HOLIDAYS
HOLIDAYS
When March comes around, there's no escaping college basketball mania. So why not go all out with a party that will score points with friends and family?
Check out our party ideas for March Madness munchies, games and all-around fun.
Check out our party ideas for March Madness munchies, games and all-around fun.
Recreate a sports bar-type atmosphere with these delicious buffalo chicken wings that are sure to win over any b-ball fan!
Recipe from AllRecipes.com.
Ingredients
- 2 Whole packages of Cream Cheese (8 oz), softened
- 1/4 Cup Butter
- 1 Oz Ranch Dressing
- 1/4 Cup Hot Sauce
- 2 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1 Pinch Ground Black Pepper
- 1/3 Cup Beer
- 1 Pinch Garlic Powder
- 1/2 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1/4 Tsp Paprika
- 1/4 Tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1/4 Tsp Salt
- 10 Pieces Chicken Wings
Steps
- In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese and dressing mix. Stir in Cheddar cheese, and then beer. The mixture will appear mushy. Cover bowl, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, overnight if possible. Serve with pretzel sticks.
- Heat oil in a deep fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). The oil should be just enough to cover wings entirely, an inch or so deep. Combine the butter, hot sauce, pepper and garlic powder in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir together and heat until butter is melted and mixture is well blended. Remove from heat and reserve for serving.
- In a small bowl mix together the flour, paprika, cayenne pepper and salt. Place chicken wings in a large nonporous glass dish or bowl and sprinkle flour mixture over them until they are evenly coated. Cover dish or bowl and refrigerate for 60 to 90 minutes.
- Fry coated wings in hot oil for 10 to 15 minutes, or until parts of wings begin to turn brown. Remove from heat, place wings in serving bowl, add hot sauce mixture and stir together. Serve.
Preparation Time: 2 Hours
Serves: 10
Beer and sports—what could be a better combination? What about a beer-and-cream-cheese-dip with pretzels?
This creamy Beer Dip recipe will wow your B-ball bash guests.
This creamy Beer Dip recipe will wow your B-ball bash guests.
Recipe from AllRecipes.com.
Ingredients
- 2 packages (8 oz) Cream Cheese
- 1 package Ranch Dressing
- 2 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1/3 Cup Beer
Steps
- In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese and dressing mix. Stir in Cheddar cheese, and then beer. The mixture will appear mushy. Cover bowl, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, overnight if possible.
- Serve with pretzel sticks.
The combination of zesty orange and luscious cream cheese is the perfect topping for your basketball-inspired cupcakes.
Try the recipes for Vanilla Cupcakes and Black Icing to complete your basketball baked- good masterpiece.
Try the recipes for Vanilla Cupcakes and Black Icing to complete your basketball baked- good masterpiece.
Recipe from CountryLiving.com.
Ingredients
- 1 Package (8-ounce) Cream Cheese
- 1/4 Cup(s) (1/2 stick) Unsalted Butter, Softened
- 1 Tablespoon Fresh Orange Juice
- 1 Teaspoon Grated Orange Zest
- 1/2 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 4 Cup(s) Confectioners' Sugar
- 1/4 Teaspoon Orange Food Coloring
Steps
- Blend the cream cheese, butter, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla in a large bowl, using an electric mixer set at medium speed, until smooth.
- Add the sugar and continue to beat until light and creamy -- about 3 more minutes.
- Add the food coloring and gently stir until the color is uniform.
- Chill the frosting until ready to ice the cupcakes or cake.
Everyone loves a basic (but delicious) vanilla cupcake. Try this recipe to make your basketball cupcakes.
Then follow the recipes for Orange Cream Cheese Frosting and Black Icing to top off your b-ball sweet treats.
Then follow the recipes for Orange Cream Cheese Frosting and Black Icing to top off your b-ball sweet treats.
Recipe from FoodNetwork.com.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Cup(s) Self-Rising Flour
- 1 1/4 Cup(s) All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup (2 sticks) Unsalted Butter, Softened
- 2 Cup(s) Sugar
- 4 Whole Large Eggs (Room Temperature)
- 1 Cup Milk
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Steps
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line 2 (1/2 cup-12 capacity) muffin tins with cupcake papers.
- In a small bowl, combine the flours. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the dry ingredients in 3 parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated but do not over beat.
- Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the batter in the bowl to make sure the ingredients are well blended. Carefully spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling them about 3/4 full.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cupcake comes out clean.
- Cool the cupcakes in tins for 15 minutes. Remove from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack before icing.
You can buy black decorating gel from cake shops such as ShopBakersNook.com. It comes in a squeezable tube with a fine nozzle applicator that makes decorating cupcakes a breeze.
But if you want your basketball cupcakes entirely from scratch, here's an easy recipe for black icing.
Check out the recipes for Orange Cream Cheese Frosting and Vanilla Cupcakes.
But if you want your basketball cupcakes entirely from scratch, here's an easy recipe for black icing.
Check out the recipes for Orange Cream Cheese Frosting and Vanilla Cupcakes.
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 Cup(s) Confectioners' Sugar
- 3 Large Egg Whites
- 1/2 Tsp Cream of Tartar
- 1 Black Food Coloring
- 1 Black Food Coloring
Steps
- In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on low speed, beat the confectioners' sugar, egg whites, and cream of tartar until mixed. Increase the speed to high and beat about 5 minutes, or until very thick and fluffy.
- Color the frosting black. Cover tightly with plastic wrap to prevent drying until ready to use.
- When ready, transfer some of the frosting to a medium-size bowl and beat in a few teaspoons of water, if necessary, until it reaches a spreadable consistency.
- When ready, transfer some of the frosting to a medium-size bowl and beat in a few teaspoons of water, if necessary, until it reaches a spreadable consistency.
Show some school pride and get your guests to dress up in their team colors.
More Fun Theme Party Ideas:
Themed Food for a Themed Party
Plan Your Party with the best-looking invitations on the web!
CollegeBasketballStore.com has a wide selection of NCAA jerseys for men, women and kids.
Or get crafty and make your own head or wristbands in different colors and distribute to guests.
Award the most "spirited" fan (face paint, full attire, foam finger) with a prize. And remember, as host you get to wear a referee's uniform. Show them who's in charge!
Or get crafty and make your own head or wristbands in different colors and distribute to guests.
Award the most "spirited" fan (face paint, full attire, foam finger) with a prize. And remember, as host you get to wear a referee's uniform. Show them who's in charge!
Victory has never tasted so sweet! Treat your guests to championship-worthy basketball cupcakes.
No one can resist these orange-frosted basketball cupcakes, and they're so easy to make!
How to make Basketball Cupcakes:
Tip from EasyCupcakes.com.
How to make Basketball Cupcakes:
- Bake delicious classic cupcakes. Vanilla or carrot cake will work well. Try our recipe for vanilla cupcakes.
- Ice the cupcakes with orange-colored frosting. We love this creamy citrus-flavored orange cream cheese frosting.
- Draw on the basketball lines with black icing or black decorating gel.
- Create two semi-circles and a line down the middle to make a basketball design.
Tip from EasyCupcakes.com.
The only way to get in the game is to decorate your room accordingly!
Spruce up the living room with great basketball-inspired decor that will help make your bash a total slam dunk.
Decorate with basketball balloons (available at ShinDigz.com) and serve your March Madness munchies and refreshments with a fabulous basketball party set of plates, cups and napkins (available at PlumParty.com).
Spruce up the living room with great basketball-inspired decor that will help make your bash a total slam dunk.
Decorate with basketball balloons (available at ShinDigz.com) and serve your March Madness munchies and refreshments with a fabulous basketball party set of plates, cups and napkins (available at PlumParty.com).
Get your guests actively involved in a sports-themed party! Don't just let them sit there.
Play along to the Final Four with a game of indoor hoops, or practice your own free throw during commercial breaks.
Target.com has a selection of affordable collegiate hoop sets featuring different teams, so you can choose your favorite.
Target.com has a selection of affordable collegiate hoop sets featuring different teams, so you can choose your favorite.
Another great way to spice up any party is with a trivia game!
Hand out a trivia game with questions such as "which player will score the most points?" or "who will make the first slam dunk?" to guests before the game starts.
Ask them to fill out the game. The guest with the most correct answers wins a prize. Maybe he or she will get to take home that Indoor Hoop Set!
Ask them to fill out the game. The guest with the most correct answers wins a prize. Maybe he or she will get to take home that Indoor Hoop Set!
French Country Style
Earth Day
Celebration Ideas
Celebration Ideas
Pitcher Perfect -
DIY Floral
Centerpiece...
DIY Floral
Centerpiece...
