Pink poker chip set from World PokerTour.com
On Saturday night we hosted our first-annual Card Night! My cousin and her husband came by for a casual night of playing cards, good food and lots of laughs. I highly recommend this recession-friendly activity.
We kept it low-key, focusing on the game, food and drinks, so of course, I am anxious to talk about our menu (sorry, forgot to take photos)! Here was our “pub-style” menu:
Sliders. I’m addicted. I used ground sirloin, an egg, bread crumbs and teriyaki sauce (what? YES...it gives it nice flavor). Roll your pieces the size of a meatball and then flatten into a patty. Under the broil about 4 minutes each side and you’re done. Serve them on dinner rolls. Prepare at least 4 per person.
Toppings:
Watermelon, tomato and basil skewers. This is a condensed version of my cousin’s recipe. Cut up watermelon and tomatoes into bite-size chunks and thread onto bbq skewers alternating with torn pieces of basil. Just before serving, sprinkle on lemon juice, salt and cracked pepper. Delicious and refreshing.
Garlic Fries. Run to your local Trader Joe’s and pick them up. They taste like warm garlic knots married crispy fries.
Cocktails. Beer goes nicely, but try and seek out specialties from local breweries to make it interesting.
We ate before playing and then had a variety of snacks to munch on while we played. Tortilla chips, mini pitas and your favorite dips will do the trick. Then, before we called it a night….S’mores!
Classic S’mores calls for marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers. Might I recommend the thick-cut cinnamon graham crackers from Trader Joe’s and Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate…oh, and then you must try making S’mores with Nutella…this chocolate hazelnut spread should be a staple in everyone’s pantry.
As for the actual playing, some of us still might have a way to go, but it was a blast learning!
We kept it low-key, focusing on the game, food and drinks, so of course, I am anxious to talk about our menu (sorry, forgot to take photos)! Here was our “pub-style” menu:
Sliders. I’m addicted. I used ground sirloin, an egg, bread crumbs and teriyaki sauce (what? YES...it gives it nice flavor). Roll your pieces the size of a meatball and then flatten into a patty. Under the broil about 4 minutes each side and you’re done. Serve them on dinner rolls. Prepare at least 4 per person.
Toppings:
- Chopped-up turkey bacon mixed into crumbled bleu cheese.
- Carmelized onions
- Cheddar
- Ketchup, pickles and other condiments as appropriate to your guests.
Watermelon, tomato and basil skewers. This is a condensed version of my cousin’s recipe. Cut up watermelon and tomatoes into bite-size chunks and thread onto bbq skewers alternating with torn pieces of basil. Just before serving, sprinkle on lemon juice, salt and cracked pepper. Delicious and refreshing.
Garlic Fries. Run to your local Trader Joe’s and pick them up. They taste like warm garlic knots married crispy fries.
Cocktails. Beer goes nicely, but try and seek out specialties from local breweries to make it interesting.
We ate before playing and then had a variety of snacks to munch on while we played. Tortilla chips, mini pitas and your favorite dips will do the trick. Then, before we called it a night….S’mores!
Classic S’mores calls for marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers. Might I recommend the thick-cut cinnamon graham crackers from Trader Joe’s and Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate…oh, and then you must try making S’mores with Nutella…this chocolate hazelnut spread should be a staple in everyone’s pantry.
As for the actual playing, some of us still might have a way to go, but it was a blast learning!
