Valentine's Day Chocolate Fondue Family Tradition

 

A couple years ago I found a fondue kit, brand new and still in the box, at Goodwill for just a few dollars. It sat in the cupboard until Valentine's Day when I decided to start a new family tradition.  So VD is the only time we have our chocolate fondue party.

 

1 bag of milk chocolate chips

various dipping items like strawberries, bananas, cream puffs, pound cake, marshmallows, potato chips and pretzels.  Have fun with it and try a bunch of things!  Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl (I was lazy this year and didn't use my fondue pot on the stove since it's the 19th and the kids were at their dads on the 14th lol), stir every 30 seconds until melted all the way.  Happy Dipping!

 

Pink Spaghetti

 

 

Ok, it's more orange but pink sounds more fun. lol My husband's mom made spaghetti "often" when he was young, so it hasn't been his favorite.  I tried a "vodka" spaghetti once and it was really good so I tried this with the family and it was a hit.  Pretty basic and simple using store bought items. 

 

16 oz (1 pound) thin spaghetti noodles

1 pound ground beef or turkey

1 tsp minced garlic

powdered onion flavor to taste

salt and pepper to taste

Italian seasoning to taste

1 15 oz can tomato sauce

1 16 oz can Alfredo sauce

 

Cook noodles according to package. In the mean time, brown hamburger with garlic, onion flavor, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Once the hamburger is cooked through, add the tomato sauce and alfredo sauce, mix and let simmer on low.  When the noodles are cooked, drain the water and add the noodles to the meat sauce.  Stir and serve. 



Baked ham and cheese sandwiches

I made these today for Super Bowl Sunday. I made them with brown sugar in the sauce but the kids said they were too sweet. So I'm leaving that out of the recipe. 

1 pkg Hawaiian sweet rolls (I used mini sub size)

1 pkg thin sliced deli ham

6-8 slices Swiss or American cheese

1 stick of butter

2 tsp onion powder

3 tbsp Dijon or yellow mustard

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

3 tsp poppy seeds

Directions:

Cut the whole sheet of rolls so you have a sheet of tops and bottoms. Line 9x13 pan with foil and place bottom sheet in the pan. 

Melt butter in microwave in bowl and whisk all ingredients except ham and cheese. Pour HALF mixture over bottom sheet in the pan. 

Layer ham then cheese slices over bottom sheet of rolls. Put top on sandwiches and pour the rest if the butter mixture over the top. 

Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 20 min. You can make ahead with sauce and keep refrigerated until ready to bake. 

Cut apart after uncovering and serve hot. Serves 6.