More Original Social Networking

We went to Rob and Cindy's place last weekend for another fondue party.  We started it all with the dessert fondue party we had on new years and they decided to step it up a notch and do a meat fondue.

And so, we arrived, and the table was beautifully set up with beef, pork, shrimp, chicken, veggies, fresh bread, cheese dip, and batter.  There were also sauces:  shwarma, sweet thai chili,  death from above, barbecue, buttery buffalo, and shrimp sauce.

Then, the oil was brought out and the dunking began.

Tempura battered chicken with thai sauce was my favourite. My husband and Rob enjoyed tempura shrimp. I couldn't have it because shrimp makes me physically sick (even though it's delicious)

The one thing that Rob and Cindy and I really enjoyed, though?

Tempura fried broccoli or cauliflower, dipped in cheese.  Fuck yeah.

After dinner, Rob and Alex and I enjoyed a glass of port that Rob made. Chocolate raspberry port. Fuck yeah, again.

Turkey, Wine, and the Original Social Networking Tool!

For New Years Day I decided we should roast a turkey.  The supermarket had a huge sale on utility turkeys -- only 79 cents per pound.   We brined that sucker (recipe to follow at the end) and noticed, when we were about to throw it on the barbecue rotisserie, that there were no wings.  We got a flightless bird.  Our neighbours, Rob and Cindy, hit the same sale. Their utility turkey had no legs! A lame bird! Still. For 79 cents per pound? No complaints.

Mexico and Fondue!

Okay, maybe not literally... but kind of.

First, the fondue.  No pictures, as I was too busy wanting to eat it to take a photograph... but I got a fondue set for my husband for our anniversary.  It made sense:  four years is appliances, fruit, and flowers.  SO, instead of a normal fondue, I made a milk chocolate fondue and a caramel fondue.

Everyone preferred the caramel, even though the chocolate had booze in it. Good to know.  Next time I'll make a citrus fondue.

Caramel fondue recipe here.

Next on the agenda:  Margarita Lime Cupcakes, credit to Recipegirl

I've made these before but last time they were half burnt. Boo. My oven is a bit hotter than it should be.

These ones turned out a bit better, I think... plus I did a pretty decent piping job on them.  They look just plain yummy.

Here is the link to the recipe

And here are a couple pictures