Fondue is possibly the most delicious and fun food ever made. Who doesn't like dipping yummy things into drippy, melted cheese?

Or, if you're ready for desert, how about swirling cool strawberries into a warm, creamy pool of chocolate? Sounds like fun doesn't it?

The term "fondue" comes from the French word "fondre" ("to melt"). This, of course, refers to the contents of a fondue pot. Fondue is enjoyed by spearing dipping ingredients with a fork and then dunking them into the cheese or chocolate mixture. Dipping ingredients for cheese fondue include: chunks of French bread, meats, and vegetables such as broccoli, potatoes, and peppers.

Some great dipping ingredients for chocolate fondue are: strawberries, bananas, chunks of pound cake, cheesecake, and small cookies.

There are also Hot Oil Fondues for dipping meats like beef, chicken and shrimp. These are usually served with small bowls of sauces for dipping. Oil fondue is traditionally called Fondue Bourguignonne. It's probably the most popular meat fondue, but there are other fondue's such as Hot Pot fondue that uses broth instead of oil to cook the meat. Broth fondue is a great choice, it gives the meat a great flavor but it's also very healthy.

So what do you need to start cooking fondue? A fondue pot of course! You can find a usually find a nice new fondue pot at any large department store for under fifty dollars. Fondue is so easy to prepare and so much fun to eat that it's worth the investment of a fondue pot if you don't have one.