Miracle Fruit Trippin'

After a long awaited visit from the guys, and a weekend that already included several sets of JJ's sandwiches, a visit to Bagger Dave's, the Michigan hockey game on Friday, and standing in the miserable cold/rain of the Michigan vs. Northwestern football game on Saturday, last night was the event I was really looking forward to. A party! Andrew had the fantastic idea to miracle fruit trip, and I was all about it. So the party morphed into a 90210 trivia showdown for Seth, and a showdown of taste buds for Andrew. Goodness knows I try to keep those guys happy!
First, you'd probably like to know what miracle fruit is, and what exactly is involved with "trippin." I know it sounds like we were doing drugs in the 70's. It's harmless though, I promise. Check out the wiki information about miracle fruit. So in a nutshell, eating miracle fruit (or dissolving miracle fruit tablets in our case) coats the sour receptacles in your tongue so that really sour foods and various other tastes "change." Trippin parties involve the berries or the tablets, followed by a plethora of things to taste. So we did just that. Check it:

Miracle fruit tablets - All Natural!

Table full of goodies to test

Miracle fruit faces

Prior to all that crazy tasting though, was eating a variety of "normal" foods I made including some Aunt Janie meatballs and Kristal's traditional cheese platter. I also made an olive dip with a crazy porcupine celery accompianment, the idea for which I got at Zingerman's Roadhouse.

Casa Zawacki appetizer spreadBrad and Nick love those meatballsPorcupine dip

I think everyone was enjoying themselves, drinks and all. Even Nick and Carly, who brought me a pot of fig jam as a hostess gift (long drawn out inside joke).

I'll show you where you can jam those figs

But once the party really got underway, it was time for the showdown. The Seth vs. Stephanie, winner-takes-all-and-gets-declared-90210-trivia-master showdown. Earlier in the week I prepared a 30 question multiple choice quiz to be taken by both of them under no time limit (no assistance either). Winner of the most questions would be awarded 90210 champion. Sadly for Stephanie, Seth watched a hell of a lot of the show and knows a discusting amount of 90210 trivia, so he did clearly beat her 27 to 22. All in good fun though, they took a few shots and immediately started trash talking about a rematch. What will 2009 bring??

Smiling pretty with those quizzesSeth with his victory patron shot

Stephanie with her not-so-victory schnapps shot

So next after the quiz, after the miracle tripping, and after the eating, it was time to get serious. Time for Rock Band and beer pong of course! Rock Band at Casa Zawacki never gets old, and this time, with so many willing participants, we had a blast. It's pretty cool when video games still make you feel young. ;-)

Rock BandGroupies

We closed out some of the evening with necessary beer pong. I think it was Birgit's first time playing (and Rock Band too for that matter) so mad props to her for getting her groove on! Now you can hang with the best of them sista.

Beer Pong

Finally, a quick couple of shout outs. Kristal & Rick, thank you for coming, being your awesome selves, and arriving early! You two really don't know how much it means to me to have you in my life and know that you'll anticipate my crazy last minute need for assistance and jump in to help out. You guys rock. And to my Stephles. What would I do without your sex? I wouldn't have gotten nearly as tipsy, that's for sure. Keep the bubbly flowing lady! Finally, to JZ for hanging out with us on your weekend sans wife and kids, we love having you over and would sincerely miss your near-death giggling over youtube video's in late drunken night stupors. And thanks everyone else, for driving all the way to Milan and coming to parties at Casa Zawacki. Nothing makes us more happy then to have all our friends in one place having a good time!
P.S. When should we have the next party!?