Southern Living-Inspired Bunco at Harbor Club

Everyone knows that socializing is fun, but what many people don’t realize is that spending time around other people can give your health a positive boost. Social engagement has helped people live longer, promotes better physical and mental well-being, fights off depression, and can even improve your sleep. Fostering those essential friendships doesn’t have to be challenging though — especially when you live at Harbor Club.

In true Southern Living-Inspired fashion, our dynamic Ladies League has a bunco group that is growing in popularity. It’s just one of the many wonderful social opportunities available to residents and members of our community.

The Southern Living-Inspired bunco group is held at a different home each month, usually with a host and co-host and it often features at least one delicious Southern Living recipe. This past August’s gathering was held at Kathy Phillips’ home in the Lake Villas, which are right on the shoreline of Lake Oconee. Kathy is Harbor Club’s real estate director and she is your go to Harbor Club real estate expert. While playing the infamous dice game, this fun-loving group indulged in some fantastic food. It included smoked pork tenderloin sandwiches, homemade salsa and chips, parmesan-bacon wrapped breadsticks, Asian salad, and, of course, wine. Dessert featured a delicious chocolate trifle. It’s a Southern Living treat that will impress your guests but is a cinch to make.

Southern Living Chocolate Trifle

Ingredients

1 (19.8-ounce) package fudge brownie mix

1/2 cup Kahlua or other coffee-flavored liqueur (can be substituted with coffee and sugar; see recipe)

3 (3.9-ounce) packages chocolate instant pudding mix

1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

6 (1.4-ounce) English toffee-flavored candy bars, crushed

Step 1

Prepare brownie mix, and bake according to package directions in a 13- x 9- x 2-inch pan. Prick top of warm brownies at 1-inch intervals using a fork; drizzle with Kahlua. If preferred, 4 tablespoons strong brewed coffee and 1 teaspoon sugar may be substituted for Kahlua. Let cool, and crumble.

Step 2

Prepare pudding mix according to package directions, omitting chilling. Place one-third of crumbled brownies in bottom of a 3-quart trifle dish. Top with one-third each of pudding, whipped topping, and crushed candy bars. Repeat layers twice with remaining ingredients, ending with crushed candy bars. Chill 8 hours.

Chef’s Notes

4 tablespoons strong brewed coffee and 1 teaspoon sugar may be substituted for Kahlua.

You can watch a helpful video of the trifle assembly here: https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/chocolate-trifle-recipe

At Harbor Club, we fully embrace the philosophy behind being a Southern Living-Inspired Community, especially when it comes to creating environments that foster gatherings, interactions, and celebrations. Whether it be a fun game of bunco, a round of golf, indulging in a holiday feast, doing Zumba, or merely hanging out at the dog park with Fido and friends, we take pride in our warm neighborhood feel. It’s what sets us apart from other resort-style golf and lake communities. Visit us and see for yourself why Southern Living hand-picked Harbor Club on Lake Oconee as one of its prestigious Southern Living-Inspired Communities.