Natalie of Good Girl Style is back today to share a sweet approach to Valentine’s Day that’s as conducive to a date date as to a friend date. Even cooler, we’ve collaborated with new iPad app Makr to design and print menus and cards to help turn Natalie’s fondue dessert into the centerpiece of a full-on Valentine’s Day party.
Natalie joins us each month to share incredible desserts with Big Girls, Small Kitchen readers–desserts that are entirely gluten-free, but not like obviously gluten-free. That means no specialty flours or hard-to-find ingredients, just good old-fashioned butter, sugar, chocolate, cream, and-today-bacon. Don’t miss her other adventures in gluten-free chocolate, Frozen Hot Chocolate and Flourless Chocolate Cake. Now, here’s fondue:
You might think fondue is a retro food from the 70s, when your parents thought it was cool. But what about dipping delicious things into even-more-delicious melted chocolate goes out of style? The process is fun, easy and making a comeback! You heard it here first.
Fondue can be romantic for two on Valentine’s Day or fun for a party with your friends. I kept the dippers Valentine’s-themed, with chocolate, red fruits, and a new idea, targeted to any guys in attendance: bacon. Try it, the combination is surprisingly good. And, of course, feel free to add your own twists to the dipping ingredient list.
As for Makr-I (Cara) got to know about the app before the holidays but wasn’t quite organized enough to order anything like food gift labels or party invitations before it was suddenly January. So, I’m thrilled to be able to share the app with you today, in time for making Valentine’s or fondue party menus. On Makr, you get to completely DIY invites, place cards, menus, and the like, then either use them online (totally free), print them yourself, or order really gorgeous professional prints like the ones in this photo.
If you’d like to try Makr, there’s a special promo code-BGSK20-which will get you 20% off a professional print order if you enter it when you check out.
This is not a sponsored post, though Makr kindly provided Natalie with menus and note cards.
**Recipe**
Chocolate Fondue
Serves 4 to 6
by Natalie
Ingredients
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
8 ounces heavy cream
2 tablespoons brewed coffee
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
Plenty of gluten-free dippers (see below for ideas; figure 8 to 10 bites per person)
Combine all ingredients in the top of a double boiler and stir until the chocolate and butter are melted and the mixture is combined and smooth. Pour into a fondue pot (or slow cooker) and dip fruit, chocolate, candy, bacon, etc. into the mixture.
Gluten free dipper suggestions: miniature gluten-free chocolate candies, gluten-free marshmallows, strawberries, cherries, red apples, bacon, coconut macaroons, gluten-free cookies or cake cubes, banana slices, mandarin oranges.
This post is part of Food Network’s Comfort Food Feast! See the other bloggers’ Valentine’s treats below:
Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Quinoa Fudge Brownies
In Jennie’s Kitchen: Milk Chocolate Brownies
Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Blood Orange Bars
Dishing with Divya: Carrot Halwa
Virtually Homemade: Raspberry Grand Marnier Mascarpone Hand Pies
Devour: 5 Bread Pudding Recipes for Valentine’s Day
Weelicious: Puff Pastry Berry Hearts
Red or Green: Hot Chocolate, New Mexican Style
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Chocolate Cake Brownies (Refined Sugar-Free)
The Sensitive Epicure: Nutella Panna Cotta
Haute Apple Pie: Valentine Cake Pops
FN Dish: DIY Chocolate Desserts for Valentine’s Day
Food for 7 Stages of Life: S’mores on a Stick
Tasting With The Eyes: Puff au Chocolat avec Fraises, Basilic, Fleur de Sel
