Are You Game For This Meal?
So you like having folks over for dinner, but you’re not too crazy about the cooking part?
Enter Stir Crazy, a new game from Decipher Inc. (of How To Host A Murder mystery game fame). Invite up to a dozen people, divide them into two teams and have them compete to create a dinner - without the benefit of recipes - from a list of groceries that you buy. (You can play, too, or, better yet, sit back and watch everybody else spoil the broth.)
Stir Crazy comes in three versions - Mexican, Italian and Oriental - and sells in stores for around $30. The game comes with invitations, a 60-minute audio cassette of theme music and instructions, team name tags and aprons, chef hats and forms for voting on who makes the best chow (not to mention “The Dish The Dog Wouldn’t Eat.”)
Now all you have to do is talk somebody into putting it under your tree.
Market report
The Spokane MarketPlace, downtown in the Spokane Transit Authority’s Plaza for the winter, will be open both Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through December, focusing on handcrafted holiday gifts along with a few food products. And when the weather returns to normal, look for the return of the yummy Mrs. B’s pies from Benton City.
Party flavors
Looking for a few last-minute ideas for holiday goodies? Here are some sources:
A free brochure of things kids can make for the holidays, such as reindeer snacks and Santa Claus cookies, is available from Betty Crocker by calling toll-free to (888) 275-2388. Between 5:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. PST, operators are available to answer cooking questions.
Necco is offering a free brochure of treats made with its candies, including a Necco wafer gingerbread house, chocolate malted cheesecake and gingerbread waffles with Mary Janes praline cream. Call toll-free to (800) 586-3226.
The Darigold dairy cooperative has leaflets on nonalcoholic holiday drinks and easy entertaining recipes, along with rules for its “Holiday MixIn Contest” (grand prize: a Calphalon cookware set). Send a stamped, self-addressed, business-sized envelope to: Holiday Quick, Darigold Inc., P.O. Box 79026, Seattle, WA 98119-7926.
Tabasco’s “Party! Party!” booklet is full of festive food and drink recipes, from Feta Avocado Spread to Jalapenoritas (yes, margaritas with hot pepper sauce). Send $1 (check, cash or money order), the words “Party! Party!” (typed or printed, presumably) and your name and address to: McIlhenny Co., Dept. PTY, Avery Island, LA 70513.
, DataTimes