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A Delicious, Different Kind of Dinner

The idea of a fondue pot at dinner may conjure up images of the 1970s and a table hosting a burnt-orange or avocado-colored aluminum pot warmed by a sterno can to heat up boneless chicken pieces. But, with the right-age kids, I want to encourage trying out the fun and delicious food that can be had with the new wave of fondue pots that are hitting stores.

So many fondue pots you find now are electric and -- for safety reasons -- will automatically shut off if the oil is getting too hot during the cooking process. That means sterno is no longer a necessity, and the oil quickly heats to a precise temperature.

For the uninitiated, fondue sessions at the supper table work like this. You provide an array of meats chopped up -- such as skinless, boneless chicken breasts and thighs, and sirloin steak, or whole shrimp -- and sliced vegetables, including bell peppers and squashes. Then, you also whip up a line-up of sauces to complement the cooked portions, such as curry mayonnaise, Green Goddess salad dressing, Miso salad dressing, and tasty dijon mustards. You heat a pot of vegetable oil to about 350 degrees. With every family member assigned a fondue fork -- which is a lengthy utensil that includes a colored knob so you can keep track of whose is whose -- you dip your food morsel in, and wait for it to cook.

The idea of fondue-ing actually fosters conversation and promotes a slowed-down supper, two healthy attributes for an enjoyable meal.

Now, as safe as the new fondue pots are, do take into account your children's ages when considering having a fondue supper. Most children of the '70s can recount an episode where a fondue pot tipped over and small (but leaping) flames spread across the table, canceling the fondue party and sending Dad to go to the nearest drive-thru.

If your kids are too small for a fondue meal, you can prepare the fondue away from the table on a nearby counter and bring over the food as it cooks. You might also consider having a couple of fondue pots for dinner (you'll be amazed how many of your neighbors actually have a fondue pot lurking in their cabinets, too). You can either be frying up one set of meat cubes and another full of vegetables, or consider putting a cheese fondue recipe in one of them for dipping cubes of bread, fruit, and vegetables.

Finally, fondue pots even serve well for delicious desserts. Melting semi-sweet chocolate chips or a jar of caramel caramel in a fondue pot is the perfect ending for dipping big marshmallows, pineapple and apple chunks, banana slices, and cubes of cake.

So, consider fondu-ing:  it really is a one pot idea that can host an entire meal.