Wienie roasts bring people together for relaxing conversation.
Whether you're camping with a scout troop or sitting around the fire pit in your backyard, break out the hot dogs and sticks for an old-fashioned wienie (or weenie) roast. This casual get-together provides the perfect opportunity to come together with friends and family, tell stories, bond and share a few laughs. Don't worry to much about decor. Keep the simple and focused on everyone's having a relaxing time.
Hot Dogs
The main food at a wienie roast is of course, hot dogs. It's a good idea to have a variety of hot dogs available as some people may not eat certain kinds of meat or have dietary restrictions. Hot dogs to have on hand include beef, turkey, kosher, veggie dogs. Include some seasoned or spicy sausages as well such as Polish sausage or hot links. Set up a toppings bar that includes a wide variety of items such as ketchup, onions, barbecue sauce, relish, peppers, a selection of mustards, tomatoes, shredded cheese and chili. Provide several different types of hot dogs as well buns such as white, whole wheat and potato bread.
Other Food
Serve sides often served at outdoor barbecues such as coleslaw or potato salad. Chips and salsa and fruits and vegetables are also ideal sides. Include ranch or blue cheese dip. Fruit can be skewered and roasted over the fire as well. For dessert, bring out marshmallows for everyone to roast, as well as graham crackers and chocolate to make s'mores. Look for flavored marshmallows such as chocolate and strawberry-flavored if possible.
Entertainment
If you are at a campsite bring along a battery-operated radio or CD player to listen to music during the party. Ask people to tell funny stories or scary stories around the fire. If you're worried about running out of things to talk about, create a list of interesting questions and go around and ask everyone in the circle. Ask questions that require more than yes or no, such as "Where would you go if you could go anywhere in the world?" or "If you had a month to live what would you do?"
Games
Activities don't only have to include the campfire. Children can play sack-race relays, have a beanbag toss or play board games such as chess and checkers. For adults, play games like "Questions," in which you have to answer a question by asking someone else a question and so forth. If you answer the question, you're out for that round. Another game everyone could play requires each person to have three pins on her shirt. Inform everyone that they can't say the word hot dog, wienie, wiener or sausage. If someone catches you saying the word, he gets to steal your pin. The person with the most pins at the end of the night wins.
Tags: , around fire, sitting around, wienie roast
