The Sims 2 – Love Potion #8.5

I’ve posted this weeks Gourmet Gaming a day early so you can enjoy it on Valentine’s day!

Is Valentine’s Day usually a total failure for you? Are you left bitter and alone, ranting about the commercialism and inherent flaws of the day to faceless people on the internet when all you really want is a hug? I know how you feel (I really don’t). If you’re looking to captivate a boy or girl this evening or you simply need someone to play co-op with because sometimes achievements demand you play a game with another person, then this is for you. Allow me to be your Gypsy Matchmaker. One sip of Love Potion #8.5 will ensure love at first sight and will only set you back a meagre §350! Can you really afford to put a price on true love? Fruity, fizzy and optionally intoxicating there’s no better drink to enjoy with the Sim you love this Valentine’s.

This recipes makes 1 drink.

What you will need: A tall glass.

Ingredients:

8 Raspberries

Crushed Ice

10ml / 0.33oz. Chambord Raspberry Liqueur (Or Raspberry Juice)

50ml / 1.5oz. Raspberry Lemonade

100ml / 3.3oz Champagne (Or Tonic Water)

Top Up with Lychee Juice

Mint Sprigs

Fresh Lemon Juice

Making Love Potion #8.5:

1. Crush the raspberries and press them into the bottom of the glass then pour the crushed ice on top.
2. Pour in the Chambord, followed by the raspberry lemonade, champagne then top it off with lychee juice. If you do it right you can create an impressive ‘layered’ look to the drink.
3. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a twist of lemon juice.

I’m not sure I could have picked a cornier thing to make! While I think Valentine’s Day can be a bit shallow I do enjoy the excuse to be overly romantic and indulge a little more than usual in treating my significant other. In saying this, every relationship faces hard times. Ours was definitely when we played Borderlands together and he earned the name “Loot Hoover”. It nearly ended in divorce. 

Like this? You might also enjoy the Diablo - Health Potion.

Request: The Sims – Key Lime Pie

Last Thursday it was Adam’s birthday, he hates the idea of birthday cakes and any kind of fanfare but I couldn’t let his day go by without him having something nice to eat. His favourite dessert is Key Lime pie and I just happened to have a string of requests for the same dish from when I made The Sims Mac and Cheese. Although not the most bizarre dish to appear in The Sims (I’m looking at you ‘Eggs Machiavellian’, eggs and watermelon? Really?!) it seems to be one of the most popular in-game desserts - I know that my Sim bakes it on a regular occasion only to leave servings of it around the house for impending pie emergencies. Since it now counts as a Gourmet Gaming post, it’s no longer a birthday treat and therefore acceptable for a non-celebration… right?

This recipe serves 6-8.

What you will need: A 9-inch pie dish, a whisk, a grater and a large bowl.

For the Crust:

200g / 2 Cups Crushed Digestives (or Graham Crackers)

2 Tablespoons Ground Ginger

45g / ¼ Cups Caster/Granulated Sugar

135g / ⅝ Cup Butter (Melted)

For the Lime Filling:

4 Large Egg Yolks

400ml / 1 ¾ Cups Condensed Milk

6 Tablespoons Fresh Lime Juice

2 Tablespoons Lime Zest (Grated)

To Garnish:

Lime Jelly (Jell-o)

120ml / ½ Cup Double Cream

2 Tablespoons Icing/Confectioners Sugar

5 Quarter-Lime Slices

Making the Key Lime Pie:

1. Preheat the oven to 175C/350F and place a baking tray inside. Grease and line a pie dish and set aside.
2. In a bowl combine the crushed digestives, ginger, sugar and butter then press evenly into the prepared pie dish. Place the pie dish in the oven on top of the preheated baking tray and bake for 10-15 minutes. Once cooked remove and set aside to cool.
3. In a clean bowl whisk the egg yolks until pale and fluffy and gradually add the condensed milk. Pour in the lime juice and add the lime zest, mix well then pour the mixture into the cooled pie base.
4. Place the pie back into the oven (still at 175C/350F) for about 15 minutes or until the mixture has set. Once cooked remove the pie and allow to cool before placing in the fridge to chill for at least 4 hours.
5. Prepare the lime jelly (Jell-o) as per the packet instructions. Allow the jelly mixture to cool significantly, once lukewarm remove the chilled pie from the fridge and carefully pour a small amount of the jelly liquid over (just enough to cover the pie filling) then return to the fridge until the jelly has set.
6. Before serving, whip the double cream with the sugar until it forms stiff peaks. Spoon the cream into an icing bag and pipe the cream in a circle around the edge and pipe a dollop into the middle of the pie. Arrange the lime slices around the centre.

I’m not usually a fan of citrus things, I often find lemony flavours over powering and they just make me feel like I’m eating kitchen cleaner. I had it in my mind that this was going to come out terrible, I didn’t even know what Key Lime Pie was supposed to taste like since I’d never dared try any before. It reminded me mostly of a cheese cake and amazingly the lime jelly added a nice sweetness against the tart filling. I’ve decided that baked creamy-pie-cake things are becoming my forte which is ironic considering they’re the one thing I can’t really eat but I suffer the small taster slice for you guys… Oh and Happy Birthday, Adam!

Like this? You might also enjoy the Sims - Mac and Cheese.