If you are not doing Family Game Night, you really should consider it. No matter how old the kids are, it is a great way for families to bond together, get everyone away from their screens for a few hours, have a few laughs, and have some good, healthy family fun. Family Game Night often involves board and card games that go beyond a few hours of entertainment because games are actually good for kids on many levels. Researchers have found that lighthearted play like board games leads to child development benefits and learning opportunities such as sharing, counting, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving, to name a few. So start your own Family Game Night tradition. Getting started is easy, just set aside one night a week and have everyone vote for their favorite game. Here’s some great inspiration beyond Monopoly and Snakes and Ladders to get you going.
Plus a family friendly (and easy!) dinner recipe for after the fun, courtesy of Giovanni Rana pasta.
Party Bowl
Party Bowl is bound to become an instant hit in your household. In this game, players split into two teams, come up with words to describe themselves (such as “quirky”, writing them down on small pieces of paper and then tossing them in the Party Bowl. Next, each team tries to guess the person behind the cards.
21 Questions
This game can be played with as little as two people. One person thinks of a person, place or thing (e.g. a pop-culture icon, a city or a double-decker bus). The others ask simple yes-or-no questions in an effort to figure out what the first person is thinking of. Determine a set amount of time or rounds and the person who guesses the most correctly wins.
Charades or Pictionary
Better played in a group or family setting, charades and Pictionary are very similar. With charades, one person thinks of a person, place, thing, or activity and acts out what they are thinking while the others guess what it is. In Pictionary, the rules are similar, but the person draws their idea instead of acting and they can’t make any sounds or gestures. Keep track of the person who successfully acts or draws the most correctly guessed items if you want a winner.
Around the Circle
This game definitely needs a group of at least 4 to make it fun. Have everyone sit in a circle either on the floor or around a table. Decide on a theme and the subject (e.g. cars, fast-food restaurants, cities). Then you go around the circle and each person says something that is in that category (e.g. if the category is cars, then suitable answers would include, Toyota, Mazda, Mercedes, etc.) If a person can’t think of something, hesitates too long, or repeats a previous answer, they are out of the game. The game continues until only one person is left.
Super Simple Cheesy Ravioli Bake
When the games and silliness are done, dish out hearty helpings of this scrumptious and comforting cheesy ravioli bake, made with Giovanni Rana products. You can whip it up before the games begin, and pop it in the oven to bake while you’re enjoying quality time with your family. When it’s cooked, let it cool before serving.
Ingredients:
Two 10-ounce packages Giovanni Rana Spinach Ricotta Ravioli
3 cups Giovanni Rana Marinara Sauce
3 ½ cups shredded whole-milk mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
1 cup finely shredded Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
½ cup chopped basil, plus more for garnish
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano, or 1 ½ teaspoons dried
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ravioli for 1 minute, then drain and rinse the pasta; reserve.
In a large bowl combine the marinara, 3 cups of the mozzarella, ricotta, Parmigiano Reggiano, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Add the drained pasta and grease a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish and pour the mixture into the dish. Top with the remaining ½ cup mozzarella and bake until bubbly, 40-45 minutes. If desired, turn the oven up to broil and broil the dish for 1 minute to brown the top. Garnish with additional basil.
Giovanni Rana products are available in grocery stores island-wide.
For more information regarding Giovanni Rana, visit www.giovanniranausa.com
