Ranger Recipes: How to Make Underdark Mushroom Miso Soup

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Welcome to the first of a exciting new segment called Ranger Recipes. This monthly piece will showcase a game paired with a recipe that is tasty, thematic, and easy to cook in your own home. Sharing our intertwined love of cooking and gaming is at the core of why we have started this project. So we hope you enjoy these installments and let us know what kind of recipes you are looking for.

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Underdark Mushroom Miso Soup

 

Cook Time: 40 minutes

 

You’ll Need:

1/2 bunch of scallions chopped thin

3 cloves of garlic minced

5 oz of miso or 1/2 cup

3 pieces of kombu that have been rinsed in water

25 grams of ginger or a piece 1/2 finger length minced

6 grams bonito flakes or 1/4 cup

2 Tbs sesame oil

8 cups of water

8 oz or 1/2 pound fresh mushrooms preferably a mix heavy with shiitake sliced

1 lb of baby Bok Choy quarters and cleaned extra well to remove sand

8 oz or 1/2 lb of extra firm tofu cubed in 1/2 inch squares

cilantro and bean sprouts for garnish (optional)

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First get all your ingredients ready before you start cooking anything. (This is the secret to the success of any recipe)

Put a large soup pot on the stove and turn the heat to medium high.

Add the sesame oil and wait for it to get hot. (Look for wavy lines in the oil and little traces of smoke)

When the oil is hot add the scallions, garlic, And ginger. Sauté for 1 minute and add the mushrooms. Sauté for another 2 minutes or until the mushrooms start giving off some liquid.

Add the 8 cups of water, kombu, and bonito flakes. Bring the concoction to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. (Try not to let it reach a full boil at any point. If it does don’t worry it won’t ruin anything just turn the temperature down)

Keeping the soup at a simmer carefully remove the kombu and add the miso and Bok Choy.

Simmer for 10 more minutes. Then add the tofu and cook 5 more minutes.

Garnish with some cilantro and bean sprouts

Ladel some delicious mushroom soup into a bowl and serve to your party. It might be just enough to get their nerves up for the infiltration of the Worm Nursery.

 

 

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Top 10 Games to Play While Eating Chinese Take Out

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There’s something incredibly inviting about a table groaning under the weight of identical white origami boxes. Perhaps it’s because we get a sense of mystery from not knowing what’s inside each perfectly similar small box. Perhaps because it’s a meal of many parts that’s designed to be shared among friends or strangers. It’s the kind of meal that incites emotion and memories at a glance and that makes it perfect for an easy game night fix. In honor of this we’re listing our top 10 games to play while eating Chinese takeout.

10) Sushi Go

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This cute card game has players attempting to match types of sushi for points. It uses a basic drafting mechanic that’s fast and easy to teach just about anyone. Just let us know where you think this sushi shop is. Sentient brainwashed sushi on a conveyer belt? (We’re going with a space school cafeteria)

9) Samurai Spirit

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Love lycanthropey, Samurai, and boss fights? This co-op fighting game fills that nitch with style. Players take the role of a group of Samurai defending a village from bandits. Using a clever “Black Jack” mechanic you’ll take turns pushing your luck and fighting various levels of ruffians.  And in classic anime style, when you finally soak up enough damage to kill you, you go beast mode instead.

8) Takenoko

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Whats more adorable and terrifying than a panda bear that can’t stop eating? In Takenoko you’ll try to grow the most bamboo and please your Emperor by taking care of his new pet panda. This is much harder than it looks with bamboo requiring so much irrigation and a panda that never moves where you want him to go. The stratagy is simple and the mechanics are strait forward. And while it can get a little repetitive, the game is so adorable you might not even notice.

7) Tenra Bansho Zero

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We’re finding that this tabletop rpg is a bit hard to describe in written words. It’s a role playing system that tries to capture everything that anime can offer…and it almost succeeds. (If that isn’t a terrifying thought, you haven’t watched enough anime) Don’t let yourself be intimidated by rule book. It’s actually a simple system with a hilarious NPC random interactive chart. Pulling inspiration from classic Japanese legends and beloved animes it creates something uniquely Japanese. If your a lover of Miyazaki don’t let this rpg slip by.

6)  Burgle Bros.

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Sit down, grab your chopsticks, and gather over some blueprints with Burgle Bros., the newest indy game by Tim Fowler. Burgle Bros. is a co-op game with a quirky Ocean’s 11 feel. Each player brings a special skill to the team that you’ll need to climb each level of the tower, break into safes, and avoid the guards. Just don’t trust each other too much. You are thieves after all…

5) Call of Cthulhu Horror RPG

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Arguably one of the greates tabletop role playing games of all time Call of Cthulhu is perfect for your game night. With its dark tone, private investigators, and mysterious clues it creates a wonderful Noir feeling around the table. And while the stakes of your investigation are high, your funds are perpetually low. So order some Chinese, pour some Irish whiskey on the rocks, and get to work. We suggest the Masks of Nyarlathotep module if you don’t feel like creating your own adventure…also some spooky music.

4) Dragon Tides

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When AJG combined rpg storytelling, Kung Fu, and a Bruce Lee license into one single game, we knew they loved us. Dragon Tides is a co-op board game with gorgeous tiles and miniatures from the Bruce Lee cinematic world. Players can take the role of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Chuck Norris as they play through increasingly outrageous Kung Fu scenarios. The tiles also include interactive environment mechanics that effect fighting. For example, one can throw an opponent on a conveyor belt that will slowly move him towards a chomping death pit.

3) Ghost Stories

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Ghost Stories is a game we love to hate. A co-op game of monks trying to defend a village from being possessed by evil spirits and monsters, it’s colorful art doesn’t convey the evil held within this box. This game involves a soul crushing level of difficulty that never lets up. It’s addictive nature comes from how easy it is to set up and play. You just keep thinking, maybe this time…

2) Tokaido

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Tokaido is a game that’s beautiful in its simplicity. Gorgeous artwork, stylish board, and constant white backdrop will have people stopping in their tracks to watch. The concept of the game is simple, try to have the best vacation possible while also trying to subtly ruin everyone else’s. For a game that’s all about relaxing it involves an ironic amount of cutthroat stratagy. Just don’t let anyone eat too close to the game. Trust us, all that white can stain very easily.

  1. Firefly RPG

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We know putting Firefly in the number one spot is a little indulgent and biased. But anyone who watches the show will know why Chinese takeout it the perfect meal for this game. Set in the far future this space rpg has a western feel that is heavily influenced by Asian themes. You and your friends will crew your own ship and decide what kind of jobs you feel like taking on. The game is easy to play or run and packed with personality. The writers don’t make the assumption that you’ve seen the show and that attitude helps to make it fun for everyone. Loads of adventure models are also available for easy pickup weekend play. Remember there’s a lot of money in the ‘Verse for those who are willing to do things around the law.

 

10 Kitchen Tools Every Geek Should Own

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Think your a geek with a skill tree in cooking? We raided the home kitchen of the nerdiest chef we know to see what tools make their game nights level up!

 

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  1. Automatic Water Heater

Having fun with friends is often an all day event. And great gaming sessions can make time slip by with an almost magical speed. That’s why it’s good to have hot water at the ready. Coffee, Tea, and Instant Ramen are only a button away. Getting your group refueled and back to the table.

 

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2. Rice Cooker

Tired of eating Pizza for every game night? It’s time to level up and try some new Friday Night traditions. A rice cooker can open up a whole new world of food without costing you precious game time. Make your own sushi, Rice and Meat Balls, and Homemade Curry with Rice can bring not only flavor but inject theme back into your games.

 

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3. Slow Cooker

As the host we know your too busy cleaning the house, learning games, and preparing your adventures to cook. But you shouldn’t let that stop you! A slow cooker is the answer to all of your time (or lack there of) issues. Just load it up with the ingredients and set the timer. Stews, casseroles, and even desserts can be prepared while you ponder if adding a Beholder to your dungeon is overkill.

 

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4. Timers (yes that’s plural, you need more than one)

If you don’t have a few magnet timers on your fridge go out and buy some. These little contraptions don’t cost much and are one of the unsung heroes of the kitchen. It’s easy to get distracted before company arrives or when your friends have all started a game without you and keep calling that it’s your turn. These timers allow you to walk away and forget without losing dinner as a result.

 

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5. Wok

Woks are cool. Woks are really really cool. And the more good food you cook in them, the better they make food taste. And food cooks fast in a wok. The best way to use one for a party is to get a bunch of ingredients together and then have each person come over and tell you what they want in their stir fry. You can make each order custom and give your guests a little cooking show just for them. It will only take a few minutes per guest but they will be talking about it for weeks.

 

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6. Bamboo Steamer

Aside from the fact that just having a bamboo steamer makes your kitchen look cooler, it’s actually a great way to make an easy dinner for many people. Just fill a flat pan with water and drop the bamboo steamer on top. (Just make sure the waters not high enough to touch the food.) Then go and buy as many different frozen dumplings as possible and fill up the steamer. Cook for a few minutes, add some rice and condiments, and you have instant Dim Sum night!

 

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7. Eye Hooks

Eye Hooks are something that often distinguish a professionals home kitchen from a hobbiests. In a professional kitchen as many tools as possible are hung up to save space and keep tools clean. Many chefs bring that mentality home using hooks to hang mugs, tools, and pans all over their kitchen. It looks cool, keeps you organized, and allows for easy access when cooking under pressure for a party.

 

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8. Scale

Once you get used to using weights to measure out ingredients for a recipe you’ll never go back. Scales are a requirement for anyone serious about the hobby of cooking, or baking, or even making coffee. If your not that serious, it’s still a good idea to have a scale in the house. Measuring out equal amounts of ice cream for your kids D&D group will prevent fights  before they even start. Or at least will prevent Ice Cream related ones.

 

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9. Mort and Pestle

This might be the most unnecessary tool on our list but it’s simply too cool to leave out. These clay mort and pestles are a signature of Thai cooking and are often used to make salads. These salads are made by taking fresh soft veggies, fruits, and a fistful of herbs, tossing them in a clay bowl and beating them with a wooden stick. They make delicious salads and the Pok Pok sound it makes will draw guests to the kitchen.

 

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10. Coasters

Coasters are the easiest and possibly the funnest way to inject your geekiness to any party. They come in all different price ranges and from every corner of nerd fandom. They make great gifts for your host or DM. They don’t have to match either. The more eclectic your collection the better it looks on the table. So have fun and don’t feel bad stealing that cool cardboard coaster underneath your drink at your favorite brewery.

This is our list of the 10 kitchen essentials for geeks. Think we left something out? Have a cool tool you use all the time? Share in the comments and let everyone know how they can level up!