Have You Got Game?

JENN MCKINLAY: We recently had a cold snap here in AZ, and by cold I mean the highs were in the low fifties. Yes, yes, I know, this is nothing for you northern folks, why, it’s practically T-shirt weather. Whatever. Because we live in the land of sun, when we hit our third day straight of rain, we were perplexed. What do people do when they can’t be outside all day? I even work outside on a cushy lounge chair on the patio most of the time. We were boggled.

Speaking of boggle, it occurred to us that this was the perfect time to dust off the old board games. I mean you can Netflix stream yourself into a coma to pass the time, but every now and again it’s nice to connect with your people over haggling for rent, the correct spelling of a word, or some queen to rook trash talk, am I right? Of course, finding myself on the losing end of a chess match was not how I pictured my day going, but hey, at least there were snacks. 

So, upon review, here are my top three board games - the big daddy of them all -- Monopoly! Honestly, I knew I had reached a new level of maturity when going to jail (three squares and a bed!) was a relief from being shaken down by a hooligan for rent. Next, is Scrabble. I have a friend who vets potential boyfriends by their ability with a Scrabble board. If they can’t give her decent competition, they’re outta there! And lastly, chess. It’s a fave, primarily because it fascinated me forever as something only really smart people could play, so when the hooligans came along, I put them in chess club in elementary school so they could teach me. Our favorite to play  is a wizard chess set from Harry Potter, natch.

Of course, dusting off our old games like Sorry (should be called Sorry, Not Sorry), Rummikub, and Sequence brought back a million memories of times spent together playing, learning how to be gracious winners and losers, and some epic marathons that lasted for days. Curious, I had to look up what the most popular board games are. See: The 10 Most Popular Board Games and How They Made Gaming Better Spoiler alert: chess is number one. Also are board games even still a thing? They are. A new trend that’s happening is board game cafes like Snakes and Lattes in Toronto. See more: Board Games Are Getting Really, Really Popular and their popularity is expected to continue to surge through 2023. 

So, apparently the gloomy weather, turned us onto something. So, what about you, Reds? Do you like board games and, if so, what are your favorites?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I love board games, I am SO guilty of it!  We played Risk , endlessly, through my 20s at dinner parties. (We were wild and crazy, RISK and fondue and Tavola Red. :-) ) 

I also love TRIVIAL PURSUIT, and um, what’s it called? Something where you have to recognize songs and lyrics.  Also FACTS IN FIVE where you have a grid of five across and five down, and each player picks a topic like rivers, song titles, Italian foods, politicians, dead architects, or whatever and you write those down the side.  And then the moderator picks five letters of the alphabet that you write across the top of the grid. Then you have five minutes to get each box filled. (Does that make sense?) A dead architect that begins with W, for instance.  I also adore Scrabble, until I played with Jonathan-- but he is too good, so, sadly, we had an earthquake (how did it happen?) and that was the end of Scrabble. I am a terrible loser. 

Oh--my grandkids love Settlers of Kataan (is that what it is?) and some game about trains where you have to build train tracks. SO complicated, and they all seem to be about economics. They also taught me how to play Magic, which is INCREDIBLY hard, and I swear to you they are making up the roles as they go to fool Grammy.

LUCY BURDETTE: We also played Risk and Monopoly and Chutes and Ladders endlessly as kids. And how about Life? Loved that one too--and multi-person wild games of Pounce aka Solitaire with friends. Nowadays my favorites are Bananagrams and Boggle. Though like Hank, and I suspect most of you, I do prefer to win:).

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Monopoly! Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, I love all of those. Gosh, Hank, I remember playing RISK in my twenties, it must have been a thing. My daughter and I both love board games but we have a hard time getting anyone else to play. And jigsaw puzzles--I even bought us one to do on Christmas, but of course we didn’t get to it. (Note for next year, I am really, really not going to spend the entire day standing up in the kitchen…)

Last year I pulled out our old backgammon board, thinking it would be fun to play, but I need a teacher!

HALLIE EPHRON:  I used to love board games - especially RISK, CAREERS, MONOPOLY, TRIVIAL PURSUIT. The truth? These days I will do just about anything (dishes, anyone?) to get out of playing a board game (though my daughter got us to play APPLES TO APPLES not too long ago and that was a lot of fun). I’m afraid my frame of reference has aged out of Trivial Pursuit. 

The games I still like don’t have boards. Charades! Bridge! Hearts! And anyone remember how to play I Doubt It?  Great for a tipsilated crowd.

RHYS BOWEN: I’ve just had the whole family here and we play endless games. Favorites among them are Taboo, Reverse Charades and Boggle. A new game this year was What’s on Your Mind? Everyone puts down a word association and if any match you get points. Grandson Sam and I were absolutely on the same wavelength. But my daughter bought a new game called Ridiculous Expositions. It was supposed to be mildly naughty but OMG it was DISGUSTING! Things you’d never want a teenager to hear. Needless to say it was not played again

Our standard is The Name Game. No board needed. Everyone writes down a famous person/character and we have to guess who wrote what. Always hilarious in my family when various teenagers come up with outlandish names.

All right, Readers, your turn! What's your go to board game?

'Twas the night before... and please tell me we're not still running errands

HALLIE EPHRON: It's the day before Christmas so why am I in a store? I've been to the market a gazillion times in the last week and yet, inevitably, there's something I forgot. It's usually something boring yet essential. Like eggs. Or heavy cream. Or butter.

In our non-religious household we celebrate with a mishmash of traditions on Christmas eve. No tree, though my grandkids will hopefully create paper-and-sequin ornaments for the potted Norfolk Pine that I've nurtured since it was a sprout and now stands four feet tall in the corner of my dining room. Brisket and potato latkes for dinner. Banana cream pie for dessert (a new tradition).

And after dinner, this year trying something new, charades that our 5-year-old Frances Louise can play with the answers children's book titles (Mr. Brown Can Moo, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom...) 
At some point someone will read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and I'll try, unsuccessfully, to get people to listen to "A Child's Christmas in Wales." We'll listen to "The Nutcracker." And... then I'll probably have to send someone to the 7-Eleven for something I forgot to buy for breakfast.

In the morning, there will always be a Christmas card for me, drawn by my husband. Here's one from a few years back...

Do you manage NOT to have to go to the stores at the last minute? And what's your night-before-Christmas tradition?

RHYS BOWEN: Luckily we have a couple of stores that stay open on Christmas day, so if someone knocks over the carton of eggs, we can replace them.

I try to be organized. I have three big soups made, half a ham for emergencies, hopefully enough mince pies and sausage rolls for between meals. Christmas Eve is low key for us. Both daughter Jane and son Dominic are with in-laws, so it's just daughter Anne, newly arrived from LA with her little dog and us. I have to sing with my church choir at 9 p.m. vigil mass, then we may play a competitive game of Boggle or Scrabble before bed.

On Christmas Day Jane's family arrives for brunch. We open gifts, Dominic and Meredith meet us to go on a walk, then it's tea, more presents and a big turkey dinner, after which we play something... reverse charades is a new favorite, but Taboo also fun! This year we are without Clare's family from Phoenix, so it's a manageable number that won't require a second dinner table.

I like to think I'm super organized but one year we were thrown a curve ball when the power went out on Christmas morning. We ended up with Chinese take out at our festive dinner table! Now I think I'm better about rolling with the punches... and sorry, too many metaphors in that sentence! Happy Holidays to everyone.
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: What is reverse charades, Rhys? And we are having a very quiet holiday..the kids are all in California, so we will have champagne and beef tenderloin and I will gripe that we never have a tree and Jonathan will say we're Jewish and I will say a tree is a tree. That is our tradition!  And I will try not to open any presents on Christmas Eve. We always tried to get mom to let us when were were kids, and she never would. Now I see why.  And maybe we will go see Vice. (And Hallie, now I am trying figure out how to act out Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.. will there be enough room? LOVE that book!)  

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: My last minute item might BE my tree - as of writing this on Friday, I still don't have one, and there's really no time to get to one of the local lots before Sunday. Check with me in the comments to see if I've got it up by Christmas Eve! Maybe I can claim I'm renewing the 19th century German and Austrian tradition, where the tree is erected and decorated in secret on the night before Christmas and the children first see it in the morning.

Our Christmas eve tradition consists of either Chinese take out or a simple crock pot meal, watching DIE HARD, and attending either the 5pm service (with the Christmas pageant) or the 10pm service (with the Portland Brass Ensemble playing.) Other less-hallowed traditions include everyone asking me where the wrapping supplies are, worrying whether the goose is defrosting fast enough, and staying up much later than I want to in order to... meet Santa when he arrives. In a house full of young adults who stay up later than I do, Santa may arrive very early in the morning instead.

There are always, always last minute ingredients to buy. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be stopping in at the local Hanneford on the way to church. For some reason, no matter how much butter I buy, it's never enough.

LUCY BURDETTE: I think we're having crabcakes and shrimp for Christmas eve--that will definitely be a day-of purchase. Then we ride our bikes to the 7 pm service of lessons and carols. This year I know my friend Erik is singing O Holy Night--he's got a beautiful tenor voice and I am so looking forward to that! Christmas day we are flying to California to see the kids and grandkids. I'm planning nothing because with 2 kids under 3 years old, it would likely all fly out the window anyway!

Wishing you all a wonderful season...

JENN McKINLAY: I am always at the store on Xmas Eve! It’s a curse I can’t seem to break. Probably, because I usually spend the day baking before we go to church and I always forget that one random ingredient. Sometimes it’s molasses for a last minute shoefly pie or whatever crazy idea has leapt into my head. This year, because our family lost a beloved member I have not even bought one present. Hub and I are donning our battle gear as I write! Pray for us - we’re going to the mall (gasp)! 

Happy Holidays, everyone. Peace be with you.
DEBORAH CROMBIE: Fingers crossed I don't have to go to the store on Christmas Eve! I did part of my my food shopping on Saturday and picked up a few more things yesterday. 

For years, we've gone to a big get-together at my in-laws on Christmas Eve, starting at five or six and usually not getting home until close to midnight. This year, the party is starting early, at two, in deference to the little ones. So I am really, really hoping that we may get to enjoy a quiet Christmas Eve at home after that.

My dream Christmas Eve  would be spent watching Love Actually with a cup of hot chocolate in front of the fire, then reading "A Child's Christmas in Wales" last thing before I go to bed.

All this, of course, is assuming I'm not still wrapping!! Or cooking! Wishing you all a wonderful holiday!

HALLIE EPHRON:

What are you day-before traditions? Cooking or Chinese food. Love Actually or Die Hard? Goose (really, Julia?!?) or ham? Wrapping or UNwrapping??

One Word. Two Syllables. Know What I Mean?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: New Years is coming, and I know we'll talk about resolutions, at some point, but--not today. Today we are talking about New Years Eve traditions. And ours is: Okay, watch me.

 I'm holding up one finger. You say:  One word! Right!

 Holding two fingers against the inside of my lower arm. You say: TWO SYLLABLES!

 I'm looking pensive, thinking thinking.

 Grabbing my earlobe. You say: Sounds like!

 I "hold the steering wheel with two hands", then "steer like crazy." You say: DRIVE!

I stamp my feet and shake my head. I do the "drive" thing again, then gesture to show it's what's AROUND me.

You say: Car! Sounds like CAR.

 I touch my nose. Two fingers on my inner arm.

 You say, second syllable. Right?

   You say, sounds like "car" something?

 Yes! Okay, we got this. Then I look worried. Is this gonna work? I better remind you.

 Two fingers on my inner arm. You say—Geez! We GOT that! Sounds like Car something.

 I'm thinking. I could do "jade," but that's tough. Or "laid," but that's fraught with problems.

 Plus it has to be plural. Maids? Aids? Afraids? Yeeesh.

 Now you know what we all do on New Year’s Eve. Car-maids. Are we geeky and old?

 And pssst. How would you act out that second syllable? 

And while you're thinking, here's another of our New Year's Eve traditions...rack of lamb. One word, two syllables, sounds like--points to tummy. YUMMY!

 Hank's Secret and Amazing Special Occasion Rack of Lamb

 Rack of lamb, you're saying? That's extravagant! And difficult! Yes, it can be extravagant--but it doesn't have to be. And it doesn't have to be difficult, either. In fact, it's an amazingly affordable treat--that's gloriously impressive.

 And pssst: easy.

 First, you should know this is my go-to dish when I want to impress someone. Just saying. And on New Years Eve it's the absolutely perfect romantic dinner for two. Or four.

 Serve with tiny green beans and maybe wild rice. YUM. And easy!

If there are two of you, a rack of lamb serves four, so there are fabulous leftovers for New Year's Day--just add to a Greek salad for a lovely dinner.

Everyone thinks rack of lamb is one of those feasts that's out of reach. This proves "everyone" is wrong. Prepare to wow your friends..and have one of the most delicious dinners ever.

 Ingredients

8-rib lamb rack

4 tb. olive oil

 2 tb. dijon mustard

 1 tb. parsley

2 tb. soy sauce

2 grinds black pepper

1 garlic clove or chopped garlic

Preheat oven to broil.

 Whisk all the ingredients (except lamb) together until the mixture forms a mayonnaise consistency.

Place lamb on broiler pan, lined with foil to make it easier to clean. Coat each side of the rack of lamb with the marinade. End with the lamb concave on the pan.

Broil five minutes per side. Turn oven to 400 degrees. Bake (with lamb track convex on the pan) for 10 minutes for rare. (This is chic, but I think this is too rare.) Bake 12 minutes for medium rare (that’s how I do it!) 13 for medium.

Remove from oven, let stand for five minutes.

Secret: after those all important five minutes, make the first cut in the rack in the middle. This will show you instantly if it's not done. If you need to bake it for another minute, no problem. It is far better to undercook, check ,and then put back in the oven than it is to over cook.

Slice into chops, arrange on the plates with rice and green beans, and wow. Let me know how you like it! It's one of our very favorites.

SO Reds, what are your New Year's eve traditions? And how do you feel about, um, Car-Maids?