Fondue is often thought of as something people did at parties in the seventies. Even though it certainly was quite popular in decades past, fondue is still a great way to entertain.

Fondue pots can be found in most stores which sell kitchen items. They are simple to use and with some great fondue recipes will be the talk of the town.

The key to tasty fondue recipes is the actual dipping sauce.

Fondue can be an appetizer, snack meal, accompaniment or a dessert. The dipping sauce will determine when and with what the fondue is served. It is a great adventure to serve fondue for any meal or party.

Fondue Recipes for Appetizers

A great fondue recipe is a cheese and beer fondue.

One can of beer and one pound of sharp cheddar cheese can be seasoned with garlic, butter, mustard and salt and pepper. The chef should sauté the garlic in the butter, thicken with a little flour and then gradually add the beer making a gravy type mixture.

The cheese can then be melted in and the whole thing can be seasoned to taste. This is heated to a slight boil and then placed in the fondue pot. This is a tasty dip for bread, assorted vegetables and even cubed cooked chicken.

If beer is not a flavor that people enjoy or a higher scale fondue is wanted, a crab and cheese fondue recipe can be made. This can be made in much the same way using wine and milk as the liquid. Any kind of cheese can be used and the crab can be fresh, frozen or canned. Canned crab actually works quite well because of its consistency. A little parsley or other fresh herb would be nice to season with. French bread would be a great choice to have with this fondue.

Fondue Recipes for Dessert

Tasty fondue recipes for dessert can be easily made by making a chocolate or butterscotch dipping sauce. Few people can resist dipping fresh strawberries in a chocolate sauce. Other fresh fruit is equally irresistible and makes an exotic dessert for a party. Vanilla wafers or angle food cake are also great dipped in either chocolate or butterscotch.

Another type of fondue recipe for dessert is to make a crème sauce with crème de menthe or an orange liqueur. Bits of cakes or cookies dipped in either these sauces would be delightful and would make a great end to an entertaining meal. Fondue is a very easy thing to make and with a little creativity can be a unique and tasty way to entertain.

If you enjoy eating a fresh slice of cheese that is cut right from the block, you probably have some sort of cheese slicer in your kitchen cupboard. While knives can cut some of the harder variety of cheeses sufficiently, it is better by far to use a cheese slicer to get perfect portions of cheese every time.

There are a variety of slicers on the market today, and some will work best for individual use and cooking, while others are pretty and functional enough for your entertaining needs. No cocktail party is complete without a cheese platter, and no cheese platter is complete without a cheese slicer.

The History of the Cheese Slicer

The cheese slicer was invented by a Norwegian carpenter named Thor Bjorklund in 1925. His wife had sent a chunk of cheese to his workshop for lunch one day, and the innovative carpenter needed a way to cut off smaller slices. Through that experience, he created the first cheese slicer, which he also patented that same year.

The slicer began to be mass produced in Norway in 1927. Since that time, many variations have been created on Bjorklund’s design, allowing every cook to find the perfect slicer to meet his needs. Although they are most popular in some European countries where sliced cheese on bread is a common fare, many styles have gained momentum in the United States as well.

Different Designs of Slicers

There are a variety of designs of cheese slicers, including those that are primarily for functional purposes. These can include many hand-held designs, and can run the gamut in quality and price. If you slice a lot of cheese to use in your recipes and cooking, it is best to find a high-quality and functional design that will last through time and plenty of use.

On the other hand, if your main purpose in a cheese slicer will be for entertaining, there are many styles on the market that are beautiful as well as functional. Some of these designs are crafted out of high-quality wood or even marble, and some come with a built in tray to hold crackers or slices of bread.

These attractive cheese slicers can also make a wonderful gift for the person on your list that seems to have everything. You can throw in a package of delicious French cheese and a bottle of wine to complement, and your recipient has the beginning supplies for a lovely cocktail gathering.

Want to lose weight fast?

The Mediterranean Diet is an easy and very enjoyable way to lose weight fast, and to develop a great healthy lifestyle for your entire family. Become the fit, slim and healthy person you were meant to be with The Mediterranean Diet.

There is nothing better than a fresh cup of coffee except maybe a fresh cup of coffee from freshly ground beans. There was a time when everyone bought their coffee already ground but today finding a coffee grinder on your neighbor’s kitchen counter is becoming the norm. With so many choices on the market; it is hard to decide what coffee grinder is right for you.

Blade Grinder

There are two kinds of coffee grinders that are readily available to the average consumer - the burr grinder and the blade grinder. The blade grinder is the less expensive of the two and while it does a decent job of grinding the beans it doesn’t always grind them as fine as some might like and the grounds are uneven in size which can affect the flavor and strength of your coffee.

Burr Grinder – Wheel vs. Conical

The burr grinder is a bit more expensive but it allows for a more consistent grind and a consistent flavor in your coffee. There are two types of burr grinders and while they both grind the coffee well, the wheel burr is more noisy and messy than the conical burr. The latter does the same job with less noise and less clean up afterwards. The conical burr is recommended for flavored or oily beans.

Coffee grinders come in various shapes and sizes to suit any décor and they also vary in price from as low as under $20 up to hundreds of dollars. Keep in mind expensive does not always mean better; consider what your grinding needs will be in advance and then compare the coffee grinders that offer the features you are looking for before purchasing anything. There are many sites that offer a great deal of information on the latest coffee grinders along with reviews and opinions of many different brands and styles.

A coffee grinder can be an appliance that will last you many years if you are careful when selecting the right one instead of picking up the first coffee grinder that you run across or picking the one that looks pretty. While you want an attractive grinder, you also want one that is practical for you. Take your time and find the right one for you and then brew the best cup of coffee you will ever enjoy in the comfort of your own home.