Peppermint Fondue Food

MINT FONDUE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine cornstarch and orange juice; stir until smooth. Add mint; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil and stir for 2 minutes. Strain; pour into a small fondue pot or chafing dish. Keep warm over low heat. Serve with fruit and cake for dipping.

SIMPLE CHOCOLATE FONDUE

Steps:

• Fill a medium-size pot 1/3 full with water and bring to a low boil. Once boiling, turn the heat to medium-low and place a metal mixing bowl on top of the pot. Pour the heavy cream into the bowl.
• If using whole chocolate, chop it into even, small pieces. It's easiest to do this with a serrated bread knife. Once the cream is warm, add the chocolate and whisk until smooth. Then, whisk in the peppermint extract or vanilla extract, depending which you prefer.
• Carefully transfer the melted chocolate mixture into a fondue pot. Light the flame underneath the pot to keep it warm.

PEPPERMINT FONDUE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt peppermint patties with milk, stirring frequently. Serve warm, using the cookies for dipping.

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).