Chocolate Mint Fondue Slow Cooker Recipe

It's girl scout cookie season. The number one seller is ALWAYS the Thin Mints. 

Always.

I've got two in scouts this year: a Daisy and a Junior. My girls participate in cookie sales because I believe it's a great way to boost self-esteem by speaking clearly to grown-ups and handling money.

We aren't able to eat the cookies due to our gluten intolerance. It's really not a big deal, though, because I can quickly whip up a batch of chocolate mint fondue that feeds the entire troop for less than one box of the "forbidden" thin mints.

Not a bad deal!

The Ingredients.

serves 8

12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon mint extract or 2 tablespoons peppermint schnapps (NOT for the girl scouts!)

marshmallows or cookies for serving (my kids adore the chocolate sandwich cookies from Glutino)

The Directions.

Use a 2-quart slow cooker. Put the chocolate chips into your slow cooker. Add the heavy whipped cream and mint extract (or the schnapps). Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes or so. I really like melting chocolate in the slow cooker because you really don't need to worry about it scorching. If you smell the chocolate, give it a quick stir.

Serve with your favorite cookies or marshmallows. 

The Verdict.

This seriously tastes like liquid Girl Scout cookies. It's perfect. Just a bit minty, but not over-the-top.

If you'd prefer to make actual gluten free thin mint cookies, I do have a recipe, posted over on Totally Together. These cookies freeze well, and taste great frozen, just like the real ones do!

I've got a new video up on StephanieODeaTV: an interview with Jennette Fulda. I'm also running a giveaway for her new memoir, Chocolate & Vicodin. 

Happy President's Day!

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Slow Cooker Cheese Fondue Recipes--a double dip edition!

We had friends over for fondue night, and I was dying to use my Crock-Pot trio. My friend Jennifer loves sundried tomato dip, so I put that in, along with beer and cheddar fondue, and a goat cheese with thyme spread.

We (2 adults, 4 children) pretty much filled up on cheese and we didn't end up ordering take-in for dinner, but instead went out for dessert after the appetizers!

I made crustini out of a loaf of brown rice bread (food for life, pink package) for our dippers, and we also had carrot sticks, celery sticks, and raw cauliflower. We used all the dipping items, but greatly preferred the crustini for all (the cauliflower got fed to the guinea pigs the next day. they were thrilled.)

yummy crustini:

1 loaf pretty dense bread (I used food for life rice bread)

olive oil

salt 

pepper

---Cut each slice of bread into thirds, and brush olive oil on each side. Sprinkle kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper on each side. Bake on a lined or greased cookie sheet at 400 degrees for 7-8 minutes on each side, or until nice and toasty.

 

 

Beer Cheese Fondue 

The Ingredients.

serves 8

1/2 small yellow onion, peeled and finely diced

1 garlic clove, minced

4 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated (1 cup)

8 ounces extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated (2 cups)

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1 teaspoon caraway seeds

1 (12-ounce) bottle of beer (Redbridge, by Anheuser Busch is gluten free)

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

The Directions.

Use a 2-quart slow cooker. Put the onion, garlic, and cheeses into your cooker. Stir in the cornstarch and dry mustard. Crush the caraway seeds (Jennifer says to use a mortar and pestle, but I don't have one, and instead crushed them in a ziplock with a small mallet). Add them to the pot. Pour in the beer. Cover and cook on low for 2to 4 hours, stirring every 30 minutes. Add salt and pepper before serving, adding more to taste if necessary.

 

Thyme for Goat Cheese

The Ingredients.

serves 4 to 6

1 (11-ounce) package fresh goat cheese

2 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme leave, plus more for a garnish

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

The Directions.

Use a 2-quart slow cooker. If desired, place an oven-safe ramekin into the bottom of the cooker that you'd like to use for serving. Otherwise, plan on serving this right out of the crock.

Put the cheese into the pot (or ramekin), and press the thyme leaves into the top. Drizzle olive oil on top and add black pepper. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, or until cheese has softened and become easy to spread. Lift inserted dish  (CAREFULLY! use oven mitts!) out of the slow cooker and serve on the table with your favorite dippers.

The Verdict(s).

Fondue night rocks. End of story.

  

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Little Dipper Pizza Fondue Recipe

Day 365, take two.

I was annoyed with the white bean soup with fennel and spinach I made for dinner, but had all the stuff in the house to make a pizza fondue.

So I did.

I used the Little Dipper because I puffy heart LOVE it, but you could use an oven-safe dish inside a regular crockpot to create a smaller cooking vessel. Or you could increase the quantities.

The Ingredients.

--1 cup pasta sauce (my sauce had chunked mushrooms, it was perfect)
--1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
--10 pieces pepperoni, diced
--1 cup shredded cheese (I used a combo of mozzarella, cheddar, and swiss)

The Directions.

Count out 10 pieces of pepperoni. Then eat the rest of the package.
Put the pasta sauce into your Little Dipper, and plug it in. Add the Italian seasoning and diced pepperoni. Shove in the cup of shredded cheese. I promise it will fit. Cover and leave plugged in (there are no heat settings on a Little Dipper) for 45 min or so.

Stir well and serve with tortilla chips, bread sticks, or crustini.

I made some crustini with the Food for Life brown rice bread. I cut the pieces in slices, then brushed olive oil on each side. Sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper. Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 min, flipping once half-way through.

The Verdict.

This was great. We spread out a blanket in front of the TV and had a carpet picnic with the pizza fondue and watched Redbox dvds. How come I didn't know about redbox earlier?

good stuff.

Having a fondue party?
you really should.

fancy cheese fondue
chocolate fondue
peanut butter fondue
marshmallow fluff fondue
pumpkin pie dip
cream cheese, sausage, and Rotel dip (AKA mommy crack)

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