An almost foolproof recipe for a fun birthday

 Ingredients:

• A fridge stuffed full of food waiting to be prepared
• 3 Teenagers and Husband and over helpful cat (evicted from the kitchen on numerous occasions)
• 3 fondue pots, two from charity shops (thrift store) and a borrowed pot
• Spices and fruit juices for the mulled apple punch
• Breads and garlic breads
• Mountain of baking potatoes
• A huge chocolate cake
• Many dips, sauces and sauces
• Slabs of chocolate and strawberries for the chocolate fondue and fruit salad for desert
• A cold and snowy Sunday

Method:

• Get two of the three teenagers to assemble the fondue pots - two had never been used before and still had their labels one - one pot was from the 1970s! (cue thoughtful looks and mild confusion from same teenagers as they set up)
• Then direct the same teenagers to chop and slice and dice and cut meat. cucumber,courgette, mushroom, cheese, tomatoes, onions, peppers, celery and anything else they can wield their knives through. (Tidy kitchen after them)
• Sort out youngest teenager and husband to bring in extra chairs and table and arrange seating
• Start laying out the vast quantities of bowls filled with nibbles, meats and forks
• Be prepared for visitors bringing more delicious food

• Stick the kettle on, serve warmed punch, tea and coffee with the cake
• Toast the birthday boy (sorry - young man) and quietly remember his first day - with us 17 years ago and wonder where the time has gone and feel proud at the young man he is becoming.
• Light fondue burners and feast through the evening regaling stories and tales and laughing as food is being eaten

Happy birthday beautiful - we love you x