And The Oscar Goes To….

It's time for the glitz and glamour that is the Oscars!  I love seeing the gowns and gorgeous Hollywood faces on my TV screen.  Most of all, I love the interviews with the chefs that create the glorious food that the celebrities indulge in during the Oscars!  It amazes me that such decadent, detailed delights can be produced on such a large scale!
I'm proposing a much more manageable Oscar party at home.  Gather your most formal family photos, a bottle of champagne and some fun props that you can find around your house…maybe from your Halloween bin.  A boa, glamorous jewels, evening gloves, a sexy pair of pumps, use your imagination for items that say "Oscars" to you!

Select a few favorite appetizers to place among your props at the dining table and lay out a red carpet welcoming your VIP guests to your Oscar Celebration!  I have selected some themed cocktails, appetizers and a dessert at  http://www.pinterest.com/rwodecki-oscarsathome/  It's also fun to pair an appetizer with the theme of a movie, such as 70's Fondue to represent the vibe of American Hustle or a Tex-Mex Fajita Bar for a nod to the Dallas Buyers Club…I really like these apps because they are interactive for your guests!

I featured a couple of signature drinks including a Red Carpet Martini and a cocktail honoring the late, great Shirley Temple. 

"Sweet Shirley Cocktail"

1 oz vodka, 6 oz Sprite and a dash of grenadine

Pour vodka over ice cubes in a highball glass.  Fill the rest of the glass with Sprite, add grenadine and garnish with a cherry!  

Cheers to Shirley Temple!   

Hollywood Starlets

It's always fun to print up some #Oscar Ballots for those Oscar predictions.  Have a fun prize for the winner, such as a pair of Hollywood Shades or a sparkly pair of earrings, a small bottle of champagne or a bow tie for the men at the party.  I found these #free printables at livinglocurto.com

You are invited to check out my menu ideas at http://pinterest.com/rwodecki-the oscars at home/  A tried and true recipe that is featured is Mini Cheese Ball Bites

We all love bite sized party food!  This one makes an impressive presentation and has lots of flavor!

8 oz cream cheese - room temperature

3/4 C (3 ounces) Blue Cheese crumbles

3/4 C dried cranberries - finely chopped

1 1/2 C pecans 

Pretzel Sticks

Beat Cream Cheese, Blue Cheese and Dried Cranberries until smooth

form cheese mixture into about 24 bite size balls (dampen hands to prevent sticking)

Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or until firm.

Spread pecans on baking sheet and bake at 350 degree oven until lightly toasted, 7-10 minutes, allow to cool then finely chop

Roll chilled cheese balls in chopped pecans and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Just before serving, skewer each with a pretzel stick (they'll get soggy if you do it too early)

Have fun planning your #Oscar Party and watch out for the Paparazzi!

P.S.  Remember to share your ideas and party pics in my comments section!

Fat Tuesday and My Birthday on the same day? Let The Good Times Roll!

This year I share my birthday with the Mardi Gras celebration known as #Fat Tuesday.  Seems cruel, doesn't it?  Or, I could look at it as permission to celebrate BIG on my birthday! 
I will embrace the saying made popular by the Louisiana French, "Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!"  Translation:  "Let The Good Times Roll!"

I have always wanted to visit New Orleans, aka, "The Big Easy."  My first stop would be the Cafe Du Monde, for a cup of coffee and a few beignets.  A tour of the mysterious, charming city on a horse drawn carriage would be next on my itinerary.  Then back to the hotel to rest up for a fun filled night!  A Hurricane Cocktail, or two, some spicy jambalaya and I'd be ready for a parade through the French Quarter!  This is my kind of party town!  Why have I not visited yet?  (sigh)
My first experience with Mardi Gras was in grad school.  My site supervisor was from Louisiana and she invited me to her home for a Mardi Gras Party.  It was an evening I will never forget.  I loved the jambalaya, the decorative masks, the infectious music and the King Cake, which was not only delicious but a lesson in tradition.  The cake is made in the round and a tiny baby doll is hidden inside.  If you find the baby doll in your slice of cake it is said you will have a year of good luck and it is your duty to bring the King Cake to next year's party.  This year I will attempt to make my own King Cake and spicy Jambalaya.  New Orleans has a reputation for great cocktails, and my favorite is the #Hurricane.  I hosted a Mardi Gras Game Night a few years ago and served this cocktail that lives up to it's name!

Hurricane Cocktail

Serves 8

16 oz dark rum

16 oz light rum

16 oz passion fruit juice

4 oz fresh lime juice

8 oz orange juice

8 Tablespoons grenadine

ice cubes

8 slices of orange

16 cherries

1.  Pour all ingredients except orange slices and cherries into a shaker with ice.  Shake well.

2.  Strain the mixture over ice cubes into Hurricane glasses.

3.  Garnish with orange slices and cherries.

Let The Good Times Roll!

My Recipe Box

For the past 27 years I have had a Bon Appetit subscription.  I look forward to each issue and make a point of trying at least one recipe, sometimes an entire holiday dinner each month.  I remember making my sister the cover recipe from June 1994: Lemon Wedding Cake with Blackberry Sauce for her Bridal Shower.  It had lemon curd filling and cream cheese icing and that blackberry sauce was amazing!  That cake and so many other fabulous creations came from the pages of those treasured issues.

I recently came across a family favorite, #Bananas Foster, from Bon Appetit, August 1993.  I've made it so often that I ripped the page out of the magazine and have it in my family recipe box.  I hope you give it a try and love it as much as we do.   So, from my recipe box to yours, enjoy!

Bananas Foster
4 servings

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup dark rum
1/4 cup creme de banana liqueur
4 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced
   Vanilla ice cream

Stir butter with sugar and cinnamon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until melted.
Add dark rum and liqueur and simmer until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.  Add bananas and stir to coat.  Scoop ice cream into dishes.  Spoon sauce and bananas over.
Serve immediately.

Zumba Fitness Party!

Zumba is my exercise of choice!  I have been a Zumba fan for almost 10 years.  Staying fit and having fun while doing it is the perfect combination!
I was recently asked how I stay so faithful to my #Zumba workouts.  My answer was that I think of Zumba as a dance party, not exercise.  I love the Hip Hop music turned up loud, the dances, the enthusiastic instructor and the diversity of the women in the class.  We are from all parts of the country, and many are from other countries such as France, Sweden, China and Japan.  English may not be their  first language but once the music starts we are all in sync!  Our instructor keeps the classes fresh and interesting by changing songs and choreography every few weeks, so the regular dancers never get bored and stay challenged.  Our group has also had dress-up days, including Halloween costumes, Neon Day, and  T-shirt cutting classes.
We have met off the Zumba floor for coffee, lunch, dinner and drinks, and I have hosted a swim party or two, and an Afternoon Tea.  Put me in a group of people and I'll think of a reason for a party!

My cousins visiting from California hit the Zumba floor with me!

P.S.  My house guests are always forewarned to pack their workout clothes because they will be coming to Zumba Class with me!

Me and Kim, my Zumba instructor, a night out with our hubbys

Gourmet Game Night

Gourmet Game Night sounds formal but it is truly a casual gathering with four couples that are long time friends.  Our group gets together every other month and we take turns hosting the parties.  The dinner is planned by the hosts and they delegate a course to each of the other couples.  I prefer to come up with an entire menu and provide a recipe for the particular course being delegated to each of the couples.  Other couples may decide on their entree and leave it up to us to select an appropriate recipe for the course we were assigned.  We have enjoyed a variety of dinners from the more common Italian and Mexican to the more exotic Moroccan,  traditional Japanese,  casual poolside barbecues and even a Wine Tasting with paired appetizers.  My Summer Game Night Recipes, pictured below,  can be found  @ http://www.pinterest.com/rwodecki/game-night/
After dinner we break out the games and hilarity ensues!  We play boardgames, cards, charades, the popular Heads Up and always, our favorite, Sequence.
Our group is dynamic and we have spent summer Game Nights playing on the lake, attending a rock concert and even road tripped 6 hours to take in a baseball game and visit one of our original Game Night couples that recently relocated!
I have successfully pulled off 2 surprise birthday parties for my husband under the guise of #Game Night!
The beauty of a Game Night is that you can make it your own!   Your group may be larger or smaller, you may prefer daytime rather than evening events and possibly just coffee and dessert instead of an entire meal.  The idea is fellowship and fun centered around food and friends!
Relax and let the games begin!

Blueberry Mojitos

Chinese Chicken Burgers with Rainbow Sesame Slaw

Tiny Cherry and Blueberry Star Pies in Jars

Breaking Bad Surprise Birthday Party

I'm not one to keep a secret, so Surprise Parties are not really my thing.  I have successfully pulled off 2 surprise parties for my husband, most recently a #Breaking Bad themed party proved to be great fun! This popular series provided plenty of opportunities for fun props, characters and recipes!

Jesse's fav snacks,  Los Pollos Hermanos chicken and pizza

Better Call Saul Saul-sa!  from Dash and a Pinch

Sky Blue Cocktails

Lotus Flower Candle, Rice Paper Picture and Winnebago are perfect cake toppers!

Bunco Bashes

I am a California native transplanted in Indiana.  Bunco was a favorite excuse for a party in my old hometown and I wasted no time in forming a new group of Bunco Babes upon moving into my new home.  Bunco is a fun dice game that involves absolutely no skill but allows 12 lucky women to eat, drink and socialize on a monthly basis.  I have amassed an awesome collection of recipes through 10+ years of Bunco parties.  This year I am attempting to organize a "cookbook" featuring all of the recipes from our 2014 Bunco parties - you can follow our parties throughout the year as I post each month's recipes at http://www.pinterest.com/rwodecki/bunco-bites-2014/ 
I enjoy a theme party and have hosted Beach Blanket Bunco and Halloween Bunco among others.  I am happy to share my recipes with you @ http://www.pinterest.com/rwodecki/bunco-snack-ideas/ Whether you're a Bunco Babe or not, you may be inspired to start your own #Bunco group or just host a party!

California Rolls arranged on Catamarans

Easy Clam Shell Cookies with Pepperidge Farm Cookies, pink frosting and a white mint

Umbrellas and Shark Fins for easy Beach themed cupcakes 

Halloween Bunco

2014 Bunco Recipes

Mini Caprese Pizzas @ http://www.skinnymom.com

Mini Cheese Ball Bites @ http://joyfulhealthyeats.com

Jalapeño Deviled Eggs @ http://thefrisky.com

Party Planning Is Fun!

Entertaining is my passion!  I love trying new recipes and tweaking old favorites.  Many of my parties start with a great recipe that can result in a formal 4 four course meal or finger foods at Game Night.  Sometimes a party theme can be a great launching pad.  My favorite parties include a #Pirate Themed Halloween party

21st BD Party 

 and my son's #21st Birthday Party.  I am lucky enough to live on a lake and during the warmer months I enjoy entertaining family and friends lakeside or poolside. Hobo Campfire Dinners, Spring Brunch on the Deck, and Romantic Dinners Lakeside are just a few of the gatherings I have planned.

  Have I mentioned that I love the holidays?  Every holiday is a great excuse to plan a party…or two!  Let's Have A Party!

Spring Lakeside Brunch

Easy Dessert for Hobo Campfire Cook Out 

Easter Centerpiece