Photo: Denis Dervisevic, Flickr
Chocolate features prominently as cold-weather comfort in these bitter months: casually in a cup of hot chocolate or more indulgently in a bubbling pot of molten chocolate fondue. Reportedly invented by New York restaurant Swiss Chalet in 1966 in an effort to promote Toblerone chocolate, chocolate fondue can make use of any sort of bar. While the Hershey's bars provide a classic base, feel free to use more adventurous sweets too, like chile-, mint-, sea salt- or even bacon-spiked varieties from companies like Lindt or Vosges.
You don't need a fondue pot to create the silky snack. Simply heat some heavy cream at a simmer, then whisk in the chopped chocolate of your choice until the two merge. For the original recipe from Swiss Chalet, which suggests puff pastries, meringues and more for dipping, click here.

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It may seem a bit early right now, but Valentine's Day is just around the corner
and there is scarcely a moment to waste. If you are planning to cook for your sweetheart this year, you should really
make sure your kitchen is properly outfitted for the task. What could be more romantic than heart-shaped cookware?










