HOLIDAYS
HOLIDAYS
A Red Carpet Affair
Begin producing your own Oscar Party now - and make your own Oscar Party favors. It's looking like the Oscars won't be cancelled afterall. In true Hollywood fashion, the show will go on! Walk your own paparazzi-filled red carpet and get your own awards with these deliciously golden party tips and recipes.
With titles like "No Country for Old Men", "Michael Clayton", "Atonement", "Ratatouille", "Juno" and the real party inspiring title - "There will be Blood," how can you avoid a party celebrating their worthy? To celebrate, throw an "Oscar-worthy" party as you enjoy the 80th Annual Academy Awards.
A party classic, shrimp with cocktail sauce is always a hit.
Ingredients
- 3 Lbs large shrimp in shell (75)
Steps
- Bring a 6- to 8-quart pot two-thirds full of salted water to a boil, then simmer shrimp, stirring occasionally, until they turn pink and are almost cooked through (they will still be translucent in very center but will continue to cook from residual heat), about 3 minutes.
- Drain and cool. Peel shrimp, leaving tail and first segment of shell intact.
A zesty cocktail sauce to serve with shrimp.
Ingredients
- 3/4 Cup ketchup
- 1/4 Teaspoon finely grated fresh orange zest
- 1/4 Cup fresh orange juice
- 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons drained bottled horseradish
- 1/4 Teaspoon Tabasco
Steps
- Stir together all cocktail sauce ingredients until well combined.
- Shrimp can be cooked and peeled 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
- Sauces can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
A mix of vegetables seasoned with coriander, fennel, basil and thyme.
Ingredients
- 1 onion, sliced thin
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
- a 3/4 pound eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
- 1 small zucchini, scrubbed, quartered lengthwise, and cut into thin slices
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 3/4 pound small ripe tomatoes, chopped coarse (about 1 1/4 cups)
- 1/4 Teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
- 1/4 Teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
- 1/8 Teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/4 Teaspoon fennel seeds
- 3/4 Teaspoon salt
- 1/2 Cup shredded fresh basil leaves
Steps
- In a large skillet cook the onion and the garlic in 2 tablespoons of the oil over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened.
- Add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil and heat it over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking.
- Add the eggplant and cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes, or until the eggplant is softened.
- Stir in the zucchini and the bell pepper and cook the mixture over the moderate heat, stirring occasionally, for 12 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and cook the mixture, stirring occassionaly, for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
- Stir in the oregano, the thyme, the coriander, the fennel seeds, the salt, and pepper to taste and cook the mixture, stirring, for 1 minute.
- Stir in the basil and combine the mixture well.
- The ratatouille may be made 1 day in advance, kept covered and chilled, and reheated before serving.
Wolfgang Puck's Wine-Braised Brisket of Beef with Pearl Onions and Apricots.
Ingredients
- 5 pounds beef brisket
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 Tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 bottle red wine
- All-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 10 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
- 6 large shallots, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 2 celery stalks, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 medium leek, white part only, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 Cup dried apricots
- 6 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 quarts plus 1/4
- 1 Cup pearl onions
- Minced parsley, for garnish
Steps
- Season the brisket evenly on both sides with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring the wine to a boil and continue boiling until it reduces to half its original volume, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Evenly sprinkle the brisket all over with flour, shaking off excess. Heat a heavy Dutch oven over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the oil. When it is almost smoking, turn the heat to medium-high, carefully add the brisket, and sear until well browned, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer the brisket to a platter. Pour off the fat from the Dutch oven and add another 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the garlic, shallots, carrots, celery, and leek, and sauté until glossy and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add half of the apricots and all the parsley, thyme, bay leaves, and tomato paste, and continue to cook 1 minute more.
- Return the browned brisket to the Dutch oven and add the reduced wine and 2 quarts stock or broth. If the brisket is not completely covered with liquid, add enough extra stock, broth, or water to cover. Bring the liquid to a simmer. Cover the pot and carefully place it in the oven. Cook until the brisket is fork-tender, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Meanwhile, blanch and peel the onions as instructed in the tips (see below), leaving them whole. Cut the remaining apricots into 1/4-inch strips.
- In a small saute; pan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat and sauté the pearl onions until lightly golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the apricot strips and pour in the remaining 1/4 cup stock or broth, stirring and scraping with a wooden spoon to deglaze the pan deposits. Reduce the heat and simmer gently until tender, about 5 minutes. Cover and keep warm.
- When the meat is done, carefully transfer it to a heated platter, cover with aluminum foil, and keep warm. Boil the liquid in the Dutch oven until it thickens and reduces to about 1 quart, 15 to 20 minutes. Pour it through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl, taste, and adjust the seasonings if necessary with more salt and pepper.
- To serve, use a sharp knife to cut the brisket across the grain into 1/4-inch slices. Arrange the slices on heated serving plates or on a heated platter, spoon half the sauce over it, and garnish with the pearl onions and apricots. Sprinkle with minced parsley and pass the remaining sauce on the side.
Bourbon, bitters, and club soda make an Old-Fashioned.
Ingredients
- 1 orange slice
- 1 maraschino cherry
- 1 sugar cube or 1 tsp
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1½ Oz bourbon
- 1 Oz club soda
Steps
- Muddle together the orange, cherry and the sugar in the bottom of a rocks glass.
- Add the bitters and bourbon and stir well. Add ice to fill the glass halfway and top off with club soda. Serve immediately.
Bourbon, lemon juice, and suger.
Ingredients
- 2 Oz bourbon
- 1 Oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ Oz Simple Syrup
Steps
- Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain the drink into a rocks glass and top with ice. Serve immediately.
Maker's Mark, SoBe, and Soda.
Ingredients
- 2 Oz Maker's Mark
- 2 Oz citrus-flavored energy drink such as SoBe
- 1 splash cola
Steps
- Combine all the ingredients in a rocks glass, stir and add ice. Serve immediately.
Gin and Lime Juice.
Ingredients
- 2 Oz gin
- 1 Oz Rose's lime juice
Steps
- Combine the gin and Rose's lime juice in a rocks glass. Fill the glass with ice and stir. Serve immediately.
Print your invitations on heavy gold Mylar cardstock, give them a double fold and seal them with a large gold sticker and write on the outside of the invite "And the Oscar Goes To..."
Visit your local movie theater and ask for "short ends" of film (little pieces they cut off when they load the reel onto the projector) and write the party details on the film with a gold metallic pen.
Visit your local movie theater and ask for "short ends" of film (little pieces they cut off when they load the reel onto the projector) and write the party details on the film with a gold metallic pen.
Tinseltown's biggest award show conjures up memories of Old Hollywood. So, go with classic and sophisticated choices when it comes to cocktails and food. Serve a traditional Old-Fashioned, a Whiskey Sour or a Rock Star (equipped with over-sized sunglasses). And include Dry Martinis and Gimlets. Don't you just love how that sounds? Very Old Hollywood!
Shake up more great cocktails, too.
Shake up more great cocktails, too.
Give your event real star style. I've got you covered on chic ways to present a few great hors d'oeuvres in my Holiday Party video. Click here to watch.
Serve everything buffet style. Prepare items that can easily be eaten away from a table and choose dishes that can be prepared ahead of time so you're not in the kitchen missing the entrances on the red carpet.
For this party, try mouth-watering dishes like Shrimp Cocktail, Ratatouille (of course) and Wine-Braised Brisket. They will assure you a culinary victory!
Serve everything buffet style. Prepare items that can easily be eaten away from a table and choose dishes that can be prepared ahead of time so you're not in the kitchen missing the entrances on the red carpet.
For this party, try mouth-watering dishes like Shrimp Cocktail, Ratatouille (of course) and Wine-Braised Brisket. They will assure you a culinary victory!
Treat your guests like stars. Prepare Swag Bags like the ones celebs get when they leave a gala. Present them to your guests as they leave. They don't have to be expensive or elaborate as much as charming and sweet.
Swag Bag items include:
Small bottles of lotion
Chocolate Boxes
Twizzlers, Milk Duds, Good & Plenty, Raisinettes, popcorn
DVDs, magazines or movie soundtracks.
After your acceptance speech for winning hostess with the mostest, think about your next cocktail or dinner party!
Swag Bag items include:
Small bottles of lotion
Chocolate Boxes
Twizzlers, Milk Duds, Good & Plenty, Raisinettes, popcorn
DVDs, magazines or movie soundtracks.
After your acceptance speech for winning hostess with the mostest, think about your next cocktail or dinner party!
Wolfgang's Wine-Braised Brisket of Beef with Pearl Onions and Apricots: Wolfgang's Easy Tips
If you can't find a 5-pound brisket at your supermarket, cook 2 smaller pieces.
While the meat braises, keep the heat gentle since boiling tightens rather than relaxes the meat's fibers. Check the liquid in the cooking vessel and if it's bubbling more than slightly, turn down the heat. The results should be so tender that you can pull the meat apart with a fork.
To prepare the pearl onions, bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Add the pearl onions and blanch them for 30 seconds. Drain and immediately immerse them in a bowl of ice and water. Cut the very ends off at the stem ends, peel the onions, and leave them whole.
For neater slices, you could let the brisket cool before cutting it across the grain. Reheat the slices in the sauce. That makes brisket an ideal dish to prepare ahead. Just cook and slice it the day before, and reheat it in the oven in its sauce for about half an hour at 300�F before serving.
Turn your party into a real red carpet. Invite guests to dress in black tie - just like the actors do on award's night. If the stars try that hard, it's fitting that you and your friends make the same effort.
Make your bathroom look like a make-up trailer from a film set. Tape a sign to the bathroom door in the shape of a star that reads, "A Star is Born!" Attach small pictures of movie stars to the mirror and set out sunglasses, hats, an old screenplay and any other fun accessories you may have.
Be inspired by the glamor of Hollywood and provide guests with a real Red Carpet entrance and other great Oscar decor items from PlumParty.com.
Make your bathroom look like a make-up trailer from a film set. Tape a sign to the bathroom door in the shape of a star that reads, "A Star is Born!" Attach small pictures of movie stars to the mirror and set out sunglasses, hats, an old screenplay and any other fun accessories you may have.
Be inspired by the glamor of Hollywood and provide guests with a real Red Carpet entrance and other great Oscar decor items from PlumParty.com.
Begin producing your own Oscar Party now - and make your own Oscar Party favors. It's looking like the Oscars won't be cancelled afterall. In true Hollywood fashion, the show will go on! Walk your own paparazzi-filled red carpet and get your own awards with these deliciously golden party tips and recipes.
Steps
- Hand your guests actual nominee ballots from the Award's official website and ask them to cast their votes for the winners. Present prizes to the winners like a NetFlix membership, a CD of one of this year's nominated sound tracks or DVDS of past Oscar-winning films.
- Play another fun game called "Diva or Damsel." You and your guests have secret ballots-everyone votes for the best-dressed star on TV that night. The actress who has the most votes wins and any of your guests who chose correctly wins a bottle of champagne or free movie tickets.
Award Winning Oscar
Party Tips
Party Tips
In-N-Out with the
Oscars
Oscars
Oscar Party Games
