Chocolate Fun-due

group of friends gathered around the table for our daughter’s birthday. After Abby opened gifts—new ski poles were a hit—we all ate a tasty dinner and shared the highlight of the evening: chocolate fondue.

Surrounding the fondue was an assortment of dippers, pineapple, bananas, strawberries, grapes, angel food cake and marshmallows. We dipped into the chocolate, compared flavors and textures and laughed a lot.

A picture from the evening shows each of us with a fondue fork in hand poised over the warm chocolate with Abby using a new ski pole in place of a fondue fork. That photograph says it all—the warmth of the evening, the shared experience, the joy of friendship.

INGREDIENTS

1/3 cup whipping cream3 tablespoons honey8 oz good-quality bittersweet or semisweet chocolate1 tablespoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

Bring whipping cream and honey to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan. Add chocolate; whisk until melted. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla extract. Pour into a fondue pot with a low flame under it. Surround with fruit and other accompaniments. Serve with skewers.

Serves 6.

Nancy Lynch is a self-taught cook from a family of foodies. She teaches cooking classes at Orange Tree Imports and All Through the House in Stoughton. E-mail your questions, comments or recipe requests to .