Look What Was On My Front Porch (Also, A Chocolate Fondue Recipe)

If you love chocolate as much as I do, you’ll go crazy over the chocolate fondue dip below…

One of my sponsors, Chaffin Family Orchards, sent us some California Mandarin oranges to try.  The difference between these and the canned mandarin oranges is literally miles apart.  Even the fresh ones at the store aren’t this sweet, and Kal, our normally complaining teen (about food) said, “These are really juicy.”  So the day they showed up on our porch last week, the kids ate a good share of them right away.  Our four year old peeled his himself, so they’re great for a quick snack.

In case you’re wondering about our conversation last week, no, they’re not local (for us anyway), but I do know the farmer and how they were grown – no chemicals!  I met Kurt & Carol recently at the Wise Traditions conference.  (Here’s a picture of them with Ann Marie & Kimi.)

Visit my resources page to find these delicious, organically grown mandarin oranges.  When clicking through at that link, you’ll be helping support this blog as I’ll be paid a small amount.  (BTW, they offer free shipping, too, so they make a great Christmas gift for family far away.)

Here’s more information for those of you who are like me and love all the details (or scroll down to skip to the chocolate fondue recipe):

“Our Organically Farmed sweet Satsuma Mandarins are the first offering of the citrus season. They are seedless, small, and easy to peel. They are a favorite of both young and old and make the perfect holiday gift. Our fruit is really special because most of our trees are near 50 years old and the fruit only gets sweeter as the trees age. Everything on our farm is raised organically and none of our fruit is ever put into cold storage. Mandarins are an excellent and tasty way to ward of the first of the cold and flu season with an extra shot of natural vitamin C. Mandarin trees naturally oscillate between light and heavy years, and this year is a light year, so supplies are limited. Get your order in now to be sure to enjoy these delicious winter fruits.”

From Chaffin’s “About” page:

“Chaffin Family Orchards uses a combination of Organic, Natural, and Biodynamic Farming methods. These methods are combined with the best of each used to produce farm products that are as healthy as possible for both the consumer and the land. Many of the ranch systems have been developed in unique ways to benefit the land and the eater. Del Chaffin began these methods with the installation of his own water driven power system and gravity driven water systems, making the ranch self sufficient. His Granddaughter Carol and her husband Kurt and their family have continued by developing farming systems that use animals, minerals, and forages instead of chemical pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and fungicides.”

Chris from the farm said they are amazing dipped in chocolate, so if you know me, you know I had to try that.  My chocolate dipping sauce doesn’t have to make you feel quite as guilty about eating a treat, though, because it has a few more nutritious ingredients than your average dessert, like butter, coconut oil, and more natural sugars.  (Yes, natural sugars are still sugar, though, so don’t make this a lot.  I say that all the time and keep posting dessert recipes, don’t I?  I told you I have a sweet tooth.)  I played around with the recipe and came up with this one by making a sort of cross between my homemade hot fudge recipe and the homemade coconut candy recipe.

Kitchen Kop’s Chocolate Fondue with Coconut Oil

• 1/2 c. organic coconut oil (A coconut oil sponsor is not on my sponsor page yet, but if you buy it through the link in this deals on coconut oil post, you’ll still be helping me because I’ll get a small commission.  The price is the same for you.  This is the kind that I buy and with free shipping, too.)
• 3/4 c. butter (You could omit this and use all coconut oil if you’d like or if you need a dairy-free recipe, but I like using a little of both so the coconut taste isn’t as strong.)
• 3/4 c. organic cocoa powder
• 1 t. sea salt
• 1 t. organic vanilla
• 1 c. real maple syrup
• 1/2 c. palm sugar
• Optional:  add some real cream to make a larger amount and a more creamy, dreamy sauce

Stir over low-medium heat until it begins to thicken a little.  You can transfer to a fondue pot if you like it warm, or just serve in a dipping bowl and it maintains a nice dipping consistency even as it cools.  Be creative with your dippers!  Here are some of our favorites:

• The mandarin oranges mentioned above were SO tasty in the chocolate.  Visit my resources page to find delicious, organically grown mandarin oranges.
• My friend, Jenn, also loved kettle corn dipped into the yummy chocolate.  Regular popcorn would be good, too.
• Pineapple chunks
• Strawberries
• Banana slices
• Apple wedges
• Pieces of cookies or brownies
• Pieces of cheesecake or pound cake
• Crispy nuts

Do you have more ideas for good fondue dippers?

Part of Wardeh’s Tuesday Twister!

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