[A TABLE FOR TWO] VALENTINE FONDUE DATE NIGHT
Love hurts. I’ve been in active labour twice on St.Valentine’s day, and given birth once on that date.
The arrival of my baby boys was of course amazing, but their birth dates – whilst very sweet – mean that any attempt at a Valentine gesture by either me or the mister is totally eclipsed by excited birthday celebrations.
I remember when we bought our first house. On February 14th, I was at home, sprinkling pink confetti hearts over the table and crafting a little menu for our dinner [I was 25]. That evening, as Nina Simone was playing, we danced around the huskies in the living room. It was all about us.
2016 is our 15th year together, 8th year of marriage, and 6th year of parenting. That translates to six years without anything more romantic than a trip to the Odeon to see Frankenweenie [which I loved, don’t get me wrong].
Fairy Godmother nowhere in sight, this Valentine’s Day I’m taking matters into my own hands. In a very un-me-like move, I’ve been organised. I bought Valentine presents for the mister that I know he will LOVE – and I’m going to cook. Yes, cook. Well, sort of. I’m fondue-ing. I’m sure that’s a verb.
I decided on fondue because way back when we were planning our wedding in Disney World, we spent a fantastic date night out with my bridesmaid and her husband at an amazing restaurant in Kissimmee called the Melting Pot. We ate fondue until we could not move – both cheese and chocolate, it was bliss. We swore to do it again when we came home – except we didn’t. And we still haven’t. So this year, I will reclaim some element of Valentine-liness in our lives – and it starts with fondue!
After a bit of tippy tapping around on Google images, I discovered a fondue set that would do absolutely everything, and then I found it on my favourite shopping site, Amazon.
The basic ingredients for fondue are below:
250g chocolate
250ml double cream
Garlic clove
250ml dry white wine
250g Gruyère, Emmentaler, French Raclette
2 tbsp cornflour
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
Optional: Freshly grated nutmeg & ground white pepper
We’re having chocolate fondue, and so I made a little menu of our dipping accompaniments:
I’m so excited – a date night, even if it is at home! Do you plan date nights at home? What are your favourite ideas?
Here’s a Pin for later:
oh my I am so jealous right now that just looks absolutely amazing hunny
I do love a good fondue! It's been a very long time! We don't tend to celebrate Valentines Day, really, instead we grab any rare opportunity we can to have date nights, even if they're just watching a film together on the sofa.