Girls’ Game Night

A few girlfriends and I have started getting together once a month for a light-hearted, mildly competitive game night. The focus isn’t on the activity–which game, what rules or who wins–but on friendship, cocktails, food and gossip. ☺ We all thought that creating a monthly game night would give us a reason to set a standing date with each other so time wouldn’t keep slipping by without us all getting together to laugh, eat and catch up.
This month was my turn to play hostess, a role I very much enjoy.

Because it is a casual game night, I focused on easy finger foods.  No utensils required.  Chicken salad sandwiches, chips and fresh salsa and mint chocolate dessert bites.

Chicken Salad

Roasted chicken, de-boned and chopped

2/3 cup mayo

1T mustard

1 tomato, chopped

handful of grapes, sliced

pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together until incorporated.  Cover and chill until time to serve.  Serve on choice of bread or crackers.*

*Shown here served on whole grain white deli flats.

Fresh Salsa

4 large tomatoes, chopped

1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped

1 sweet banana pepper, chopped

1 jalapeno pepper, chopped

1-2T cilantro, chopped

juice of one lime

salt and pepper, to taste

Mix all ingredients together for a chunky salsa or purée for a finer, restaurant style salsa.  Chill until time to serve.

Mint Chocolate Dessert Bites

1 box yellow cake mix

1 can chocolate frosting

peppermint patties

Mix and make yellow cake according to package directions.  Let cool completely and frost.  Put in freezer to chill for at least 2 hours.

Pull chilled cake from freezer and cut into bite-sized pieces.  Place each piece into a mini muffin cup.

Cut peppermint patties into 4’s.  Put a quarter of each patty on top of each bite-sized cake.

Return to fridge to keep cold until time to serve.