Murder on the Menu/HR Team

Who wouldn't want to partner with a company that promises to provide health and welfare benefits to employees on a large scale? That was the premise of the Murder on the Menu interactive mystery event presented last night for the International HR Team from Macrovision Solutions. It soon became clear that "our" potential partner company had problems not only with their product but with their finances and personnel. Pretty risky investment, and one that Macrovision Solutions was not about to make. But it was all in fun, and the HR Team quickly got swept up in the Crime of their Life!

This mystery event was not purely entertainment. The goals of the meeting, agenda, and jargon and buzzwords were interwoven into the evening's performance. In addition, it was a team building event as each table became a team as they had to solve the 4 crimes that took place during their dinner. A little play, a little business makes for a fun evening!

Murder on the Menu's amazing actors kept the group guessing until the very end. Then it was all business as the teams figured out who did what and why.

The setting was the beautiful atrium of the Hotel Sainte Claire in downtown San Jose. The catering and service by Il Fornaio was terrific. After a day of meetings, this group was ready for a lighter approach to their HR issues as the Murder on the Menu production reinforced the themes of their meeting.

What a wonderful group. Everyone participated in the mystery. The interaction of the guests is what makes Murder on the Menu events so much fun.

So glad to see businesses meeting again!

S'mores go with Sensational Sandcastle Building

Teambuilding Unlimited does lots of Sensational Sandcastle Building team building events on the beaches around the U.S., and if permitted to make a fire, we like to top the event off with S'mores! I put this particular blog entry together on my DyingforChocolate Blog, but realized that it should go here, as well. S'mores are a great way to top off your team building event.

I've put together a few 'different' recipes for the ultimate S'mores--made with Chocolate Chip cookies. I welcome comments and more recipes.

At Affordable Meetings West this year, the Marriott Hotels put together a booklet called Recipes for a Successful Meeting. The San Diego Marriott Mission Valley submitted the following recipe for S'mores.

Start with your favorite chocolate chip dough (no not use refrigerated Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough).
Bake the cookies per instructions and remove half-way through the baking process. Note: the key to a great Toll House cookie is baking them at a low heat. 225?)
Remove the cookies from the oven and top with 3 mini-marshmallows (Depends on size of cookie, you can always add more)
Place back in the oven for the duration of the baking time (Note: do not over-bake cookie or caramelize marshmallows)
Remove from oven and sprinkle with crushed cinnamon graham crackers over the melted marshmallows.
Drizzle cookies with Hershey's Chocolate Syrup. Best served warm out of the oven.

Picky Palate has a really cool recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie S'mores.. She calls them Oozing Chocolate Chip Cookie S'mor Sandwiches. Everyone in the food community is so gracious, and Jenny gave me permission to reprint her recipe here--and use her fantastic photos!

Jenny found one of the most interesting additions to her recipe at Target -- Kraft makes chocolate covered mini marshmallows. She mixed them into the cookie dough. How cool is that? Of course, you can make the dough with or without them.

Oozing Chocolate Chip Cookie S'mor Sandwiches

2 sticks softened butter
3/4 Cups sugar
3/4 Cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 Tablespoon vanilla
2 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 oz package Kraft Chocolate Covered Mini Marshmallows, if you can find them
1/2 Cup chocolate chips
1 1/2 Cups mini baking M&M's

Mini Marshmallows (less than 1 bag full)
Mini Hersey bars

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat butter and sugars in stand or electric mixer until well combined. Beat in eggs and vanilla until well combined as well. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, soda and salt. Add to wet ingredients as well as marshmallows, chips and M&M's until just combined. Spread onto a large rimmed baking sheet that's been lined with parchment paper and sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until edges are just turning golden brown. Remove and let cool completely.

2. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Top bottom shapes with a layer of mini marshmallows and place under broiler until puffed. Top with Hershey bars to melt. Top with another cookie to close sandwich. Serve warm.

Enjoy! I can't wait to try Picky Palate's recipe. Will do this at our next Sandcastle Building event next week in Half Moon Bay.

Sensational Sandcastles in Half Moon Bay

The company that plays together stays together, and 25 team members of a genetic research and development company met in Half Moon Bay, CA, for a meeting and sandcastle building challenge. It was cool and foggy, rain threatened, but none came, creating the perfect atmosphere for a sensational afternoon of sandcastle building.

The beautiful Beach House Hotel in Half Moon Bay was the setting for the morning meeting, followed by a great lunch, and on to the beach for some very creative 'castles.' After a brief instruction period, Frank Price challenged the teams to construct more than a sandcastle. He tied-in the groups goals and objectives, jargon and buzzwords and specific participants into the event. That's what makes our teambuilding activities so much fun! This group passed on a debriefing, but we always offer. How well did your group work together? What were the strengthens and weaknesses of your team? What did you learn from this activity? This group wanted to have fun, and fun they had! Can't wait to work with them again.

TeamBuilding Unlimited creates customized sandcastle building challenges in locations all over the U.S. Send us an email, so we can help with your next team building event.