Anne Tyler Lord

Fun: 1.1.11 Party: Punch & Fondue

As some of you know, my site has hosted many parties for writers & anyone who loves creativity and fun.  I began with my first party last New Year’s Eve with the Once In A Blue Moon Party. However, my recent new job & health needs have reduced my online time in the last few months, and that has meant – NO PARTIES! It is time to correct that problem! One can only live so long without parties.

I want to thank my readers for this past year of fun and conversation and I look forward to a great 2011 with more merriment!

Let’s celebrate New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day with great food, fun and punch!

The Writer’s Life Coffeehouse

The Writer’s Life Coffeehouse is hosting a 1.1.11 fondue and punch party for writers! As you can see, I have decorated with low tables and beanbag chairs arranged in small groupings around the coffeehouse. Pull up a bag and join your friends in some dip and punch.

The conversation topics are – What were your successes and challenges in 2010 and what are your hopes and dreams for 2011. But of course, I’m sure the punch will take the party in different directions.

Food

Be careful, the cheese is hot!

Nothing says fun with friends like fondue. Let’s begin by dipping eight different kinds of bread  into delicious gourmet cheese fondues. Yum!

Swiss Cheese and Tomato Fondue Gruyère cheese, Emmentaler cheese and plum tomatoes seasoned with garlic, oregano and white peper mixed in cream – Delicious!

Brie with Wild Mushroom Fondue porcini and shitake mushrooms mixed with shallots in a base of Brie cheese and white wine – mouth watering!

Goat Cheese and Herb Fondue Chevre (goat cheese), cream cheese and heavy cream infused with chives, fresh minced basil, tarragon and parsley – The triple cream threat!

Aged Cheddar Cheese and Beer Fondue Monterey Jack , Gruyère cheese and aged cheddar cheese with beer – How can you go wrong!

The second course is the entrée. Check these out:

Chicken Fondue with Chili Dip Chicken breast dipped in Chili Sauce – Spicy!

Beef Fondue Sirloin beef dipped in beef broth seasoned with Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard & garlic – A Classic

And for the vegetarians and everyone preferring veggies, the second course is:

Mushroom Fondue Mushrooms dipped in chicken stock and heavy cream with a dash of cayenne pepper. Try dipping some of the veggies in this delicious dip, zucchini, cooked carrots & broccoli are great too!

Dessert is very special. I have flown in delicious Swiss chocolate and fruit from every corner of the world. Dip your fruit into these delights!

Half Dark Chocolate Half Milk Chocolate Fondue To please both sides of your personality

Toblerone Fondue You heard me right. This fondue takes pieces of Toblerone bars and melts them in Cognac and heavy cream – Oh my!

Tasty Caramel Fondue too good to describe!

Punch

What is a party without a great drink? It’s not a party. Enjoy one of the hottest party drinks this season – punch! It is making a big comeback. And, please, no playing around in the punch until everyone has tried some.

Luscious Slush Punch with the flavors of strawberry, orange, pineapple and lemon (this is a big fav online)

And for those who really want their punch to pack a punch:

Kerri’s Holiday Punch Southern Comfort at it’s finest

Fun

New Year’s Eve

A tribute to Lena, who died this year. Her voice is amazing!

It doesn’t get more classic than this. For those of you who actually played records, here’s a little nostagia. I found it was mesmerizing to watch the record playing.

Happy New Year!

ABBA blast from the more recent past – check out that hair!

May you experience the ultimate in creativity in the New Year! I found this video and was captivated. Although I questioned a few points, I kept with it and then read further about Plato’s Cave. I consider myself to be an armchair philosopher and see how this viewpoint fits in with Plato’s ideas. Although I don’t think it is the ‘whole’ picture, it presents some interesting ideas to consider about creativity. (BTW, I loved the vintage clips that coordinated with the words so well).

I hope you are all having a Happy New Year. I am looking forward to some changes in 2011, including getting online more often and restoring my regular blog posting schedule. I also have a podcast in the works. Hmmm…may just have to quit my job soon, it seems to be getting in the way of my ‘real’ life.

Please let me know how you are doing at the end of 2010 and what your hopes and dreams are for 2011 – let’s catch up!

And, of course have fun at the party – fictional characters are always welcome!!

Note: Photos are from Photobucket and recipe sites, as linked. Videos are from YouTube, of course.

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Comments

20 responses to “Fun: 1.1.11 Party: Punch & Fondue”

  1. Estrella Azul

    Now this is what I call a party, oh that punch was amazing! Thanks for hosting, Anne, and just let me know if you need some help cleaning up that mess 🙂

    Hmmm… What were my successes and challenges in 2010 and what are your hopes and dreams for 2011?
    Well without getting too philosophical here, it is a party after all, 2010 has been one of the messiest, scariest, toughest, challenging, yet also one of the best years so far.
    It was great overcoming my fears in many aspects and situations, and as a writer, getting published in various enzines and in the BOFF was amazing. I can’t wait to do it all over again in 2011 🙂

    Here’s wishing you (and everyone else at the party) a wonderful, inspired, insightful and Happy New Year!

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Hi Estrella,

      My goodness, it sounds like you have really been through a big year. Isn’t it interesting how sometimes the very worst goes with the very best – I had a few years I can recall the same experience.

      Congrats on the writing front – great successes!

      Happy New Year to you!

  2. Angie

    hiya Anne! Happy New Year!

    mmmmm…cheeeeeese…..

    ooh, sorry, what were we talking about? Oh right, goals! 😉

    My goal is to find a way to balance out work with writing and play a little better. Too much work, not enough of anything else last year.

    Here’s to good health, happiness, and lots of writing in 2011. I have a feeling this year is going to be a good one!

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Hi Angie,

      Those are great goals! Down with work, up with fun & writing!

      I think this year is going to be a good one. Things are looking up everywhere, right?

  3. Deanna Schrayer

    I’m late! Not really unusual for I have been hibernating all week, doing nothing but reading, writing, and drawing and painting with the kids – such fun! But now it’s time to get with the program, I have to go back to work Monday and have so much to do (that yes, I should’ve done this past week), aside from work.

    Anywho, I hope to goodness there’s still some fondue and punch left over, and that Jezebel hasn’t ruined any of it. 🙂 That goat cheese fondue sounds devine! In fact the recipe is much like one I use for the sauce I make to go with goat cheese stuffed chicken breasts and fetuccini, which I’ve not made in a long time, need to do that.

    My new year’s goals? Ummmmm, well….I’m still trying to write them, but for sure they will involve not only writing but Completing writing projects, (a big downfall for me last year – I started several and didn’t finish them), and to actually submit stories rather than let them sit in a drawer and rot.
    I’m so glad to know that one of your goals is to be on line more Anne, we’ve missed you so much! And what better way to start this year with one of your superb parties! Thank you so much for all you do for our community Anne!

    Happy new year everyone! Now, where’s that champagne?

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Hi Deanna!

      That is great to hear you have taken an entire week off to just relax and enjoy yourself!

      I hear you with the need to complete projects, I’m much better at starting them.

      Help yourself, the fondue is still warming. You can never have too much fondue!

      Happy New Year to you! *Hands you some champagne*

  4. Jemi Fraser

    Great part (as always!)!! The fondues are awesome and it may be a while before I can move again!! 🙂

    Hope your 2011 brings you lots of joy and wonder!

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Hi Jemi!

      I’m glad you liked the fondue, no need to rush out, just sit back down and have some more.

      Happy New Year’s Day to you!

      Anne

  5. Lisa

    Anne, I think I gained ten pounds just from reading the titles of those fondues! 😀

    My challenges for 2010 were keeping my focus as my mind traveled all over the place and feeling very scattered (I’m blaming it on hormones and sticking to that story).

    My successes for 2010 in terms of writing were the publication of two books, several speaking engagements (including one in London–fun!), and getting an agent to represent my middle grade novel. (Thanks for the opportunity to think about this–it made me feel better about last year).

    My hopes and plans for 2011 are mainly about continuing to beef up my organizational skills, which do not come naturally, and to develop more discipline as a writer.

    I hope 2011 brings you good health.
    Hugs,
    Lisa

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Hi Lisa,

      Wow! You had a very successful 2010! Congrats on getting an agent for your middle grade novel, the speaking engagement in London and publishing two books! Amazing!

      Happy New Year to you and your family. I’m so glad we connected online!

      And, don’t worry, virtual food is calorie free – hehe!

      Anne

  6. Josie

    Woohoo, your parties are always fun, thanks for throwing one!

    Good to know your plans for 2011 and looking forward to seeing you online more often – likewise, I wish you plenty of creativity and progress in whichever ways are most fruitful for you. I appreciate you and your friendship – thank you.

    Me, I’m doing pretty good thanks. Therapy-training diploma going well (4 months into 2 yr p/t course) and it’s been a barn-stormin’ year in many ways. Just passed 100 posts on safetycomfort (with a trip round the houses!) and my words for 2011 are “warm, clear, simple, grounded, expanding.” So, rock on the new year and let’s have a good one.

    Love & blessings to you,
    Josie

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Hi Josie,

      I’m happy you stopped by. It sounds like you are also quite busy with school and you have really picked up on blog posting! Good for you!!

      Your words for 2011 are wonderful! What a simple, but amazing collection. I like that you included both grounded and expanding, it is so hard to get a balance of those two.

      Happy New Year!

  7. ganymeder

    >The conversation topics are – What were your successes and challenges in 2010 and what are your hopes and dreams for 2011. But of course, I’m sure the punch will take the party in different directions.<

    Good luck with your podcast! Please tweet a link to it when you put out your first one!

    My goals are just to keep writing, submitting, and hopefully sell more stories (and maybe some poems!) in the next year. I want to finish editing my Nanowrimo novel too and get better at podcasting.

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Hi Ganymeder,

      Your goals look very admirable. You will be very busy.

      I may need some podcasting tips. Luckily my hubby is running the technical part. He has been bugging me for 3 years to do podcasting.

      Happy New Year to you and mini-meder.

  8. Olivia Tejeda

    There’s no party like a “Don’t Fence Me In” party! I came with my own dunking fork. Mmmmm! Happy new year, Anne. May the year bring you all good things. Hugs to you, Tony and the family. ~ Olivia

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Hi Olivia,

      I’m jumpin’ up and down with guests arriving so soon! Thanks for the new year wishes! I send some back to you.

      Good thing you brought your own fork, I caught a strange, short little creature licking them earlier.

  9. Laura Eno

    What is New Year’s without one of your parties?
    Uhm…I’ve been sick and Jezebel wouldn’t let me out of the house without bringing her along to chaperone me.
    Wouldn’t you know it – the one thing she loves more than punch is (you guessed it) fondue. Maybe you could set up a separate table for her, out of Johnny’s way.
    Of course, if Sam’s bringing his pint-sized army then all bets are off. It will be quite a tangle…

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Oh Laura,

      I was just over at your site reading about your amazing dream! Now I’m hungry for fries, too.

      I have been thinking about you and wondering how you are doing. I hope you are not too sick and are getting better!! It sounds like Jezebel is taking good care of you. And, I did think of her when I made the punch. I didn’t know she liked fondue, please tell her to use a fork and not her tentacles. We don’t need any calamari at this party. Maybe I will make a cool dip for her. I’m sure Sam will bring some lively ‘characters’ to the party.

      Take care and get well!!

    2. Mari Juniper

      I’ll skip the successes and goals thing and go straight to the cheese fondue, and later the incredible deserts. Yuuum!

      Of course I’m sitting by Johnny, knowing that he’s on the opposite side of the room from Jezebel, heh. I wonder if he’ll forget he ever got married and get romantic with all this fondue and wine… ;D

      Great that you threw this party, Anne. I can use my dear friend’s warmth in this chilly end of year. Good call!

      Sending warm and good wishes to everyone, and some healing vibes to Laura. 🙂 <3

      1. Anne Tyler Lord

        Hi Mari,

        It is so good to see you! We need to catch up, but you enjoy Johnny tonight!

        Happy New Year to you!

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