It’s almost Oscar time! As awards are being given for outstanding actors and films, you certainly don’t want to be nominated for the worst in food and decor at your own party! When friends and family gather for this exciting event, make it sparkle and go down in your history as a winner!
Thinking along the lines of history and winners, deserving recipients from the past should never be forgotten…even in a world of ever-changing entertainment. As we welcome the new Oscar nominees, let’s make it a full circle kind of night with a celebration in remembering movies and stars that deservingly received the same honor years ago!
Starters
First things first, set the stage! All you need is this reusable, dazzling, glitzy tablecloth! Your food, champagne glasses with bubbly, and a few low-cost plates, napkins, and accessories will do the rest!
Katharine Hepburn‘s Famous Fudgy Brownies
According to the American Film Institute, this amazing actress was and is one of the greatest female screen legends of all time! She also has a pretty famous fudgy brownie recipe that could qualify as a winner on your table!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cocoa or 2 squares unsweetened baker’s chocolate
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup roughly chopped walnuts or pecans
Directions
- Melt butter with cocoa or chocolate in a heavy saucepan over medium/low heat.
- Whisk constantly until blended.
- Remove from heat and stir in sugar.
- Whisk in eggs and vanilla.
- Stir in flour, salt, and walnuts, mixing well.
- Pour into a well-buttered 8-inch square baking pan.
- Bake at 325 degrees for approximately 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean…with a touch of fudge.
- Cool completely and cut into squares.
A Forrest Gump-Inspired Appetizer
This memorable movie was an Oscar winner in 1994. As we well know from this film, “life is like a box of chocolates.” But since we already have brownies on the table, let’s take a look at one of the many ways “the fruit of the sea” can be served for this momentous occasion! In honor of Forrest’s shrimp boat era, Shrimp Tostada Bites sound like a winner!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Kosher salt
- 1 lb. peeled and deveined medium shrimp, thawed if frozen
- 2 avocados
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 jalapeño, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp. freshly chopped cilantro
- Kosher salt
- Tostitos tortilla scoops
Directions
- In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, honey, garlic, paprika, cayenne, and season with salt.
- Add shrimp and toss until fully coated, then cover and let marinate in fridge for up to 2 hours.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook shrimp until pink and completely opaque, 2 minutes per side.
- In a medium bowl, mash avocados with lime juice, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro and season generously with salt.
- Scoop a tablespoon of guacamole into tortilla scoops, top with shrimp, and garnish with cilantro before serving.
Combining the Favorite Flavors of Elvis
The electricity and the buzz from the movie “Elvis” is on the list of nominations for this year. This icon in music will never be forgotten so in his memory, as well as for the deserving performance of Austin Butler, here is an addition in the appetizer category that fits right in with the taste of the King of Rock and Roll…Elvis Bacon Bites!
Ingredients
- 6 slices white bread
- 6 tablespoons peanut butter creamy or chunky
- 1 ripe banana peeled and cut into 12 slices
- 12 slices bacon cut in half
- Oil for frying
- 12 toothpicks
- Honey, optional
Instructions
- Heat oil to approximately 360° in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Spread 1 tablespoon peanut butter on 1 side of each slice of bread.
- Place a banana slice on top of peanut butter-covered bread…in each corner.
- Place a second piece of bread on top with the peanut butter side down.
- Press gently to secure.
- Using a sharp knife, remove the crust and cut each sandwich into 4 squares.
- Take one sandwich square and wrap a half slice of bacon around it.
- Take another half slice of bacon and wrap it around the sandwich in the opposite direction.
- Secure the ends with a toothpick. Set aside.
- Repeat until all the remaining sandwich squares have been wrapped.
- Fry the sandwiches in small batches of oil for approximately 5-10 minutes, or until bacon is browned and crispy.
- Drain excess oil from sandwiches on a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate.
- Drizzle with honey if desired.
- Serve warm.
A Toast for the Winners
The red carpet is rolled out for the stars, so bring out your own version as you raise your glass to the winners or sip and celebrate your dazzling party! You guessed it, this one is called “The Red Carpet.” It’s rosy red in color, great in taste, and glamourous in champagne glasses, and here’s how you make it!
Ingredients
- 3 oz. creme de cassis
- 1 bottle Champagne
- 1 orange for zesting
Directions
- Just before serving, pour 1 Tablespoon of creme de cassis into a cocktail glass. (A sweet, dark red liqueur made from blackcurrants)
- Top with bubbly champagne.
- Garnish with orange zest!
- Serves 6.
Related: Copycat Recipes of Your Favorite Restaurant Appetizers!