Ideas for a Low-Key Valentine’s Day

Fabulous Fondue –

Fondue dining is coming back into popularity; and for good reason. It's an experience, designed for lingering around the table, enjoying food slowly and having conversation. Standard fondue fare includes a selection of meats (cooked at the table, a piece at a time, in hot cooking oil or flavored broth); warm cheese dip for breads and veggies; and melted chocolate, for over pound cake, marshmallows, pretzels, and fruit. The beauty of fondue is you make the menu.

If you don't have tabletop fondue pots or a small chocolate fountain, you can still make it work. Simply heat the oil or broth in two small pots, leaving one on low on the stove and using one at the table. When the table pot gets too cool, trade them around. For cheese dip, make ahead and keep warm in a small slow cooker.

For chocolate, temper it slowly, using very hot water in a bowl underneath another bowl holding the chocolate. Stir it well and often. If the chocolate begins to harden, simply refresh the hot water in the bottom bowl. For the forks you'll need to cook meats, metal skewers can do the trick. In a pinch, you can also use a long-handled slotted metal spoon and simply drop the pieces in, then fish them out. For the cheese and chocolate dips, forks or skewers work fine.

And finally, to make fondue economical, don't overbuy your ingredients. A little of each item goes a long way, especially when you'll want to try some of everything.

A World Away – 

You may not be able to physically get away this year, but you can simulate it at home. Choose a location you'd love to visit, then theme around that. For example, if you'd love to see Paris, start with a snack of fruit and croissants. Then tour Paris through a presentation found on DVD or online. Later, create the vibe of a French cafe with dim lighting, candles, music, and French-inspired food. Wrap up by watching a movie or reading a book that takes place in Paris.