New Recipe Books! Fondue & Bread...

Anyone that knows me knows I'm a sucker for collecting (and trying) new recipes. It's especially fun when those recipes come in the form of a new book for my collection. I try to be very cautious about purchasing another recipe book as I can get so many nice recipes to try for free. However, every once in awhile I meet a book or two that really wants to come home with me. It happened the other night...

I was innocently looking through the bargain book table at the local book store. Then it happened. Two books literally jumped into my arms and begged me to take them home and experiment on their tantalizing recipes within. After much consideration... I decided to adopt these two books, saving them from their unappreciated spot on the bargain table. I admit it (head hanging low) they both played into my particular weaknesses; excellent full page color photography of what awaits me should I venture each recipe and two of my favorite topics: Breads & Fondue.

Brad and I were introduced to the fun of fondue by some friends on New Years Eve back in 1978. We are the YOUNG couple in the back row, left side.

We got our first taste of what fun it can be to spend a leisurely evening around the table, preparing, cooking and eating a meal seasoned with a heavy dose of relaxing conversation. My parents gave us our first fondue pot, retrieved from a storage box of things they never used. It was a nice stainless steel pot with a black stand and stainless drip plate underneath. Dad fixed it up by replacing the missing knob on the pot's lid. The next item I purchased was a set of 4 individual mini butter warmers for dipping bread and vegetables. Over the years we have added to our collection of fondue pots and accessories, mainly from garage sales and thrift shops. I pass by the aluminum lime green and bright orange pots of old and stick with the stainless steel for stocks and ceramic for cheese or dessert fondues.

We have hosted many fondue parties over the years and only once had a guest that didn't quite appreciate the finer points of dining AND cooking your own meal around a table. Dear Sister Doris (rest her soul) spent the entire meal in utter frustration and couldn't understand that the other members of our group (a Bible Study) might actually be enjoying the process. Sister Doris wasn't one that enjoyed fussing in the kitchen and to her; the quicker a meal was prepared and eaten the better off everyone was. And yes, in her outspoken way, she made that perfectly clear through the entire meal. We just all smiled and loved her anyways. Happily, it did not deter us from continuing on in the art of fondue. In fact, it has become a family tradition to enjoy a lavish fondue dinner each Christmas Eve for the past 8 or 9 years. We all look forward to it!

Christmas Eve, 2004

Brad and I, Christmas Eve, 2006

The girls and I enjoy pulling out our best table decor for our

Traditional Christmas Eve Fondue Dinner, 2006

I am hoping this new fondue recipe book will award us with a few new great recipes to add to our repertoire! The title of our new book is: "Fondue: Delicious Recipes for Easy Entertaining" by Lorraine Turner. I'm especially anxious to try out a few of the cheese fondue recipes in preparation of our next big fondue session! I hope the recipes taste as good as the photographs look!!

Our second book adoption is titled: "100 Great Breads" by Paul Hollywood. I love baking bread, especially using freshly ground grains. (We own a Whisper Mill grain/flour mill) I admit that I don't bake near as much as I used to since there are only 2 (sometimes 3) of us here. Mainly because we would eat the entire loaf in one setting. Nothing like fresh bread hot out of the oven! But, I would like to get back to making bread at least 2 or 3 times a month. This book may just be the inspiration I need! The recipes are much simpler than many of other wonderful bread cookbooks. So, there you have it! As I wade my way through these cookbooks and find "winner" status recipes, I'll let you know! Bon Appetite!!