
• Add cream and puree (or juice). Microwave on High for 1 1/2 minutes, stir, Microwave about 1 minute longer or until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is smooth.
• Stir in Chambord.
• Transfer chocolate to 6-8 individual ramekins, such as small souffle dishes.
• Arrange on plates with dippers.
• Serve with toothpicks or small forks.
• (Or set up in a fondue kit if you have one).