Hi everyone! Jackie here from Dark Elf Dice. Mac is off this week so I’m guest writing this week’s Game Night: The Blog post. Mac told me to write about anything I wanted. “Anything” is a pretty big field, so I decided to narrow the post down to two things I really enjoy: role playing games and food. I love exploring dungeons and I love to cook. Who knows, maybe I’m part hobbit. So here it goes…
Even Stooges get hungry!
It’s game night, and you’ve invited some of your friends over to your place for a good old fashioned role playing game. You’re totally psyched and can’t wait to start playing. You have the game mat laid out, the miniatures, your rpg dice and everything is all set….suddenly, there’s a knock at the door. Your guests have arrived, and you all settle down for a great evening of fun. Then Moe comments offhandedly, “Man, I sure am hungry.” Your other friend Larry nods in agreement. “What’ve ya got to eat??” he asks eagerly. “I hope it’s something good,” says Curly.
You stop to think a moment, realizing that you don’t have anything in the fridge worth sharing, and you’re quite frankly too embarrassed to offer everyone some old KFC leftovers….
As silly as the above scenario sounds, I contend that snacks are an important part of gaming. It’s hard for your friends to fully appreciate the fighting prowess of your elf warrior taking down a band of owlbears when your stomach is rumbling so loud it sounds like a freight train. So, here are five quick and easy snacks to have on hand the next time you invite your buddies over.
Chips Ahoy!
– Chips. I think chips are the most common snack set out during game night. Everyone likes them, especially if you have dip, but there IS a downside to this flavorful snack. No, I’m not talking about the recent Harvard study that says potato chips are one of the culprits of steady weight gain throughout life (like it takes an ivy league professor to figure that one out!). No, I’m talking about the seasoning and grease that coats your fingers and runs the risk of messing up your wonderfully painted miniatures. Not only that, but if you’ve got four or more people crunching on chips during your game, it can be unnerving and make it difficult to hear what’s going on. Still, chips are always a popular choice (even with the downside). Just make sure you have plenty of napkins available. For a less messy alternative, try pretzels or nachos.
– Cookies. I don’t think anyone can pass up a good cookie. Cookies are another nice snack to put out for your guests during game night. Chocolate chip is probably the most popular, but if you want to try something different, peanut butter, sugar, and double chocolate cookies are very good, too. In fact, we have a recipe for double chocolate cookies right here on our blog. Just make sure you have a gallon of milk handy! Nothing sadder than eating cookies without a cold glass of milk to go with it.
– Veggie tray. Okay, I know what you’re thinking…why a veggie tray? Isn’t game night a great excuse to eat junk food? While chips and cookies taste good, a veggie tray is a nice healthy alternative. Carrots, celery and whatever else you can think of make a nice veggie tray. Pretty much any vegetable tastes good with ranch dip, or even by itself. Nicely arrange your cut veggies on a serving plate and your guests will be impressed!
Say cheese!
– Cheese and crackers. All right, I’m from Wisconsin. If I didn’t mention cheese in a post about food I’d be violating at least three state statutes. Wisconsin is the dairy state and we wear wedges of cheese on our heads (yeah, I know is sounds crazy, but it actually is sort of fun!). Take it from this “cheesehead”: slices of colby, cheddar, or monterey jack are an awesome snack when parred with your favorite crackers.
– Pizza. Is there anyone out there who doesn’t like pizza? I didn’t think so! It doesn’t take long to heat up a few frozen pizzas for a group of hungry gamers. No frozen pizzas on hand? No worries! Just call your local pizza joint (most deliver). If everyone ponies up a couple bucks you’ll have enough cash on hand for a large pizza or two with extra toppings. Just remember the napkins — pizza is another snack with the potential for disaster. Nothing like pizza sauce dripped on the pages of your Dungeon Masters Guide to give it character.
Do you have a favorite snack for game night? Leave a comment in the reply section below and share your ideas with your fellow gamers 🙂
darkelfdice 