Gourmet Gaming

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box - Belle Classic...

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:41:44 +0100

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box - Belle Classic Tea

Since moving to the UK several years ago the amount of tea I drink on a daily basis has drastically increased. I can only imagine this tea increase will eventually allow me to genuinely become British, as is only the way one gains citizenship. Professor Hershel Layton, along with other intelligent folk such as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, understand the importance of a good cup of tea. While not a traditional English Breakfast or Darjeeling, Layton’s favourite tea is a cup of Belle Classic, a bitter drink comprised of Oasis Leaf, Brisk Berry and Belle Tart Seed. Tea, like a puzzle, is a delicate process that requires both time and patience.

Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!

This recipe serves 1.

What you will need: A tea infuser.

Ingredients:

Loose Tea:

Darjeeling Earl Grey
Lemongrass
Super Fruit Berry

A Slice of Lemon

Freshly Boiled Water

Brewing the Belle Classic:

Fill your infuser with 1 part Darjeeling Earl Grey, 1 part Super Fruit Berry and 1 part Lemongrass. Place the infuser in a cup of fresh boiled water, cover, and allow to brew for 3 minutes.
Place a slice of lemon into the tea, and allow to cool slightly before drinking.

A delightful shade of red, the Belle Classic is smooth and slightly bitter with a sweet undertone. It’s very refreshing and calming, perfect for winding down and feeling reinvigorated. It’s no mystery as to why the Belle Classic is Layton’s favourite.

Gourmet Gaming likes to order loose tea from teapigs.co.uk

Like this? You might also enjoy the Animal Crossing – Brewster’s Pigeon Blend.

Cybercandy.co.uk – D20 Sucker I know what you’re thinking...

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 13:56:40 +0100

Cybercandy.co.uk – D20 Sucker

I know what you’re thinking when you’re playing D&D, “Man, those dice look super tasty!”, so here’s your chance to indulge your… fantasy. Lick for initiative.

This incredible red cherry lollipop is about the size of your fist, so it’s sure to keep you going through those lengthy adventures. Be the envy of fellow elf and man with your beautifully detailed and crafted D20 sucker.

Cybercandy is one of Gourmet Gaming’s favourite spots for unusual, geeky treats, and they have a wonderful range of Nintendo noms and gaming grub. Check them out!

http://www.cybercandy.co.uk/

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch – Tikka Mahala I think it...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:48:00 +0100

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch – Tikka Mahala

I think it would be safe to assume that the Tikka Mahala is the Dong Dong Dell soul-mate of our world’s Tikka Masala. While both dishes enjoy the title of “The King of Curries”, only one is made with seeds from a volcano as part of the Sheikh’s special spices. These special spices are comprised of “ turmeric root” and “three pinches of spicy seeds” which thankfully are readily available most likely at your local supermarket, so there’s no need to make a trek to Old Smoky - ideal should you find yourself lacking in enthusiasm. Make this curry for you and a friend, and get yourself some merit stamps.

Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!

This recipe serves 4-6.

What you will need: A food processor or blender and a large saucepan.

For the Curry Paste:

4 Cloves Garlic

1 Teaspoon Fresh Ginger

1 Red Chilli

1 Teaspoon Tumeric

2 Tablespoons

Dried Coriander
Ground Cumin
Garam Masala
Paprika

Seeds of 4 Cardamom Pods

Olive Oil

For the Tikka Mahala:

4 Tablespoons Olive Oil

30g / ¼ Cup Butter

2 Large White Onions (Chopped)

1 Red Bell Pepper (Chopped)

1 Yellow Bell Pepper (Chopped)

400g / 14 oz. Diced Beef

800g / 28 oz. Chopped Tomatoes (Tin/Can)

2 Tablespoons Tomato Purée

200ml / 1 Cup Water

200ml / 1 Cup Cream

100ml / ½ Cup Natural Yoghurt

Salt & Pepper

Making the Curry Paste:

Using a food processor or blender, combine together all the ingredients and blend well. Add a little olive oil to bring the paste together, then set aside.

Making the Tikka Mahala:

In a large saucepan on a medium heat, warm the olive oil and butter together. Add the onions and cook until soft and golden. Add the curry paste, followed by the peppers and cook for 5-10 minutes.
Add the diced beef and cook for 5 minutes before adding the tinned/canned chopped tomatoes and tomato purée. Pour in the water and allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes.
Once cooked, pour in the cream and yoghurt and mix thoroughly. Season with salt & pepper to taste, and add more spices gradually if you like it slightly hotter. Serve with fluffy basmati rice.

Curry, in any form, is one of my favourite foods. Although curries can appear intimidating, they can be surprisingly easy to make and require little effort. The Tikka Mahala is rather mild (by my tastes) and creamy, ideal for most palates, so don’t be put off by the idea of “volcanic seeds” - but you can kick it up a notch if, like me, it’s hardly a curry if your face isn’t on fire. You can alter the recipe by using chicken, prawns or add extra vegetables for a fabulous vegetarian feast.

Like this? You might also enjoy the Kirby’s Dreamland/Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Superspicy Curry.

BioShock: Infinite – Finkton’s Baked Beans Ah, baked...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 23:59:02 +0100

BioShock: Infinite – Finkton’s Baked Beans

Ah, baked beans. The (apparent) staple of the student diet, and now also of the minority workers in Finkton’s Shanty-town. Frankly, it’s rather impressive the Vox Populi are starving at all what with the copious amount of food (and money) they seem to throw away in their bins… Starving or not, Booker DeWitt is a man on a mission who requires sustenance, and the slim pickings of a young girl’s shack are obviously fair game. Nom. Nom. Nom.

Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!

This recipe serves 2.

What you will need: A large saucepan.

Ingredients:

Olive Oil

1 White Onion (Finely Chopped)

1 Clove Garlic (Finely Chopped)

400g / 15 oz. Can Chopped Tomatoes

400g / 15 oz. Can Cannellini Beans (Precooked)

1 Tablespoon Tomato Purée

½ Teaspoon Dried Chilli Flakes (Optional)

½ Teaspoon Sugar

1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano

Salt & Pepper

Making Finkton’s Baked Beans:

In a large pan on a medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add he onion and garlic and fry until golden.
Add the chopped tomatoes, cannellini beans and tomato purée. Mix well, then season with the chilli flakes, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste.
Reduce to a low heat, cover, and allow the beans to simmer for around 20-25 minutes, until the sauce has thickened.
Alternate method: Cram all the ingredients into a tin can. Use a blast of Devil’s Kiss to quickly and effectively cook and possibly incinerate the entire contents. Enjoy.

Although a far cry (lol, videogame pun) from your usual processed baked beans, there’s a wholesome, home-made flavour with this recipe; fresh yet comforting. Don’t be a Dimwit! Finkton’s Baked Beans would be perfectly at home with a strong cheese or fried sausages on some freshly baked bread.

Like this? You might also enjoy the Dishonored - Apricot Tartlet.

Easter Egg: Super Mario World - Yoshi Eggs It’s Easter! I...

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:49:35 +0100

Easter Egg: Super Mario World - Yoshi Eggs

It’s Easter! I hope the Bunny was generous to you all, but just in case he wasn’t here’s a recipe for some cute Yoshi Egg chocolate pops.

Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!

This recipe makes 14 Yoshi Egg pops.

What you will need: Two 7-egg shaped pop moulds, two small glass bowls, a metal spoon, 15 lollipop sticks, and a small saucepan.

Ingredients:

Green Chocolate Colouring

230g / 8 oz. White Chocolate (Finely chopped)

Preparing the Egg Moulds:

Place 30g / 1 oz. of the white chocolate in one of the bowls. Fill the saucepan with a small amount of water, and place the bowl over the saucepan.
Put the saucepan on a medium heat and bring the water to a simmer, slowly melt the chocolate. Once melted, add the green chocolate colouring to achieve the desired shade, mix well.
Using one of the lollipop sticks, dip it into the green chocolate. Using the lollipop stick like a paintbrush, create the three iconic spots on the inside of each egg mould. Remember the green spot pattern will be reversed on the mould!
Once each of the egg moulds have their spots, place them in the fridge to chill until set.

Making the Yoshi Eggs:

Meanwhile, use the same technique to melt the remainder of the white chocolate. Once the green spots are set, take the moulds from the fridge.
Using a small metal spoon, fill each of the egg moulds with some melted white chocolate. Place a lollipop stick so that it comes halfway up the egg onto the melted chocolate, rotate it so that it’s firmly coated.
Once each of the egg moulds are filled, gently tap the mould on a surface to knock out any air bubbles. Place the moulds in the fridge to chill until set.

Though incredibly simple to make with a little patience, these Yoshi Egg chocolate pops are adorable. Experiment by adding nuts, sprinkles or mini marshmallows to the chocolate for an additional touch.

Like this? You might also enjoy the Yoshi’s Cookie - Yoshi Cookies.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch: Sundae I’ve been...

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 23:06:57 +0000

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch: Sundae

I’ve been totally enchanted by the world of Ni No Kuni this week. While I’ve barely scratched the surface of the game, I was instantly excited when I initially received a bar of chocolate. I’ve since spent most of my time trying to gather treats for my Familiars, so I can feed them and then live vicariously through them. Although all the Sundaes look incredible, I was drawn to the beautiful simplicity of this classic Sundae - “A refreshing ice cream treat, popular even among those who don’t care for desserts.” Why not make two; one for you, and one for your “Familiar” (aka. You).

Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!

This recipe serves 2.

What you will need: 1 small mixing bowl, 2 ice-cream sundae glasses, an ice-cream scoop, a whisk, a piping bag and large star nozzle.

Ingredients:

4 Fresh Strawberries (Finely Chopped)

Strawberry Sauce

500ml / 2½ Cups Vanilla Ice-cream

1 Medium Meringue Nest

Black Cherry Sauce

100ml / ½ Cup Double/Whipping Cream

2 Tablespoons Icing/Confectioners Sugar

2 Maraschino Cherries

2 Wedges Fresh Lime

Edible Glitter/Sprinkles

Making the Sundae:

Whip the cream and icing/confectioners sugar together until fluffy but firm. Fill a piping bag fitted with a large star nozzle with the whipped cream and set aside.
Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, crush the meringue nest and mix it with half of the vanilla ice-cream. Leave the other half plain.
Place the chopped strawberries at the bottom of the sundae glass and cover with strawberry sauce. Spoon the meringue ice-cream on top of the strawberries and fill the sundae glass.
On top of this, add a layer of black cherry sauce. Take a generous ice-cream scoop of the plain vanilla ice-cream and place it on top of the cherry sauce.
Pipe cream stars around the ice-cream scoop, and then one on the very top of the scoop. Sprinkle the sundae with edible glitter or sprinkles, then garnish with a wedge of fresh lime and a maraschino cherry.

In my house, I have a traditional ‘Sunday Sundae’ each week, and I am a bit of a pro when it comes to making them. When I saw Ni No Kuni offered such treats to my Familiars I forced myself to have a ‘Thursday Sundae’ instead. You know, for the greater good. There’s a great balance in sweetness, creaminess, tartness and texture here – like the ultimate Eton Mess.

Like this? You might also enjoy the Costume Quest – Pizza Sundae.

The Cave: Magnifico the Magnificent’s Invisible...

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:53:17 +0000

The Cave: Magnifico the Magnificent’s Invisible Cupcake

On its release several weeks ago, I was completely addicted to the wonderful little puzzle game that is The Cave. On my first adventure through its murky depths, I took with me The Adventurer, The Time Traveller and The Monk. The moment I had to travel back in time to block some dripping water to prevent a stalactite being formed in the present… ! I was sold. One of the more darker tales was that of The Hillbilly; a story of love and loss at the carnival, from whence our magical cupcake appears.

Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!

This recipe makes 16 cupcakes.

What you will need: A muffin tray, brown cupcake cases, 3 mixing bowls, a whisk, a piping bag and a large nozzle.

For the Chocolate Cupcakes:

150g / ¾ Cup Butter (Room Temperature)

50ml / ¼ Cup Vegetable Oil

400g / 1½ Cups Caster/Superfine Sugar

3 Large Eggs (Room Temperature)

2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

200g / 1¾ Cups Flour

125g / 1 Cup High Quality Cocoa Powder

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

¼ Teaspoon Baking/Bicarbonate Soda

Pinch of Salt

225ml / 1 Cup Milk

For the Strawberry Frosting:

110g / ½ Cup Butter (Room Temperature)

450g / 2 Cups Strawberry Flavoured Icing/Confectioners Sugar

2-3 Tablespoons Milk

To Garnish:

Strawberry Sauce

Edible Glitter

Red Maraschino Cherries

Making the Chocolate Cupcakes:

Line the muffin tray with the cupcake cases, and preheat the oven to 175C/350F.
In a large bowl, beat together the butter, vegetable oil and butter together until pale and smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well between each one, then add the vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking/bicarbonate soda and salt. Add half of the flour mixture to the butter, and stir in. Next and half the milk and stir again. Repeat with the rest of the flour, follow by the milk until gently combined.
Fill the cupcake cases, and bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Until firm, but springy to the touch. Once baked, leave the cupcakes to cool completely.

Making the Strawberry Frosting:

In a large bowl, beat the butter until pale. Gradually add the strawberry flavoured icing/confectioners sugar while continuing to beat. Add a few tablespoons of milk as needed to thin the frosting to the desired consistency.

Garnishing Magnifico the Magnificent’s Invisible Cupcake:

Fill a piping bag fitted with a large nozzle with the strawberry frosting. Pipe a large swirl on top of the cupcake. Garnish with a drizzle of strawberry sauce, a sprinkle of edible glitter and a cherry on top.
Put the cupcake into your mouth and… tah-dah! Invisible! And yet the weight still counts - Magic!

If there’s one thing you should get more of at carnivals, beyond the hot-dogs and candy-floss, it’s cupcakes. Maybe that should be “cup-cakes” and it would be accepted among the other hyphenated foods… Chocolatey and delicious, there has never been such a thing as a disappointing cupcake. I only wish they were actually invisible, so then I could eat as many as I liked and no one would realise what a piggy I was being. I would simply appear to be yawning.

Gourmet Gaming is saddened to hear of Ron Gilbert’s recent departure from Double Fine, but look forward to the games he may make in the future.

Like this? You might also enjoy the Costume Quest - Mossy Log.

Myst: Uru – D’Ni Mushroom Bread The Myst series is...

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 19:06:00 +0000

Myst: Uru – D’Ni Mushroom Bread

The Myst series is possibly one of the greatest I have ever encountered, with Myst III: Exile being my personal favourite (it has Brad Dourif in it - automatic win). I’m a huge fan of puzzles, story and exploration, and Myst always satisfies on each of these levels. The cultural detail of the worlds you encounter through every game is outstanding; incredible minutae is written about in the multitude of books scattered throughout - including the mention of a mushroom spore bread from the Teledahn, or ‘Mushroom’, Age. A delicacy for the elite, spores were harvested so furiously to make the outstanding Mushroom Bread all resources dried up, and the age had to be abandoned.

Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!

This recipe makes 2 loaves.

What you will need: A frying pan, a large mixing bowl, a sieve and cling film/saran wrap.

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons Butter

250g / 3 Cups Wild Mushrooms (Finely Chopped)

½ Small White Onion (Finely Chopped)

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire or Soy Sauce

2 Tablespoons Dried Rosemary

1 Tablespoon Dried Parsley

1 Cup Warm Water

1 Sachet Dried Active Yeast (7g)

1 Tablespoon Natural Yoghurt

2 Tablespoons Honey

1 Teaspoon Salt

250g / 2½ Cups Strong White Flour

Making the D’ni Mushroom Bread:

Melt the butter on a medium heat in the frying pan. Add the onion and cook for 1 minute, before adding the mushrooms.
Sauté the mushroom and onion for several minutes before turning off the heat, and adding the Worcestershire sauce, rosemary and parsley. Stir well, then set aside to cool.
Add the yeast to the cup of warm water and allow to stand for several minutes. Meanwhile, sieve the flour and salt into a large bowl. Add the natural yoghurt and honey.
Pour the warm yeast and water into the flour along with the cooled mushrooms and mix well until a dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a well floured surface and knead with floured hands.
The dough will be incredibly sticky to begin with, so gradually add small amounts of flour until it begins to feel slightly more solid. After 10-15 minutes of kneading, place the dough in a clean bowl lightly greased with olive oil. Cover the bowl with cling film/saran wrap and set in a warm place to rise for an hour.
After an hour, the dough will have doubled. Knock the dough back and divide it into two portions. Gently knead the dough again into a neat round shape and place on a prepared baking tray. Leave the dough to rise again for 30-40 minutes.
Once the dough has risen again, preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Bake the bread on the middle rack for 20-25 minutes. Allow the D’ni Mushroom Bread to cool completely before serving.

I was seriously worried about making a bread like this, but I was incredibly impressed with myself afterwards! The D’ni Mushroom Bread is so wonderfully fragrant and soft, it would compliment any platter of meats, cheeses and chutneys or ideal with fresh soups.

If you’re curious about Myst, you can pick up the games from GOG.com, or wait for Jonathan Blow’s The Witness.

Like this? You might also enjoy the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – S’Jirra’s Famous Potato Bread.

Gourmet Gaming’s rather personal GOTY list about games...

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 23:53:37 +0000

Gourmet Gaming’s rather personal GOTY list about games from 2012…

Best food:

Guild Wars 2

One of my favourite Gourmet Gaming posts of the year was the Guild Wars 2 Chocolate Omnomberry Cake!

Worst food:

Dishonored

If there’s one place I wouldn’t want to live it would be the city of Dunwall. Jellied Eels and Brined Hagfish are just a few of the ‘delicacies’ on offer.

Best game to play while eating:

Halo 4

There are plenty of cutscenes which provide the perfect opportunity for face-stuffing. Play co-op to double these snack chances.

Most unexpected food in a game:

Legend of Grimrock – Blueberry Pie

Lost somewhere in the endless labyrinth of stone tunnels there is a blueberry pie. How, why… what? At least it’s not a Baked Maggot.

Character most likely to get diabetes:

Juliet Starling (Lollipop Chainsaw)

Sure, she’s fit now, but Juliet’s diet of lollipops and junk food wont be doing her any favours for the future.

Best food and game partnership:

Hitman: Absolution and Rustlers

Came with a buy-one-get-one-free voucher for Rustlers’ microwave burgers in the UK; Zero to tasty in Agent 47 seconds. Apparently.

Game that should have had food:

Borderlands 2

I love the Borderlands universe and the seemingly endless loot. But Gearbox, Y U NO randomly generate noms?!

Most brutal rationing in a game:

The Walking Dead

There were few things emotionally harder this year than playing The Walking Dead and deciding who got what to eat.

Most anticipated foods for 2013:

Grand Theft Auto V

GTA has always delivered on bizarrely awesome foods and in-game franchises. I’m hoping GTA:V is no exception.

Ni No Kuni

The cutest ice-cream sundaes and curries have been spied…

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! A huge thank you to all...

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 23:48:05 +0000

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

A huge thank you to all 25,000+ of you for an incredible year! Gourmet Gaming wouldn’t exist without you, and I’m so happy to have such a wonderful community of people who help out, make suggestions and pledge support. I can’t wait for 2013, and hope Gourmet Gaming will continue into the future and evolve.

Don’t forget you can ‘Like’ Gourmet Gaming on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.

ChristMMOs: World of Warcraft – Winter Veil Gingerbread...

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:50:00 +0000

ChristMMOs: World of Warcraft – Winter Veil Gingerbread Cookies

Merry ChristMMOs! This festive season, Gourmet Gaming will be celebrating with a selection of treats from your favourite MMOs to bring a little bit of gaming to your table this holiday season.

I love gingerbread. I start to buy it around Halloween and then never stop – once, I managed to get a pretty big gingerbread cookie for a mere nine English pennies. It was a good day. I didn’t care that it had a ghost on it and it was November 3^rd that is beside the point! The Winter Veil Gingerbread Cookie has featured in World of Warcraft’s festive Winter Veil event for a few years now. This year there’s even a quest titled “The Winter Veil Gourmet” featuring the Winter Veil Gingerbread Cookies, Egg Nog and Hot Apple Cider…

Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!

This recipe makes 24 cookies.

What you will need: A baking tray, greaseproof paper/baking parchment, 2 large mixing bowls, a sieve, 1 tree-shaped cookie cutter, a wooden spoon, a small bowl, and a pastry brush.

Ingredients:

200g / 1½ Cups Plain Flour

Pinch of Salt

¼ Teaspoon Baking/Bicarbonate Soda

2-3 Teaspoons Ground Ginger

1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

¼ Teaspoon Ground Cloves

¼ Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg

55g / ¼ Cup Butter (Room Temperature)

50g / ¼ Cup Caster/Superfine Sugar

1 Egg (Room Temperature)

70g / ⅓ Cup Molasses Sugar

To Garnish:

200g / 7 oz. Green Royal Icing

White Icing Decorating Tubes

2 Tablespoons Icing/Confectioners Sugar

Water

Making the Winter Veil Gingerbread Cookies:

Sift the flour, salt, baking soda and spices into a large bowl then set aside. Line a baking tray with baking paper/greaseproof parchment.
In another bowl, beat the butter and caster sugar together for about a minute. Add the egg and molasses sugar, and continue to mix until well combined. Slowly add the flour and spice mixture, continually beating gently until a dough is formed.
Bring the dough together, then wrap it in cling film/saran wrap and place in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 175C/350F.
Once chilled, kneed the cookie dough gently on a floured surface before rolling out to about ¼ Inch thick.
Use the cookie cutters to make your shapes, and set them on the baking tray; evenly spaced and not too crowded. Chill the prepared cookie shapes for 5-10 minutes in the freezer before baking in the oven.
Bake the cookies for 7-8 minutes, depending on their size, then remove from the oven to cool. Repeat this process as needed until all the dough is used.

Garnishing the Winter Veil Gingerbread Cookies:

While the cookies cool, mix the two tablespoons icing/confectioners sugar with a little water to create an icing paste in a small bowl – this will act as a glue between the cookie and the green royal icing.
Roll out the green royal icing on a surface dusted with icing/confectioners sugar to about 1cm thick. Use the cookie cutter again to create the same shapes from the green royal icing. You may need to trim the stumps of the trees off with a knife.
Paint a little of the icing paste on to the surface of the tree shaped cookie, then carefully stick the royal icing tree on top. Use a small rolling pin to evenly distribute the royal icing, to avoid finger prints.
Repeat the process until all the cookies are covered with a green royal icing top. Finally, use the white icing tubes to trace a delicate line around the inner edge to finish the Winter Veil Cookies.

I brought these cookies into work and, frankly, I’ve never been so popular. They were lucky there were any left as I had previously made another batch of 36 that never even made it from the kitchen. You can of course use the recipe above to make any shape cookie, or even add a small hole prior to baking if you’d like to hang them from your tree this Winter Veil.

Like this? You might also enjoy the World of Warcraft – Graccu’s Mince Meat Fruitcake.

ChristMMOs: League of Legends - Eggnog Health & Mana...

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 14:55:00 +0000

ChristMMOs: League of Legends - Eggnog Health & Mana Potions

Merry ChristMMOs! This festive season, Gourmet Gaming will be celebrating with a selection of treats from your favourite MMOs to bring a little bit of gaming to your table this holiday season.

The League of Legends seasonal event is known as the “Snowdown Showdown”. During this time, many festive fares slip into the world with one of the regular changes being the trade-in of the traditional Health and Mana potions for ones of the Eggnog variety! Here in the UK, Eggnog isn’t very popular. So when I saw my chance to taste the drink that saturated my favourite Christmas cartoons and movies as a kid, I couldn’t turn it down.

Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!

This recipe serves 4-6.

What you will need: A whisk, three mixing bowls, a piping bag and nozzle, and a fine grater.

Ingredients:

4 Eggs (Separated & Room Temperature)

75g / ⅓ Cup Caster/Superfine Sugar

500ml / 20 fl oz. Whole Milk

225ml / 1 Cup Double/Heavy Cream

85ml / 3 fl oz. Bourbon

2 Tablespoons Sugar

Fresh Nutmeg

Blue Food Colouring

1 Tablespoon Cocoa Powder

To Garnish:

110ml / ½ Cup Double/Heavy Cream

1 Tablespoon Icing/Confectioners Sugar

Blue Food Colouring

1 Teaspoon Cocoa Powder

Fresh Nutmeg

Making the Garnish:

Whisk together the cream and icing/confectioners sugar until soft peaks form. Divide the cream in half. Add blue food colouring to one half, and cocoa powder to the other. Mix well and set the cream aside while you prepare the drinks

Making the Eggnog Potions:

In a bowl, beat the egg yolks until pale, then gradually add the sugar and continue to beat for about 5 minutes. Add the milk, cream and bourbon, a sprinkling of freshly grated nutmeg, and mix well.
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form, then add the two tablespoons of sugar and continue to beat until the peaks stiffen. Whisk the egg whites into the prepared egg yolk mixture until well combined.
At this time, divide the mixture in two. One will become the Health potion, the other will be the Mana potion. To one mixture, add a dash of blue food colouring and mix. To the other, sieve in the cocoa powder and mix.
Pour the Eggnog Mana and Health potions into individual glasses, top with a piped swirl of corresponding whipped cream and a garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.

I was apprehensive about making Eggnog as I don’t usually enjoy bourbon, but the sweet cream and the spiced nutmeg cut the flavour just perfectly. Chilled in the fridge, this drink is both refreshing and warming. So whether you’re in need of health or in need of mana, I have discovered Eggnog is always the answer.

Like this? You might also enjoy the Animal Crossing - Brewster’s Pigeon Blend.

Cybercandy.co.uk – Nintendo Super Mario Mushroom Sours Ever...

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 21:36:13 +0000

Cybercandy.co.uk – Nintendo Super Mario Mushroom Sours

Ever wonder what exactly it is about those red mushrooms that gives Mario his super-human boost?

It might be because they’re filled with super cute, sour candies!

Each beautifully detailed mushroom tin is filled to the brim with delicious sour candy, available in cherry (red), raspberry (blue) and apple (green). You could use them to decorate cupcakes or fill someone’s stocking this Christmas!

Cybercandy is one of Gourmet Gaming’s favourite spots for unusual, geeky treats, and they have a wonderful range of Nintendo noms and gaming grub. Check them out!

http://www.cybercandy.co.uk/

Halo: Reach – Moa Burger (With Mountain Dew Energy...

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:22:00 +0000

Halo: Reach – Moa Burger (With Mountain Dew Energy Sauce)

“New Flavor” at World Cuisine and at Gourmet Gaming! Now you too can enjoy a Moa Burger straight from Reach. I’m a huge fan of burgers, and many of my friends are huge fans of Halo. I myself was a regular on the Red vs. Blue network for many years where I made some lifelong friends. But if there’s one thing on everyone’s minds while playing Halo: Reach, it’s definitely “Damn, I bet that weird bird-lizard-thing would sure taste good.”

Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!

This recipe serves 1.

What you will need: A griddle pan.

Ingredients:

Four 55g / 2oz. Ostrich Burgers

2 Tablespoons Mayonnaise

½ Teaspoon Fresh Lemon Juice

¼ Teaspoon Grated Lemon Zest

1 Teaspoon Raspberry Preserve

3 Teaspoons Mountain Dew Energy

1 Large Burger Bun

2 Cheese Slices

Red Onion Slices

Beef Tomato Slices

Lettuce

Preparing the Mountain Dew Energy Sauce:

To the mayonnaise, add the fresh lemon juice, grated lemon zest raspberry preserve and Mountain Dew Energy.
Mix the ingredients together well, then place in the fridge to chill while you prepare the burger.

Preparing the Moa Burger:

Heat the griddle pan on a low heat. Gently flatten out the burgers so they’re quite thin. When the pan is warm, cook the burgers gently and slowly, and on each side. When cooked to your liking, remove the burgers from the pan and set them aside to rest.
Construct your Moa burger by layering in the following order: bun, mayonnaise, burger, cheese, burger, mayonnaise, burger, cheese, burger, mayonnaise, red onion, tomato, lettuce and bun.

When describing this burger, it’s easier to let Samuel L. Jackson do the talking. Ah hah! A whole post about food from Halo and I didn’t even make a ‘Master Chef’ jo… oh.

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Request: Minecraft – Pumpkin Pie Someone was kind enough to...

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 23:55:00 +0000

Request: Minecraft – Pumpkin Pie

Someone was kind enough to remind me that it is Thanksgiving soon! Here in the UK we don’t celebrate the holiday, nor do we eat enough sweet pumpkin flavoured things if you ask me, so I was very, very excited when I saw Minecraft had recently added Pumpkin Pie. This recipe is a bit of a hybrid between a traditional pie, a cheesecake and delicious edible pixels. I promise this is the last recipe of the year that is orange and involves pastry, because it took me 4 attempts to get it just right this time. Not quite as simple as the input made it appear…

Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!

This recipe makes 2 small Pumpkin Pies.

What you will need: A 9-inch loose base cake tin, a large bowl, a whisk/electric mixer, and a 3.5 inch round cookie cutter.

Ingredients:

150g / 6 oz Shortcrust Pastry [Recipe]

150g /⅔Cup Light Brown Sugar

½ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

½ Teaspoon Ground Ginger

⅛Teaspoon Nutmeg

Pinch of Salt

400g / 2 Cups Cream Cheese (Room Temperature)

3 Large Eggs (Room Temperature)

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup

230g / 1 Cup Canned Pumpkin

To Garnish:

Various shades of orange icing, cut into small squares.

Preparing the Pumpkin Pie:

Preheat the oven to 200C/390F. With your pastry prepared, roll it out to about 1cm thick, and cut a piece to line the base of your cake tin.
Bake it in the oven for 12 minutes until golden, then remove and leave to cool. Once it’s out of the oven, turn the temperature down to 180C/355F.
Meanwhile, combine the light brown sugar with the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt. In a separate large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.
Gradually add the sugar and spices, while continuing to beat the cream cheese. Next add the eggs, vanilla and maple syrup and mix well.
Stir in the pumpkin and mix again until combined, then pour the mixture over the now cooled pastry. Place a small tray of water in the bottom of the oven to keep the air moist.
Put the pumpkin pie in the middle of the oven to bake for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, change the temperature of the oven to 160C/320F and bake for another 15 minutes.
Once firm, remove the pumpkin pie and leave to cool before placing in the fridge to chill for several hours, or overnight.

Making the Pumpkin Pie:

Remove the pumpkin pie from the cake tin and place on a flat surface. With the cooking and chilling, the filling will have contracted. Take a large round cookie cutter, and cut two perfect cakes from the large cake.
Decorate each of the pumpkin pies with tiny icing pixels, and serve with some freshly whipped maple cream.

Beautifully creamy, fluffy and light with a crisp base – I’m feeling hybrids in baking are the way to go. I loved the sweetness with the spices, and then the unusual taste of pumpkin was really complimented by the gentle sour of the cream cheese. While I have no prior pumpkin experience, it was pretty delicious and something I’d like to bake into more cakes in the future for sure.

Like this? You might also enjoy the Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - Cheesecake.

Dishonored – Apricot Tartlet A couple of weeks ago (which...

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 23:10:00 +0000

Dishonored – Apricot Tartlet

A couple of weeks ago (which possibly explains why I missed a few posts - oops), after much of my own misplaced scepticism I will admit, I began playing Dishonored… and I love it! Apricot Tartlets have currently been few and far between during my adventures, and appear to be a treat of the privileged and wealthy; far away from the plague and endless cans of Hagfish rations. Here is a recipe to make an Apricot Tartlet any Lady Boyle would appreciate.

Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!

This recipe makes 4 Apricot Tartlets.

What you will need: 4 small tart tins, a rolling pin, baking beans, a baking tray and a small saucepan.

Ingredients:

4 Dried Apricots (Finely Chopped)

350g / 12 oz Shortcrust Pastry - Recipe

1 Large Egg (Room Temperature)

25g / ⅛ Cup Caster/Superfine Sugar

½ Vanilla Pod

100ml / ½ Cup Double/Heavy Cream

4 Tablespoons Ground Almonds

4 Tablespoons Apricot Jam/Jelly

16 Fresh Apricot Halves

Apricot Brandy (Optional)

Preparing the Apricot Tartlet:

Take the finely chopped dried apricots and put them in a bowl. Pour over with apricot brandy and leave the stand. If you don’t want to use the brandy, leave this step out.
Roll out the pastry to about 1-2cm thick, then line the tart tins. Place them in the freezer to chill for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 200C/390F.
Once chilled, take the tart cases from the freezer, fill them with the baking beans and place on a baking tray. Bake the tarts for 10 minutes, until the pastry is very lightly golden.
Remove the tarts from the oven, then remove the baking beans. Leave the casings to cool while you prepare the filling. Turn to oven down to 180/355F.
In a bowl gently mix together the egg, sugar and vanilla. Add the cream and stir. Sprinkle about a tablespoon of ground almonds to cover the base of each tart.
Strain the infused dried apricots, and add a few pieces to each tart. Pour over the custard filling, leaving a small gap at the top. Bake them in the oven for 10-13 minutes until the filling is just set. Once baked, remove from the oven and allow to cool.

Garnishing the Apricot Tartlet:

In a small saucepan, add the apricot jam/jelly, an optional teaspoon of apricot brandy, and the fresh halved apricots.
Warm the jam/jelly though until it is loose and the apricots are softened, then remove from the heat. Once the jam/jelly begins to cool and set once again, carefully spoon a thin layer onto the tarts, then top with a few of the glazed apricots.
Chill the Tarts in the fridge until set, then serve with a glass of Gristol Cider.

One might ask why no ‘Jellied Eels’ – would you like to eat Jellied Eels? Didn’t think so.

These Apricot Tartlets are light and decadent. The custard is fabulous with the sweet apricot topping, and a dollop of freshly whipped cream would be a perfect accompaniment. So now you too can enjoy one without visiting your local brothel, or taking part in childish guessing games at a party. You’re welcome.

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Amnesia: The Dark Descent – Amnesia Drink I’m a huge fan...

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:15:00 +0000

Amnesia: The Dark Descent – Amnesia Drink

I’m a huge fan of all things horror, which explains why Halloween is my favourite time of year - endless horror movie marathons and extended surival horror game sessions. Although I can brave the most gruesome of films, I get sucked into games more than I should. After I had to stop playing Dead Space due to palpitations, you’d think I’d know better than to even attempt to play Amnesia; a game which I credit as both the most terrifying and well made horror game in recent years. I’ve managed to play about an hour of Amnesia, and this Halloween I’m determined to finish it. Although I may need a sip of its very own drink to forget the fear…

Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!

This recipe serves 2.

What you will need: A small pot, a blender and a cocktail shaker.

Ingredients:

6 Cubes Rose Turkish Delight

280ml / 1¼ Cup Milk

Ruby Red Food Colouring (Optional)

35ml / 1.2 fl oz. Vanilla Vodka

Ice

Making the Amnesia Drink:

Finely chop the Turkish Delight into small pieces, then place it in the pot along with the milk. Bring the milk to a gentle simmer on a low heat until the Turkish Delight begins to melt.
After about 5 minutes, pour the mixture into a clean vessel and blend until smooth. Allow the rose flavour milk to come to room temperature before chilling in the fridge. If the drink isn’t quite pink enough, add some ruby red food colouring to reach the desired shade.
Once the milk has chilled, pour it into a cocktail shaker over some ice. Add the vodka then shake it up. Strain the drink into a glass, adorn with rose petals and serve.

“That taste… That fragrance… Damascus Rose…”

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Mass Effect 2 - Serrice Ice Brandy This week’s Gourmet...

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 16:09:00 +0100

Mass Effect 2 - Serrice Ice Brandy

This week’s Gourmet Gaming was posted over on The Drunken Moogle in celebration of Mogtoberfest! In case you missed it over there, here it is! Dr Chakwas sends you on a fetch quest to find her a bottle of her favourite drink, Serrice Ice Brandy. Incredibly rare, it’s the perfect drink to remember the fallen crew of the Normandy or celebrate a triumph over the Reapers…

Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!

This recipe serves 1.

What you will need: A cocktail shaker and a lidded container.

Ingredients:

1.5 fl oz Vodka (or Soda Water if you want to lessen the alcohol)

¼ fl oz Apricot Brandy

½ fl oz Blue Curaçao

1 Tablespoon Fresh Lime Juice

Ice

Garnish:

½ Cup Granulated Sugar

1-2 Teaspoons Water

Red Food Colouring

Wedge of Lime

Making the garnish:

Place the sugar in a small container and add the water with a few drops of red food colouring. Shake the container to mix the colour and dye the sugar red.
Rub a wedge of lime around the rim of the glass then dip the glass into the sugar to coat it.

Making the drink:

Pour all the ingredients into the cocktail shaker with some ice. Shake it up until chilled.
Add a few cubes of ice to the prepared glass, pour and drink upon defeating the Reapers.

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The competition has now closed. Thanks to everyone who reblogged...

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 23:58:00 +0100

The competition has now closed.

Thanks to everyone who reblogged and shared Loading’s cause! The winners have been notified.

Don’t forget you can still donate and help bring a gaming experience to London!
http://www.indiegogo.com/loading

Gourmet Gaming is proud the be part of the Loading Indiegogo...

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 22:13:56 +0100

Gourmet Gaming is proud the be part of the Loading Indiegogo campaign!

http://www.indiegogo.com/loading

Loading, who are famous for the most inspired gaming cocktails of all time, are looking to open a new gaming bar and café in London and they need your help!

Donate today to their Indiegogo, help them raise $50,000 and get amazing rewards for your generosity. Including Insert Coin tees, signed Rocksteady merchandise, or even a Loading party with drinks and food from Gourmet Gaming!

Reblog this post to be in with a chance of winning 1 of 25 Ubisoft codes! Here is what’s up for grabs:

Expendables XBLA (5)

From Dust XBLA (5)

Outland XBLA (5)

From Dust PSN (5)

Mad Riders PSN (5)

Winners of the Ubisoft codes will be picked and announced on Thursday 11th October.