EASY DOES IT

If you’re new to hosting and want to throw a dinner party before your friends leave town for the holidays, this easy menu makes it all doable, with flair.

For first-timers ready to try hosting a holiday dinner—perhaps before the gang leaves town for the holidays—this easy menu makes it all doable, with style.

CHOCOLATE SAUCE

A rich chocolate sauce that can be repurposed as a fondue dipping sauce if any is left.

½ cup (125 mL) cocoa powder ½ cup (125 mL) sugar

1 cup (250 mL) water

½ cup (125 mL) whipping cream 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla

¼ tsp (1 mL) salt

1 Sift cocoa and sugar into a medium pot. Slowly add water to cocoa mixture while whisking. Bring mixture to a boil. Add cream, bring mixture back to a boil then reduce to medium and simmer, whisking often, until reduced to 1 cup (250 mL), about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla and salt. Cool slightly before serving with cheesecake.

Makes 1 cup (250 mL) sauce