Cooking Games and Pot Luck Specialties

I’m not sure how other people live, but we live for pot lucks around here it seems. Every time we have a gathering of family, we wind up bringing along dishes to try and feed the crowds of people that show up. Unfortunately for everyone else, I’m not a whiz at cooking games when it comes to making something authentic and homemade. I’m a whiz with boxes and instructions, however, so I usually do pretty well at least pulling that sort of thing together. But when it comes to cooking games for pot lucks, I usually rely on a favorite specialty – the fruit salad.

Fruit salad is accepted around the calendar and around the clock. If you have a brunch, bring a fruit salad. Having a picnic? Need fruit salad. A bit holiday dinner? Why not bring fruit salad. You can do so much with fruit and a few choice serving dishes. For summer fruit salads, I make a watermelon basket and fill it up with melon balls and berries. For a brunch, I bring a dip bowl filled with bright berries and a creamy whipped dip. For a special dinner, bust out the crystal serving bowl for a collection of exotic fruits. Simple cooking games? Absolutely – but it’s also absolutely delicious.

Cooking Game and Muffins

I’m not sure what it is, but the summer months make me want to make muffins. It’s become almost a tradition around my house. When the long days of summer roll around, we roll out of bed and pad around the house for a bit in our pajamas. A few short weeks ago we were rushing around to head out the door, but not anymore. Now we eventually plod into the kitchen to make muffins.

We aren’t fancy. Our cooking games for muffins are simple enough – we grab a box we like and use the ingredients that are required. Sometimes though we get a bit creative about the size of the muffins we make. With the same box of muffin mix, the cooking games can make six large muffins like you might get in a deli or you can make twelve small muffins that have a bit better effect on your waistline than the larger variety. With the muffin cooking games, however, you can also decide to ditch the muffins altogether and make a loaf instead. Think of the moist loaves of banana nut or cinnamon bread you can make for breakfast and I’m sure you’ll understand our fascination.

Cooking Games – Iced Brownies

One of the most delicious desserts out there are iced brownies. Cake is yummy, but when you combine the gooey deliciousness of brownies with a coating of cream cheese or chocolate icing, things are perfect – how can you get better than gooey chocolate coated with more gooey chocolate. To make these delicious iced brownies, you need only two things – brownie mix from the store and a container of icing. They sell brownie mixes that have them both, but I find it’s more fun to create your own mix and blend by picking out a richer brownie mix and your own icing.

Once you have your icing and mix, make the brownies as instructed. You’ll need to wait for them to cool completely before you try to put any icing on top, so plan to wait about an hour or so. Then, simply pull out that icing and a spatula and get to lathering. Brownies can take a lot of icing and still be good, but you don’t want to overdo it – these aren’t cupcakes after all. When you’re finished putting the icing on the brownies, cut them up and serve – be sure to provide napkins, of course. These gooey treats can be a bit messy!

Cooking Games – Ice Cream Party

Now that the months are warmer, you should absolutely focus on having fun with friends, and what better way to have fun with friends than with an ice cream party. Playing with ice cream is a great way to stay cool and a nice way to treat yourself to a delicious summer party idea. To have an ice cream party, you don’t need much outside of a few friends, some decorations, and of course, plenty of ice cream.

To plan the ice cream party, take yourself to the store to see what you can find in the way of fun summer party decorations. Then, you’ll want to head to the grocery store to gather up plenty of ice cream flavors and toppings. Look for lots of different sprinkles and candy choices as well as some fresh fruit. When you get home, arrange it all in a pretty way around the serving table – use your new party bowls to display the choices and let everyone make their own ice cream sundaes. Then, eat to your heart’s content and enjoy their company as well.