I attempted a cheddar ranch fondue. It was actually very simple. This is all you need to do:4 Tbsp. butter
15 oz. can of petite diced tomatoes, drained
1 (1 oz.) package of dry Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix
1 1/2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup dry white wine
- In a 4-quart saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add the tomatoes and saute, stirring frequently, about 2 minutes. Add the package of Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix and stir gently to dissolve the seasoning mix.
- While the tomatoes are cooking, combine the flour and cheese in a bowl and toss to coat the cheese.
- Add the wine to the tomato mixture, stir once, and then add the cheese, a handful at a time. Heat and stir until the cheese is completely melted. Transfer to a fondue pot set over an alcohol or sterno flame to keep it warm. Serve immediately.
To make sure we had some variety, Annie brought a marinara-based fondue, and Tara (our true chocolate lover) supplied a to-die-for chocolate fondue.
You might wonder what kinds of food to dip in all of these different fondues. We had everything from vegetables to garlic bread, chunks of mozzarella to slices of pepperoni, and marshmallows & fruit (for the chocolate, of course).
Before we ate, Tara filled us in on some fondue-etiquette. Apparently, if your dipper drops into the fondue, you're supposed to kiss the person to your left. The guys really thought this was funny and, Tyler, with Nick on his left, was heard saying 'Oops!' quite a few times.
Our evening wasn't complete until we had a viewing of a Christmas classic - A Christmas Story. Good food, good movie, and good company. If you ask me, it was the perfect way to celebrate the season with the people you love.
