Fondue {For Four}

Years ago (before kids) my husband took me to a fancy (and expensive) fondue restaurant to celebrate our anniversary.  It was delicious, and I loved it!  But, what stuck with me was that it was so easy to make!  I know this, because they prepared it right at our table, so I knew exactly how they did it!  The other thing that stuck with me was the price!  I had a hard time stomaching the fact that it cost nearly $100 for the two of us to dip apples and bread in cheese sauce.  I knew I could make it at home and for much, much less.  Ever since then, I've been doing just that!  It's actually become one of my family's most requested meals.  Who doesn't love cheese, right?  And my kids love the fact that they can dip their vegetables using those funny little forks.  If you've never made this at home, it should go on your "must make" list.  I promise, you won't be sorry!

Ingredients for Fondue:
2 cups of shredded Gruyere cheese
1 tbs of flour
1 cup of white wine
1/2 cup of chicken broth
1 tsp of garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place stoneware or casserole dish in oven to heat.  (If you have a fondue pot you can skip the stoneware/casserole dish and prepare the fondue pot according to instructions.)  On the stove top in a sauce pan over medium heat bring wine and chicken broth to a simmer.  In a bowl toss shredded cheese with flour.  When wine comes to a simmer slowly stir in the cheese.  Continue stirring until completely melted. Add seasoning.  When the dish in the oven has preheated (about 20 minutes) remove from oven and spray with non-stick spray.  Pour in cheese and place back in oven for 5 minutes, serve immediately.

Suggested dippers for fondue:
Bread
Diced green apple
Baby carrots, raw or steamed slightly
Broccoli, raw or steamed slightly
Cauliflower, raw or steamed slightly
Green Beans, raw or steamed slightly
Sausage (totally optional, but my husband likes meat at dinner)

I hope you'll give this a try!

P.S.
This would make a great Valentine's Day dinner!