Let The Games Begin!
Whether you are a Monopoly master, a poker shark or the family Scrabble champion, Game Night at home is the perfect way to get the gang together any night of the week.
The key to a successful game-centric gathering is to pick an activity that all of your guests can play. If there are beginners in the bunch, make sure to have the rules of the game
close at hand and spend some time getting
them up to speed.
SIMPLY BETTER COCKTAILS
Impress your guests with some expert mixology by serving a special cocktail that goes with the theme and vibe of your party.
For a casual Game Night, we like to make a big batch of Stirrings Valencia Sangria in a vintage punch bowl with sliced oranges, lemons and limes for a festive touch.
SIMPLY BETTER FOOD
With the game as the center of attention, think about preparing crowd- pleasing favorites that can be easily replenished throughout the night.
Since you’ll be playing with cards, chips or letters, stay away from sticky, greasy food such as chicken wings that will make for messy hands.
Carla Ruben of Creative Edge Parties suggests a menu of bite sized burgers and savory snacks that will keep guests satiated all night long. For a recent Game Night Party,
the celebrity caterer served Mini Yellow Fin Tuna Burgers, Puff Pastry Pizza, Curried Nut Mix, Sweet Potato Pretzels and Sweet & Salty Popcorn.
SIMPLY BETTER TIMES
Look beyond the board game. For a fun, affordable activity, try playing “Celebrity.” All you need is a stack of small pieces of paper, some pens and a bowl.
Ask each guest to write down ten celebrity names including any recognizable person from pop culture, film, art, music, sports etc.
Additional names can be fictional characters (Sherlock Holmes), historical figures (Queen Elizabeth) or mythological creatures (Zeus).
The goal is to guess as many names in the allotted time (one minute).
Here's how you play:
Fold each piece of paper and place all names into the bowl. Guests separate into two teams.
The first player selects a name from the bowl and has one minute to act and speak clues for their team to guess the celebrity name.
Once time is up, their score is the number of correct guesses. Then the next team plays and each group alternates until all team members have a chance to play and all names have been
guessed.
For round two, the same names go back into the bowl but this time the team member can only say one word for their teammates to guess. For round three,
the player cannot speak and must act out the clues.
The winning team is the one with the highest score from all the rounds!
Recipe
Puff Pastry Pizza with Broccoli and Ricotta
Recipe courtesy of Creative Edge Parties
Ingredients
1 package (10 ounces) of Puff Pastry Sheets
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups small broccoli florets
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (about 4 ounces)
Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Roll the pastry shells into 7-inch circles on a
lightly floured surface. Place the pastries onto 2 large baking sheets. Prick the pastries thoroughly with a fork. Bake for 10 minutes.
Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the broccoli and garlic powder and cook until the broccoli is tender-crisp.
Stir the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and egg in a medium bowl. Spread the mixture over the pastries to within 1/2-inch of the edges. Top with the broccoli mixture and sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese melts. Slice and serve immediately.
Spiced Nuts
A simple savory and sweet snack that is perfect for any type of party.
Ingredients
2 cups halved pecans (and/or cashews, almonds or other nuts)
1 egg white
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cayenne pepper
Directions
Preheat over to 350 degrees.
Line baking sheet with aluminum foil. Whisk together egg whites and water in a small bowl. Add all ingredients except for the nuts and whisk again. Stir in nuts until well coated with spice mixture. Spread mixture evenly on lined baking sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from heat to stir the nuts. Place back in oven for another 10-15 minutes or until medium brown. Be careful not to burn the nuts. Let cool completely then break nuts apart.
Store for up to two weeks in an airtight container at room temperature.
Tip/Trend
Self Service
Using pitchers or large drink dispensers can save you from playing bartender all night long. Sangria, margaritas and other batched drinks are easy to prepare in advance and perfect for self-service. Line up rows of glasses, garnishes and napkins next to the bar. Don’t forget that your ice will dilute the drink so have some cubes available in a separate container.
Cozy Comfort
Make your guests feel at home in your home by creating a casual environment for them to kick back and relax. Design a gaming area by setting oversized pillows around your coffee table and sofa so more people can sit around and play. Place an extra throw on the sofa and lower the lighting, which will make the vibe cozy and inviting.
Everyone's a Winner
It might be all in good fun but let's face it, everyone loves to win. Hand out prizes at the end of the night to the winners with a little something for the losers so that no one goes home empty-handed. Instead of dollar store gag gifts that just go to waste, invest in items that your guests will appreciate such as gourmet chocolate bars or, if you played “Celebrity,” a subscription to your favorite celebrity gossip magazine!
A seasoned event planner and entertaining expert, Celia Chen is the Founder and Editorial Director of Notes on a Party, an online magazine about entertaining that celebrates Events from the Inside Out™. For more inspiration, ideas and tips on party planning, visit http://www.notesonaparty.com.
Want more drink ideas to help plan your Game Night? Check out our top choices.