I have the greatest friends in the world.

They love to laugh.

They know how to party.

They are the most talented bunch of people I know.

They are the most caring and sensitive.

They come from all different walks of life, but put together they’re collectively a bunch of kindred spirits and lovely personalities all for one common cause…

Sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce by Geraldine

They love to eat.

Buttercake by Ange

Ok scratch that. We love to eat. We may not party like it’s 1999 again, but boy do we eat like we haven’t eaten since 1999!

Bacon for... chocolate dipping!

What can I say? We’re an odd mix of yuppies and students whose lives (almost) revolve around food… really, really good food.

Chocolate fondue with the works

This post is all about an evening of creativity and home cooking skills at our dedicated party house, the apartment of the Homebush Crew where plenty of social gatherings were held in the past. This was our attempt at having an Alpine Christmas in August… complete with 5 cheese fondues, chocolate fondue with the works, mulled wine, Haigh’s chocolates and the king of all winter desserts: sticky date pudding with caramel sauce.

Bananas and strawberries for the chocolate fondue

Jealous? I bet.

Note: The 5 Cheese fondue is a thick, rich cheese fondue with a strong blue cheese aroma and after-taste thanks to the addition of the gorgonzola cheese. Nigella Lawson’s cheese fondue, on the other hand, is a savoury mix of creamy cheeses and white wine with just a hint of nutmeg. Both can be served with any dippings – raw vegetables, fruit or bread.

5 Cheese Fondue

An original recipe by Denisse

5 Cheese Fondue by Denisse

1 round bread loaf, with the inside “de-gutted” (the middle section of the bread removed and the top “lid” set aside)

200g each of emmental, gouda, gorgonzola cheese

200g cream cheese

200g spreadable cheddar cheese (comes in a bottle)

Sprinkling of nutmeg and cinnamon

Gouda, emmental and gorgonzola

1. Place all cheeses in a deep sauce pan. Place sauce pan under a double boiler and melt cheese on low to medium heat. Ensure that there is plenty of water simmering and be cautious that the cheese do not burn.

Melting the cheeses

2. Once cheeses have melted and the texture becomes smooth, add the spices. Set aside.

3. Pre-heat oven to 160 deg C.

4. Place the hollowed bread bowl in a flat baking tray. Pour melted cheese on to the cavity and replace the top “lid”. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15-20 minutes.

5. Serve warm with the bread “insides” and other fondue dipping mediums.

Bread for dipping

Nigella Lawson’s Cheese Fondue

Recipe adapted from Nigella Lawson

Nigella Lawson's Cheese Fondue

250g brie cheese, sliced and wax removed

250g camembert cheese, sliced and wax removed

250ml white wine

2 tsp cornflour mixed with 2 tbsp white wine

1 garlic clove, peeled and bruised

Grounded black pepper

Sprinkling of nutmeg

Carrot sticks and green apples for dipping

1. Place both cheeses in  a deep sauce pan. Place over low to medium heat and stir until cheese has melted.

2. Add garlic and the cornflour mixed with white wine to the melted cheese.

3. Add grounded black pepper and nutmeg. Serve in warm bowl, with bread and other dipping mediums (eg carrots, green apples, cocktail sausages).

Cocktail sausages + cheese, anyone?

Jamie Oliver’s Mulled Wine

Recipe adapted from Jamie’s mulled wine

2 bottles (750ml each) of red wine

2 mandarins – peeled (peel saved)

Peel of 1 lemon and 1 lime

250g caster sugar

1 cinnamon stick

6 cloves

3 fresh bay leaves

Sprinkling of nutmeg

1 whole vanilla pod, halved

3 star anise

The ultimate sugar and spice and everything nice.

1. In a large saucepan, place the mandarin peels and juice and the peels of both lemon and lime. Add the sugar and all the spices except for the star anise. Turn on heat to medium and cover the sugar with red wine. Bring to boil

2. Once sugar has melted and the mixture thickens into the texture of syrup, turn the heat to low and add the remaining red wine. Keep stirring for a few more minutes.

3. Serve warm.

Mulled Wine by Ala

The 5 cheese fondue in a bread bowl is an original recipe by Denisse. The cheese fondue in a bowl is a Nigella Lawson recipe by me. The chocolate fondue is an original (top secret) recipe by Cat. The mulled wine is a Jamie Oliver recipe by Ala. The buttercake is an original recipe by Ange. The sticky date pudding is an original recipe by Geraldine.

One more slice before we bid winter goodbye!