Cheddar Cheese Fondue

1/2 cup flour
1 T dry mustard
3 cups half and half
3 cups or 3/4 lb. sharp cheddar cheese
1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
3 drops hot pepper sauce

In fondue pot combine flour and mustard.  Set heat control to simmer and add half and half gradually.  Stir until thickened.  Add shredded cheese.  Stir until melted.  Add Worcestershire and hot pepper sauce.

Double Chocolate Bread Pudding

2 cups whipping cream
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup whole milk
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1tsp. vanilla extract
6 ounces day old french bread, cut into 3/4 inch cubes (about 4 cups)
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
whipping cream

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  In 2 quart saucepan, heat cream, sugar, and milk over medium heat until sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat.  Add chopped chocolate stirring with awire whisk until mixture is smooth and chocolate is melted.  Gradually whisk in eggs and vanilla until well combined.  place bread in a 8x8 glass or ceramic baking dish.  Pour chocolate mixture over bread.  Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Sprinkle chocolate chips on top of bread mixture.  Bake uncovered, 40-45 minutes, or until set.  Cool 10 minutes.  Serve with whipped cream.

This recipe can be doubled and put in a 9x13 pan.

One February I went to a death by chocolate party.  My friend Amy H. brought this recipe.  It now has become a tradition to make this every New Year's Eve. 

Cheese Fondue

1 glove garlic
2 1/4 cup apple juice
6 cups or 1 1/2 lbs shredded cheese
3/4 tsp. baking soda
3 T flour
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 dashes of garlic salt
3 T apple juice

Run inside of fondue pot with garlic.  Pour apple juice in pot.  Heat at simmer before boiling.  In bowl toss cheese with flour and soda.  Add cheese mixture 1/4 cup at a time to hot apple juice.  Stir until evenly blended.  Add cayenne pepper, garlic salt and apple juice. Cook 5 minutes and serve.


It has become our tradition to have fondue on New Year's Eve. It makes us feel like we are going to a party even when we are staying in.  Some of the items we like to dip are french bread, apples, ham, broccoli and carrots.

Creamy White Chili

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
1-1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 Tb vegetable oil
2 cans (15-1/2 oz each) great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14-1/2 oz) chicken broth
2 cans (4 oz each) chopped green chilies
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
1/2 cup whipping cream

In a large saucepan, saute chicken, onion and garlic powder in oil until chicken is no longer pink. Add beans, broth, chilies and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in sour cream an cream. Serve immediately. Yield: 7 servings.

If I am in a hurry I may use a rotisserie chicken instead. Also, I like to use my frozen roasted green chilies.

This is one of my favorite recipes. My friend an elementary school art teach got this recipe from one of her students parents. It was back to school time and some nice moms made food for the teachers at the elementary school, because they were working late. I needed a chili recipe, because I was going to a chili cook off on Saturday. I thought white chili would be a nice change from red or green. Anyhow, I made the chili for the contest and ended up winning. I was in such a hurry and I didn't even try it before the contest. Since then I have brought the chili to other events and people always want the recipe.

Sunday Potatoes

4 cups mashed potatoes (6 potatoes) 1 tsp salt
3 cups cottage cheese
3/4 cup sour cream
1 TBSP grated onion or onion flakes, or 1/2 tsp onion salt
2 1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp white pepper (black can be used)
garlic powder to taste
cheddar cheese
chives

Whip together and put in a casserole dish. Top with cheese and chives. Bake 1/2 hour at 350 degrees.

As roommates in college, we would each make a meal once a week and share. That way we would eat real meals and get some practice making dinner. We would say we were training to be domestic goddesses. My good friend Roma put together a recipe book at the end of the year. It is one I cherish, I thought I lost it a little while back and I wanted to cry. Anyway these potatoes are something Roma's mom would make. They are delicious. I made them for two holiday parties this year and everyone loved them.

Broccoli, Ham, Cheese Soup

2 c. water
1 c. chopped carrots
1 c. chopped celery
1/2 c. diced onions
1 lb. fresh broccoli, chopped
1 cube butter
1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. salt
4 c. milk
1 lb. velvetta or American cheese
2 c. ham

In a large sauce pan combine water, celery, carrots and onions. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Add broccoli. Cook an additional 5-7 minutes ( leave lid ajar to keep broccoli green.) Do not remove water off vegetables. Put pot aside.

In a bigger pot, melt butter, blend in flour, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring for one minute. Stir in milk, cook until thick. Stir in cheese, cook until melted. Add ham. Pour water and vegetable mixture into cheese mixture.

Carmel Brownies

1 (14 oz.) pkg. carmels
1 pkg. German Choc. cake mix
1/3 c. evaporated milk
1 pkg. (12 oz.) chocolate chips
1/3 c. evaporated milk
3/4 c. butter or marg.
1 c. chopped nuts

In heavy sauce pan (or microwave) melt carmels and 1/3 c. evaporated milk. Set aside. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 pan. In large bowl combine dry cake mix, butter, 1/3 c. evaporated milk, and nuts. By hand, stir until dough holds together. Press 1/2 of the dough into pan, reserving remaining dough for the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 6 minutes. Sprinkle chocolate chips over baked crust, spread melted carmel mixture over choc. chips, crumble reserve dough over carmel. Return to oven for 15 to 18 min. Cool slightly. Refrigerate about 30 min. to set carmel layer. Cut in bars.