CHOCOLATE FONDUE (FAMILYFUN)

Steps:

• 1. Before melting the chocolate, prepare the fruit dippers. Wash and hull the strawberries (but leave them whole), slice the apples, peel and slice kiwis and peel and chop the pineapple (parents only). Cut the pound cake into cubes and leave the marshmallows whole. Arrange all the fruit, cake and marshmallows on a large platter. Squirt lemon juice on the apples and bananas to keep them from browning. Cover the platter and set it aside. 2. To prepare the fondue, ask your kids to break the chocolate squares into pieces and drop them into a saucepan. Add the light cream or half and half and melt over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is smooth. Add the vanilla extract and stir. 3. Transfer the chocolate sauce to a fondue pot (for little kids, you can pour the sauce into a small bowl or ramekin). Use a fondue fork to spear the fruit and sweets, then dip in the chocolate (use toothpicks if the kids are dipping into a small bowl). Serves 8 to 10. TIP: The addition of cream prevents the chocolate sauce from turning lumpy. The chef should stir the chocolate and cream together until smooth. BIG DIPPERS Choose your family's favorite fruits and sweets and design a colorful platter to serve with your pot of chocolate fondue. Here are some classic dippers: •Banana slices • Pineapple chunks • Whole strawberries • Apple slices • Kiwifruit • Star fruit • Pear slices • Orange sections • Pound cake pieces • Marshmallows • Shortbread fingers • Crusty French bread