HOLIDAYS
HOLIDAYS
What better way to celebrate the 2009 Oscars with a glam get-together at home with pals? From festive food to chic decorating ideas, we've got you covered.
Here are a few of our favorite ideas inspired by Tinseltown's biggest night and the 2009 nominees themselves include Sean Penn Honey Berry MILK Shakes, Rocky Revolutionary Road Brownies, Vicky Cristina Barcelona Flan and a Slumdog Hot Dog station.
Check out these other Oscar party ideas:
Oscar Party Games
Award Statue Invitations
Here are a few of our favorite ideas inspired by Tinseltown's biggest night and the 2009 nominees themselves include Sean Penn Honey Berry MILK Shakes, Rocky Revolutionary Road Brownies, Vicky Cristina Barcelona Flan and a Slumdog Hot Dog station.
Check out these other Oscar party ideas:
Oscar Party Games
Award Statue Invitations
We found the tastiest of menus on the official Oscars website. Thanks to the Oscar's official chef, Wolfgang Puck, you'll be able to whip this meal together flawlessly for your own party at home.
Start off with these tasty Smoked Salmon Blinis.
Start off with these tasty Smoked Salmon Blinis.
Ingredients
- 2 Cup all purpose flour
- 1 Tsp baking powder
- 3 Pieces cage-free eggs, seperated
- 1 1/2 Cup buttermilk
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 5 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 Cup diced onion
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill, plus extra
- 1 1/2 Tsp salt, plus extra
- 1 1/2 Tsp white pepper, plus extra
- 1 Cup sour cream
- 5 Oz smoked salmon cut into paper-thin slices
- 1 Pinch fresh lemon juice
- 8 Pieces dill sprigs for garnish
Steps
- In a small bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder. Reserve.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, buttermilk, and 3 tablespoons melted butter. Reserve.
- In a medium skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Over medium-high heat, sauté the onions until golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl, cool slightly, and stir in the dill. Stir in the flour mixture, salt, and then the egg yolk mixture.
- Using a wire whisk or an electric mixer, whisk the egg whites until shiny and firm but not dry. Stir a little into the batter, and then fold in the remaining whites.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and dill and season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until needed. *
- In a small bowl, combine the remaining 3 tablespoons melted butter with the remaining 3 tablespoons oil. Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet or griddle and brush with some of the butter mixture. For each pancake, pour ½ cup of batter onto the griddle and, over a medium flame, cook until brown on one side. Turn and brown the other side, brushing the skillet or griddle with the butter mixture as necessary. (This makes a pancake approximately 6 inches in diameter). As the pancakes are cooked, transfer to a tray lined with a clean towel and keep warm in a low oven while preparing the remaining pancakes.
- Presentation: Place one pancake on each of 8 or 10 heated plates. Spread some of the sour cream mixture over the pancake and arrange a slice of smoked fish on the cream. Squeeze a little lemon juice over the fish and garnish with a sprig of dill. Serve immediately.
Serves: 10
How to Serve: Cold
We found the tastiest of menus on the official Oscars
website. Thanks to the Oscar's official chef Wolfgang Puck, you'll be
able to whip this meal together flawlessly for your own party at home.
Serve these yummy Slow Braised Short Ribs for your entree.
Serve these yummy Slow Braised Short Ribs for your entree.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 6 Pieces short ribs, trimmed
- 1 Pinch salt
- 1 Tsp black peppercorns, crushed
- 1 Pinch flour for dredging
- 10 cloves garlic, peeled
- 8 Pieces large shallots, peeled, trimmed, rinsed, split and dried
- 2 Pieces medium organic carrots, peeled, trimmed and cut into 1-inch lengths
- 2 Pieces celery stalks, peeled, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 Pieces medium leek, white and light green parts only, coaresly chopped
- 6 sprigs Italian parsley
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 2 Pieces bay leaves
- 2 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 Quart unsalted organic beef or chicken stock
- 1 Pinch freshly ground white pepper
Steps
- Pour the wine into a large saucepan set over medium heat. When the wine is heated, carefully set it aflame. Let the flames die out, then increase the heat so that the wine boils; allow it to boil until it cooks down by half. Remove from the heat.
- Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large casserole, large enough to hold 6 ribs, over medium-high heat. Season the ribs all over with salt and the crushed pepper. Dust the ribs with about 2 tablespoons of flour and then when the oil is hot, slip the ribs into the pot and sear for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, until well browned.
- Transfer the browned ribs to a plate. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pot; lower the heat to medium, and toss in the vegetables and herbs. Brown the vegetables lightly, 5 to 7 minutes, then stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to blend.
- Add the reduced wine, browned ribs, and stock to the pot. Bring to a boil; cover the pot tightly, and slide it into the oven to braise for about 2 ½ hours, or until the ribs are tender enough to be easily pierced with a fork. Every 30 minutes or so, lift the lid and skim and discard whatever fat may have bubbled up to the surface.
- Carefully transfer the meat to a heated serving platter with a lip and keep warm. Boil the pan liquid until it thickens and reduces to approximately 1 quart. Season with salt and pepper and pass through a fine-mesh strainer; discard the solids.
- Presentation: Pour the sauce over the meat. Serve with vegetables of your choice.
Serves: 6
How to Serve: Hot
For dessert, take your Oscar party guests to the heart of Spain in celebration of Penelope Cruz' supporting actress nomination for the movie, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona".
Recipe from Allrecipes.com
Ingredients
- 4 Pieces eggs
- 5 Pieces egg yolks
- 1 Cup white sugar
- 1 Cup half-and-half cream
- 1 Pieces vanilla bean, split and scraped
- 1 Pieces orange peel
- 1/2 Oz orange liquor
Steps
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- In a medium bowl, beat eggs and yolks. Beat in sugar until smooth. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine cream, half-and-half, the vanilla bean and its scrapings, and the peel of one orange. Heat until bubbles form at edges of liquid, reduce heat to low and simmer 15 minutes. Beat hot cream into egg mixture, a little at a time, until all is incorporated. Stir in orange liqueur. Pour into 6 individual ramekins or custard cups.
- Line a roasting pan with a damp kitchen towel. Place ramekins on towel, inside roasting pan, and place roasting pan on oven rack. Fill roasting pan with boiling water to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
- Bake in preheated oven 45 to 60 minutes, until set. Let cool completely before serving.
Serves: 6
How to Serve: Room Temperature
Change the name of this traditional and gooey favorite and you've got yourself an Oscar award winning dessert with these Rocky Revolutionary Road Brownies.
TIP: You can add walnuts and coconut to the topping for an even rockier road.
For easier cutting, refrigerate brownies for several hours.
Courtesy of AllRecipes.com.
Ingredients
- 8 one ounce squares unsweetened chocolate
- 1 1/2 Cup(s) butter or margarine
- 6 Whole eggs
- 3 Cup(s) sugar
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 Cup(s) all purpose flour
- 1 Cup chopped walnuts
- 2 Cup(s) miniature marshmallows
- 1 one ounce square unsweetened chocolate, melted
Steps
- In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, cook and stir chocolate and butter until melted; cool slightly.
- In a mixing bowl, beat eggs for 2 minutes.
- Gradually add sugar; beat until thick, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in chocolate mixture and vanilla. Fold in flour and nuts if desired.
- Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. square baking pans.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs (do not overbake).
- Sprinkle each pan with 1 cup of marshmallows.
- Broil until marshmallows are golden brown, about 30-60 seconds.
- Drizzle with melted chocolate.
Pay tribue to Sean Penn's Oscar nomination for his role as Harvey Milk in "MILK" by serving Sean Penn Honey Berry MILK Shakes.
You can put them in small glasses for cute mini versions that will allow your guests to save room for the rest of your award winning delights.
You can put them in small glasses for cute mini versions that will allow your guests to save room for the rest of your award winning delights.
Ingredients
- 1 Pint vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt
- 1 Pint vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt
- 2 1/2 Cup(s) sliced fresh strawberries
- 1/2 Cup milk
- 1/4 Cup honey
Steps
- In a blender, combine the ice cream, berries, milk and honey; cover and process until smooth.
- Pour into mini glasses and serve with twisty straws.
Serves: 4
Greet your guests with a festive cocktail we found right on the official Oscars website!
Ingredients
- 1/2 Oz Pomegranate juice
- 1/3 Oz Orange liquor
- 1 Pint Fresh raspberries
- 3/4 Liter Moet & Chandon White Star Champagne
Steps
- Add pomegranate juice and liquor into a champagne glass.
- Add a few fresh raspberries
- Top each glass of with champagne.
Serves: Not Applicable
How to Serve: Cold
In the film "The Wrestler," for which both Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei are nominated for Oscars, the two share a scene reminiscing about their favorite rock music from the '80's.
Make an iTunes mix inspired by "The Wrestler" and play it throughout the night.
More Great Oscar Ideas
Here, our top ten suggestions.
1. "Sweet Child 'O Mine" - Guns 'N Roses
2. "I Love Rock-n-Roll" - Joan Jett
3. "Shot Through the Heart" - Bon Jovi
4. "Kiss Me Deadly" - Lita Ford
5. "Round and Round" - Ratt
6. "Unskinny Bop" - Poison
7. "Here I Go Again" - Whitesnake
8. "Bang Your Head (Metal Health)" - Quiet Riot
9. "Don't Know What You've Got (Till Its Gone)" - Cinderella
10. "The Wrestler" - Bruce Springstein (from the movie)
1. "Sweet Child 'O Mine" - Guns 'N Roses
2. "I Love Rock-n-Roll" - Joan Jett
3. "Shot Through the Heart" - Bon Jovi
4. "Kiss Me Deadly" - Lita Ford
5. "Round and Round" - Ratt
6. "Unskinny Bop" - Poison
7. "Here I Go Again" - Whitesnake
8. "Bang Your Head (Metal Health)" - Quiet Riot
9. "Don't Know What You've Got (Till Its Gone)" - Cinderella
10. "The Wrestler" - Bruce Springstein (from the movie)
Be sure to have copies of the official Oscar ballot on hand so your guests can follow along as the winners are announced.
Or, have them all vote and hand in their ballots before the show starts. Hand out small prizes for everyone who voted for the winner.
Official 2009 Oscar Ballots can be printed from the Oscar.com.
One fun and inexpensive way to keep guests happy at your Oscar Party is to create a Slumdog Hot Dog Station- ala "Slumdog Millionaire!"
A hot dog station is fun and easy and because guests make their own, you know they're getting just what they want.
Start with the basics:
Plenty of all beef franks
A few different types of hot dog buns
Classic condiments including mayonaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, spicy brown mustard and hot dog relish
Toppings galore:
Cheese
Diced Onions
Sauerkraut
Heavenly Hot Dog Sauce
Chili
Sauteed red, yellow and green bell peppers
Award Night Accessories
Top Hat and Star Confetti
- Hang super-shiny golden stars from the ceiling for a readymade starscape or scatter them on your dinner table.
- Take your guests all the way to hollywood with this themed party set.From decorative paper plates, napkins, cups (there's even fauxOscar-like trophies!) this set's got it all.
- In honor of Best Picture Nominee, "Slumdog Millionaire" (which is set inIndia) drape colorful fabric panels all around your party room.
Try out some vintage bubbly to give your guests, or even the book version of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," which was based on a short story written by legendary American author, F. Scott Fitzgerald. It's even nominated for 13 Oscars (including Best Picture and Best Actor, Brad Pitt).
- Send your guests home with their own "gold" award, an individual bottle of celebratory champagne.
- The paperback version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story makes for a sweet parting gift for guests.
24 Carat Oscar Gold
Sugar!
Sugar!
Award Winning Oscar
Party Tips
Party Tips
2010 Oscar Nominee
Inspired Cocktails
Inspired Cocktails
