Looking for outdoor Valentines Day date ideas this year? Whether you’re a hardened adventurer or just want to enjoy some quality time with fewer distractions, we’re cooking up the perfect recipe to bring your outdoor Valentines Day date to the next level- Fondue! Head outside for a Valentines Day date with this tasty surprise up your sleeve and you’re sure to please.
Bambu is teaming up with Gritty Gourmet to bring you delicious camping recipes, tried and true tips for time outdoors, and camp cookware suggestions. We’re here to help you maintain your eco-friendly lifestyle no matter where you go. This Valentines Day, we’re bringing you the perfect plan for a day outside - whether you’re celebrating with that special someone, a group of friends, or your family. Of course, every good Valentines Day date starts with a good recipe (or two). Follow along to learn how to make fondue, a classically decadent treat. Luckily, this simple recipe doesn’t require advanced culinary skills (and, if you prefer to stay inside for this Valentines Day date, it’ll taste just as good). But a few good tips and the right tools won’t hurt. Here’s what you’ll need for the perfect outdoor Valentines Day date:
Set the Mood for your Outdoor Valentines Day Date
Before you get cooking, take some time to plan where you want to spend your Valentines Day date. We’d suggest you leave the candles at home for this one. But picking the right place for your outdoor Valentines Day date is an important step. Keep your groups’ preferences in mind. If they love a good challenge, find a nearby trailhead and head out on a hike or explore a snowshoeing trail. Do they prefer a more relaxed pace? Pick a scenic lookout, fill the car with comfy blankets, and enjoy some fresh air from the back seat. Wherever you are, keep winter temperatures in mind. To ensure you’ll enjoy your time and keep cold toes at bay, consider bringing extra layers, hand warmers, and a thermos full of something warm to sip on.
Pack the Perfect Surprise
They say the fastest way to the heart is through the stomach, and we’d have to agree. And, the benefits of eating outside are great, so there’s no reason not to share some food in nature this Valentines Day. So for this Valentines Day date idea, we’re bringing you a two-course fondue recipe that’s surprisingly easy (but we won’t tell). Didn’t think fondue was an outdoor meal? Think again. This recipe uses simple ingredients that’ll fit into a daypack, so you can keep this a surprise well past the trailhead. Plus, use compostable bamboo plates and bamboo pot scrapers to make clean up quick and easy.
Savory Beer-Cheese Fondue and Decadent Dark Chocolate Fondue
Ingredients:
- 1 can lager or NA beer of choice
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ loaf of Italian bread, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ⅓ cup dark chocolate chips
- ¼ cup half and half
- 1 large apple, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, halved
Eco-Friendly Cookware and Tools:
- Portable Stove with full fuel canister (a backpacking stove works great)
- Bambu Spatula
- Lighter
- 1 liter of water
- Bambu Veneerware plates
- 1 set double-boiler pans (optional: 2nd top pan)
- Bambu Chopsticks
- Trash bag
- Washable, reusable bag
- Bambu Pot Scraper
Step 1. Before you head outside for your Valentines Day date, do some quick prep. Cut your dipping ingredients (the bread, apples, and strawberries) into your desired size (around 1 inch is best), and store them in packable, reusable containers. If you’re heading away from your car for your Valentines Day date, find a backpack large enough to fit your fondue kit (try it out beforehand to make sure).
Step 2. When you’re ready to enjoy your fondue treat, start by setting up your stove. Then, pour the liter of water into the base of your double boiler. Light the stove and put the top pan on your boiler. Wait 2-3 minutes for the water to begin boiling, then add the ½ cup of cheese. Using the Bambu spatula, slowly pour in about 3 tablespoons of beer. Always start with less beer and add more if the fondue is too thick. For the best fondue experience, aim for a beer/cheese mixture that’s thick enough to stick to your spatula, but thin enough to drip off of it easily.
Step 3. Once your beer-cheese fondue is fully melted to the desired texture, it’s time for fun! Use the Bambu chopsticks to grasp each piece of bread and dip into the fondue. To practice the best Leave No Trace principles and keep drips from falling on the ground, place dipped pieces on a compostable plate. Enjoy!
Step 4. When you’re done with your first course, remove the top pot and allow it to cool slightly. Then, use a bamboo pot scraper to remove any remaining beer cheese fondue, and toss remains in a trash bag. Want to save all cleanup for home? Bring a second top pot to have separate pots for each fondue course.
Step 5. Place the top pot back on top of the boiler base pan. Place dark chocolate chips in the pan and wait 30-60 seconds for chocolate to begin to melt. Then add in half and half. As with the beer-cheese, start with a splash of half and half and add more if the mixture is too thick. Use the bamboo spatula to mix chocolate and half and half until melted completely. The desired texture for the chocolate fondue is slightly thicker than the beer-cheese.
Step 6. Once the chocolate fondue has achieved the desired texture, dessert is ready. Use bamboo chopsticks to dip apples and strawberries into chocolate and serve on Veneerware compostable bamboo plates.
Step 7. To clean up, place all reusable items (chopsticks, pots, and spatula) in the washable bag and place compostable plates in the trash bag. Don’t forget to look around for any accidental trash or food scraps before you pack up!
Why use Bambu camp cookware for your camping recipes?
Bamboo camp cookware has several benefits. Camp cookware made from bamboo won’t harm, stick to, or scratch your dishes. Non-stick bamboo camp cookware is especially important in the outdoors where cleaning is more difficult. Searching for the best camping cookware for the family? Bamboo cookware is naturally non-toxic, and you can be sure that any camp cookware made by Bambu is certified and sustainably sourced. As outdoor enthusiasts ourselves, we pride ourselves in making simple bamboo camp cookware that’s durable, lightweight, and as eco-friendly as it is user-friendly. Plus, choosing compostable bamboo plates for your outdoor Valentines Day date lets you focus on enjoying quality time, and not on the cleanup.
Find more like this camping recipe and other tips for eco-friendly camping at Gritty Gourmet.
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