Pinochle & Snacks -- Part 10

I'm back.........

With part 10 of the Pinochle & Snacks saga.  A little update on what we've been doing in the three years since we took the Pinochle classes.

Did we ever have the Pinochle party?  In a word, no.  Not because we didn't try, but because we found that there weren't that many Pinochle players out there.  We tried to organize one with our friends, but either he played and she didn't or she played and he didn't or they just didn't play at all.  It became frustrating to say the least.  We then tried to organize a game at the clubhouse in our development.  We got some takers, but the majority of them were retired couples that want to play at 2 o'clock in the afternoon on a weekday.  Tough to do when you both have a full time job.  We resorted to teaching our children and their significant others to play.  In the end, we had a wonderful evening with our kids and a whole lot of learning.

Learning to play the game is one thing.  Teaching others to play is something else.  We began by printing out the rules to Pinochle and handing out copies to everyone.  http://www.pagat.com/marriage/pinmain.html

That being done, we had a little discussion on the "finer" points of the game and then played a few practice hands to help ease everyone into the game.  I began by showing the kids my professional shuffling technique http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykd0CriwI40

My wife and I wre amazed at how much we retained from our lessons. (For your information, our "party" took place almost one year after our last class).  Even though we have been playing several times a month, we though we were going to firget a lot of the rules and shortcuts we had learned in class.  You know, kind of like your drive to work.  It becomes "rote", something you remember from sheer repetition.  But the lessons from Pinochle stay with you, kind of like riding a bike.  You never forget.  We realized that in order to play the game correctly, you have to be able to recall the rules, tricks and shortcuts easily or you won't be able to play.

So we played.  A Saturday night of complete enjoyment with our family.  We started out as couples, exchange couples (winners and losers) and moved tables up to the championship game.  I cannot begin tell you what a wonderful way this is to spend an evening, nor will I try.  Who won you ask?

My wife and I emerged triumphant!  It was close however, our kids caught on fast and nearly beat us.  We've played as a group again since the first time and each time has been more fun than the last.  Try it with your family!

The tip:  Trust your knowledge, you remember more than you thought, go with your gut when making moves to take tricks.  You might be rusty if you haen't played it awhile, but it all comes back quickly.

The snack:http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_226209&feature=iv&src_vid=ykd0CriwI40&v=bKf7AUlmAok

NO, that's not the snack...

Mini grilled cheeses:

Buy a pre-sliced baguette from your grocery.  It's usually in with the store made breads and rolls.  Match up the slices so you have nice sandwiches for presentation.  Using the cheese of your choice, slice thinly and then break the slices in squares just big enough to cover the bread slice. Place 2 to 3 slices of the cheese on one side and then top with the other half of the bread.  Butter one side only.  Over medium heat, melt enough butter in a sautee pan to completely coat the bottom.  Once melted, turn the heat down to medium-low and place the sandwiches unbuttered side down int he pan.  Let them cook for about three minutes then carefully flip over to the buttered side (it's not easy, watch out for burned fingers) and continue cooking for another three minutes.  They burn quick so be careful.  Remove from the pan and cool for a few minutes before serving.  You'll be amazed how delicious a grilled cheese can be when it's transformed into a bite-sized snack.  For variations, try using Fontina cheese with a basil leaf and thinly sliced grape tomato in the sandwich.  Or left-over steak thinly sliced with some cheddar and grilled onion.  Use some left-over chicken and cheddar with a little BBQ sauce inside.  I've made them all and they are all delicious.  Serving them with a cold chardonnay, cold beer or an ice-cold gin and tonic is the best.

Well friends, look in the blog section once in a while, I'll be back.

Keep playing and keep snacking!  Enjoy...