Easy Entertaining

Kiss 2005 goodbye with fondue goodies

Sunday, December 25, 2005

Kristina Morgan and Deandra Brooks

Special to The Plain Dealer

Another year, another New Year's Eve. But this year, don't waste your time in line for a drink at an overcrowded hotel or bar party. Instead, host a decadent party at home.

Make it a party party by encouraging your guests to wear semiformal attire. Just because you're not going downtown doesn't mean you don't deserve the opportunity to buy a great new dress.

But otherwise, keep things simple for yourself. Start the party at 9 so that you can avoid the need to serve full dinner. Get right to the good stuff: desserts and, of course, Champagne or other sparkling white wine, the official drink of New Year's Eve.

Menu

Set out an array of fine desserts, some homemade and some store-bought. As a centerpiece, try these dessert fondues. More than just a snack, fondue is a great interactive activity and conversation starter. Plus, these recipes have been specially designed to have fewer calories than traditional fondues helping you get an early start on everyone's favorite New Year's resolution.

On a decorative platter near each fondue pot, arrange selections of the following dippers: pecan halves, pizzelles broken into fourths, Angel Food cake cubes and ½-inch Rice Krispie treat cubes. But don't forget your fruit! Apples pair best with the cinnamon sauce, and strawberries make a delightful treat when paired with the white chocolate mint sauce.

Cinnamon Candy Fondue in Red

Serves 10

2 Brach's cinnamon disc candies

2 cinnamon sticks

2/3 cup corn syrup

1 cup Splenda

½ cup granulated sugar

Red food coloring

In a saucepan, combine all the ingredients except the food coloring. Stir until Splenda and sugar dissolve. Heat until boiling and when candies dissolve. Use food coloring to color the dip to your liking. Transfer to a standard fondue pot for serving.

White Chocolate Mint Fondue

Serves 10

5 ounces good quality white chocolate

¾ cup whipping cream

1¼ teaspoons cornstarch

~ cup water

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

½ teaspoon mint extract

Melt the white chocolate and add to the other ingredients in a chocolate fondue pot. Slowly add green food coloring until desired color is achieved. Keep candle heat low to maintain a harder consistency.

Decorations

Keep all of your seasonal decorations where they are. Add strands of Christmas lights indoors to make the space sparkle. We suggest white only or single-color strands. Get them on sale this week, then hang in your party space. If you're dressed up, your stemware should be dressed up, too. Tie several strands of metallic curling ribbon to the stems of champagne flutes and curl. Party space a little bare? Place bunches of silver or gold balloons in the corners for an easy, festive makeover. Continue your sparkling theme and include festive luminaria in white or metallic for the walkway to the door.

Setting the mood

Set the mood with the dress code; think Dean and Sinatra when it comes to the tunes.

For a fun New Year's Eve activity, try a Resolution Board. Get a large piece of poster board and hang on a wall or lay on a table. Provide several gold or black fine-tip markers and invite guests to write down their resolutions. It's a great conversation tool -- plus next year, you can take it out to compare goals met with your guests.

The Society of Recovering Sorority Girls is an organization devoted to a life less ordinary. Check out more easy entertaining ideas at www.recoveringsororitygirls.com.