by Maria Geraci
DRUNKOBABES
MIDLOTHIAN, VIRGINIA
Chocolate Martinis
1½ ounces dark crème de cacao
1½ ounces Godiva chocolate liqueur
1 ounce vodka
Stir all the ingredients together and serve.
Note: These martinis are also tasty with milk or half-and-half added, in whatever proportions you desire.
ABOUT THE DRUNKOBABES
Our Bunco group started up in January 2008. We had such a good time at a New Year’s Eve party that we decided we needed to get together more often and our Bunco group was born. We meet up once a month, usually on the third Saturday of the month and everyone takes a turn hosting (although we’re pretty informal about the turn-taking). We have slowly morphed into having “themed” nights—Cinco de Mayo (with killer blue margaritas), St. Patrick’s feast, wine and cheeses, grill nights (complete with s’mores in a fire pit), and chocolate for Valentine’s Day—just to name a few.
Our newest bit of fun is a traveling pig. The pig arrived at the January hostess’s house with a poem telling about his life and why he has run away from his farm to our Bunco group. The end of the poem instructed the members to “provide new text.” So, on the pig has traveled, going to a new member’s house each month, complete with a new poem or story! We are saving the poems that get written and have put them in a plastic sleeve so they don’t go missing. The pig is DEFINITELY a highlight of our get-togethers!
LITTLE ROCK BUNKO BABES
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
Ice Cream Heath Bar Dessert
20-24 ice cream sandwiches
1 bag of mini Heath Bars, crushed cup Amaretto
1 small container of Cool Whip
In a 13x9-inch baking pan, position the ice cream sandwiches on their sides. Squeeze them in tightly. If you use a different size pan, adjust the number of sandwiches.
Place in freezer for a few minutes to reset.
Pour the Amaretto lightly over the ice cream sandwiches. You can use slightly more or less, depending on how strong you want it.
Sprinkle most of the Heath Bar pieces over the top and press in lightly.
Top with the Cool Whip, flavored with a bit more Amaretto to taste.
Sprinkle top with remaining Heath Bar pieces and “dust.”
Freeze until firm.
Remove from freezer 30 minutes before serving.
LITTLE ROCK BUNKO BABES TIPS
Never look a monkey in the eye.
Always serve alcohol.
Always RSVP.
Always pass to the right, AND
ALWAYS play it like you mean it.
BUNCO MAMAS CALIENTES
MELBOURNE, FLORIDA
(This is my mother’s group!)
Cuban Mojitos
Yield: one serving. Repeat recipe
to make as many as you like.
Mint leaves, to taste
Juice from 1 lime
1 teaspoon powdered sugar
2 ounces white rum
2 ounces club soda
Crushed ice
Place the mint leaves into a tall glass and squeeze the lime juice over it. Add the powdered sugar, then gently crush the mint, lime juice, and sugar together. Add crushed ice. Stir in the rum and top off with the club soda. Garnish with a mint sprig.
Salud!
Bunco Mamas Calientes Super Secret Quiche
Recipe courtesy of Carmen Palacios
Step 1. Get in car and go to grocery store (Publix is my favorite).
Step 2. Go to Bakery section and pick up 2 quiches from selections available.
Step 3. Drive home.
Step 4. Remove from box and heat according to directions.
Step 5. Place warmed quiche on platter. May garnish with parsley or basil leaves.
Delicious!
ABOUT THE BUNCO MAMAS CALIENTES:
We are a group of retired ladies from different Latina backgrounds who gather on the last Tuesday of the month. We meet at ten a.m. and start with brunch. Then we play several rounds of Bunco and break up around one p.m. or whenever we run out of gossip.
Once a month we invite our husbands to play with us for Couples Bunco. We usually play on a Friday evening and do a dinner buffet. We aren’t sure who loves playing more—us or our husbands!
TALLAHASSEE BUNCO BROADS
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
Bunco Broad Slushie
This slushie mix is our signature drink.
It’s guaranteed to please!
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 large can pineapple juice
2 liters 7-Up or Sprite
1 can frozen orange juice concentrate
1 can water (using the above OJ concentrate container)
2½ to 3 cups vodka
1 small jar of cherries (drained, no stems)
Heat sugar and 1 cup of water on stovetop until sugar is dissolved. Cool completely.
In a large bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients.
Add the cooled sugar water to the pineapple juice mixture and freeze in Ziploc gallon freezer bags. Remove the bags from the freezer 2 to 3 hours before serving so consistency is “slushie.”
ABOUT THE BUNCO BROADS:
This is my own Bunco group! We play the first Wednesday of the month from September to May. We don’t play in June and July because so many of us are out of town for summer vacation. In August, we plan a “Bunco organization” meeting (usually at Debbie’s house). We catch up on everything that’s happened over the summer and plan the coming schedule.
December Bunco is always special. For the past several years we’ve either adopted a family or donated our Bunco money to local groups who collect toys for children. Last year, we bought infant items to donate to Tallahassee YoungLives, a nonprofit group that helps teen moms build better lives for themselves and their children.
Bunco isn’t just about rolling the dice and winning prizes. It’s also about building relationships, being part of the community, and of course, having fun!