Bittersweet Chocolate Orange Fondue

1/3 cup whipping cream
1 1/2 teaspoons (packed) grated orange peel
8 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
3 tablespoons Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur

8 1-inch pieces pound cake
8 1-inch pieces angel food cake
8 fresh strawberries, hulled
2 kiwis, peeled, each cut into 4 rounds
1 small pear, cored, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large banana, cut into 8 rounds
1 orange, peel and white pith removed, cut into sections
8 dried Calimyrna figs
8 dried apricot halves

Bring whipping cream and grated orange peel to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Reduce heat to low. Add chopped chocolate and 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier; whisk until mixture is smooth. Remove fondue from heat and blend in remaining
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier.

Transfer fondue to fondue pot. Place over candle or canned heat burner. Serve with cake pieces and fruit for dipping.

Serves: 4 (doubled for epicureaders)

Source: Bon Appetit, February 1997

Prepared by: Lena for the November 2011 meeting.