That's The Spirit! Bunco Food & Appetizers

Bunco night is the perfect excuse to get together with your girlfriends and try out new recipes. Are you searching for some new ones? Are you having a hard time deciding on the quantity of food and drink? Here’s a mini-guide to help you in your estimation. Now, if your bunco group is relatively new or if some members are only casually acquainted, you might go through less food. You know how it is, sometimes women are just shy or polite and won’t pig out on a new dessert. One to two recipes will suffice. If your group has been meeting long term and you are really good friends, send a request in your invitation or evite requesting three or four dishes that match that month’s theme. For wine, plan on 1/2 bottle of wine per person per two-hour period. If your event begins before 5 pm, or if you also plan on serving hard liquor or beer, then plan on 1/2 bottle per person per three hour period. If the guests will be serving themselves, plan for 10% more wine.

Bunco Dinner Parties - Each bottle of wine provides 5 servings at 5 oz. each or 6 servings at 4 oz. each. If you are pairing wine with a meal, plan 1-1.5 servings of wine per course. Here is how to calculate the number of bottles you require of each wine: Multiply the number of people you are serving by the number of glasses (on average) each will drink. Then divide by 5 for 5 oz. pour or by 6 for a 4 oz. pour. Example - 12 people x 3 = 36/6 = 6 bottles.

Glassware - If you are having more than 12 people over for a party I feel that you should purchase plastic wine glasses. This way you can aquire the type of glass that you need to go with the theme of party you are hosting, and if there is any breakage it won't be your good glasses. If purchasing party glasses you should get two glasses per person (one for wine, the other for water).

How much wine to plan on serving? If the weather is going to be warm and your event starts before 5 pm then you should plan on serving about 70% white/rose wine and 30% red wine. If it is more of an evening affair, you should plan of serving about 40% white/rose and 60% red. Again, you you’re your bunco buds, so buy accordingly.

Just like anything, if you take the time to plan out your gathering ahead of time, the more smoothly it will go the day of the event. Have fun, drink happy and roll safe. Here’s a yummy chocolate recipe that is cool to make on a hot spring or summer night. Plan ahead, because parts of it need to sit overnight and then it needs to be kept in the fridge until you are ready to serve. Death By Chocolate One package brownies, made according to package directions and cooled 1 bottle Khalua 3 Heathbars, crushed 1 large box chocolate pudding 16 oz cool whip, thawed After the brownies are cool, pour 1 c Khalua over and let them sit overnight. Cover. Slice in to squares and place half of the squares in the bottom of a punchbowl or large dish. Prepare the pudding according to package directions. Spoon half of the pudding over the brownie layer. Sprinkle half of the crushed Heath bars over the pudding. Layer with 8 oz cool whip. Repeat layers. Refrigerate until you are ready to serve. Planning drinks for spring and summer bunco nights is a blast – because you have so many cool, refreshing ideas. If you have 12 – 14 ladies, plan on using at least one batch of the following lemonade, unless you have another drink option as well. Raspberry Lemonade 2 cans lemonade from concentrate, thawed 1 bottle of raspberry vodka Lemon slices Ice In a large container, pour lemonade and 3 quarts of water. Pour in vodka and stir well. Garnish with lemon slices and ice, if desired. Serve in tall glasses with an umbrella or a fancy straw. Cheers- -DeAnna