Recipes: Oscar-inspired food fit for watch parties

BY NICOLE MARSHALL MIDDLETON World Scene Writer
Friday, February 22, 2013
2/22/13 at 6:59 AM

Let’s face it, no one wants to eat a five-course meal while they watch the Oscars.

It’s all about finger foods, fabulous finger foods.

Many movies nominated this year don’t really inspire the taste buds — Les Miserables, for example, or Lincoln.

But there were a few that stood out as obvious choices to build a meal plan around.

Here they are, with recipes following.

1. Fresh Guacamole (short film, animated) I’ll give you one guess what snack this movie suggests. The theme of this short stop-motion animation movie is transforming familiar objects into fresh guacamole. It’s not a cooking how-to, but guacamole is always a good idea, nonetheless.

2. Snow White and the Huntsman (costume design, visual effects) The apple is the obvious symbol of Snow White, so consider serving a dish featuring apples — like Mini (Poison) Apple and Brie Tarts. It’s a nod to the plot of this grown-up, action-adventure version of Snow White.

3. Silver Linings Playbook (eight nominations, including best picture and best director) This film, staring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, takes place in Philadelphia.

Ergo, Philly cheeseteaks.

We opted for a mini version of the cheesesteak sandwich made into sliders because a full-sized sandwich might just overindulge your Oscar guests considering there are other offerings to nosh on.

4. Frankenweenie (animated feature film) So many cocktail weenie options, so little time.

For simplicity’s sake, let’s stick with Bacon Wrapped Weenies because every party needs bacon.

5. The Life of Pi (11 nominations, including best picture) We doubt anyone is going to turn down mini chocolate pies, even if it’s not exactly what the title of the movie implies.

Little pies make a fun finger food, and it’s easy, and fun, to lose count while eating them.

APPLE AND BRIE TARTS 2 packages (8 ounces each) refrigerated seamless crescent dough sheets

2 small green apples, very thinly sliced

2 tablespoons brown sugar, divided

2 tablespoons butter, divided

½ teaspoon cinnamon, divided

6 ounces Baby Brie

1 egg

Flour (for rolling)

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a Silpat.

2. Lightly sprinkle counter or cutting board with flour. Unroll the crescent dough sheets and place on the flour. Cut each into 8 squares. Don’t worry if they’re not perfectly shaped.

3. Cut Brie into 16 pieces. Place a slice of Brie and 3 apple slices in the middle of each of the squares. Sprinkle each with cinnamon and brown sugar and top with a pat of butter.

4. Brush the border of each pastry with egg wash and fold 2 opposite corners to the center, brushing and overlapping the corners of each pastry firmly so they stick together. Brush the top of the pastries with egg wash. Place the pastries on the prepared sheet pan, and bake about 20 minutes, rotating the pan once during baking. Pastries are done when they are puffed and brown. Serve warm.

— adapted from Pillsbury

BACON WRAPPED COCKTAIL WEENIES

1 pound bacon, any kind (maple-flavored works well)

1 package cocktail smoked sausage links

1 pound light brown sugar (you can use more if you like)

1 box of round toothpicks

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9by-13-inch cake pan with nonstick spray.

2. Open package of bacon and cut entire slab into thirds. Wrap a third of a slice of bacon around each cocktail weenie and secure with toothpicks. Place each bacon wrapped weenie in cake pan, making sure to crowd them together.

3. Liberally cover weenies with brown sugar, leaving only the toothpicks exposed. Place weenies in hot oven. Every 10 minutes or so, baste weenies with sugar/bacon grease mixture and break up any lumps of sugar.

4. Continue until sugar is completely melted and bacon is thoroughly cooked. About 30-40 minutes. When serving, be sure to drizzle sugar/bacon grease over weenies and on the platter.

— adapted from food.com

MINI CHOCOLATE PIES

1 box frozen prepared mini pie crusts For the filling:

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided

1 tablespoon powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Shaved chocolate, chocolate sauce, sprinkles or cherries for garnish, if desired

1. Cook crusts according to directions, set aside to cool.

2. Place the chocolate chips and ¾ cup of the heavy whipping cream into a medium-sized microwave safe bowl. Heat the chips and cream in repeated 30-second increments on half power, whisking well in between, until the cream has been fully incorporated into the melted chocolate. The mixture should be smooth and glossy. Let cool to room temperature.

3. As the chocolate cools, whip the remaining 1¼ cup of cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form. Fold 2 cups of the whipped cream into the cooled chocolate mixture until combined; reserve the remaining whipped cream. Transfer the mousse to a large piping bag or zip-top bag. Snip off the bottom corner off the bag with scissors, and then gently squeeze the mousse into the cooled pie shells. Top with the remaining whipped cream and sprinkles.

— adapted from comfortably domestic.com

PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SLIDERS

1 sirloin steak

Hawaiian Rolls (or potato rolls — dinner size)

1 large onion, sliced thinly Red or green pepper (about half each)

Salt and pepper

4 tablespoons olive oil

Salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste

Provolone cheese or Cheese Whiz

1. Freeze steak for 30 minutes, then remove and slice as thinly as possible (or have your butcher slice it). Salt and pepper steak pieces well.

2. Heat frying pan or griddle to medium-high heat and add half olive oil. Sear steak pieces in pan until browned and done on both sides. This happens very quickly (one to two minutes)

3. Take meat out, set aside. Heat remaining oil in pan, saute vegetables.

4. Heat Cheese Whiz in microwave if using. Assemble sandwiches.

GUACAMOLE

3 avocados — peeled, pitted and mashed

1 lime, juiced

1 teaspoon salt

¼ cup diced onion

3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

2 Roma (plum) tomatoes, diced

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 pinch ground cayenne pepper (optional)

1. In a medium bowl, mash together the avocados, lime juice and salt. Mix in onion, cilantro, tomatoes and garlic.

2. Stir in cayenne pepper. Refrigerate 1 hour for best flavor, or serve immediately.

— adapted from allrecipes.com

Nicole Marshall Middleton 918-581-8459
nicole.marshall@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

Mini chocolate pies inspired by Academy Award nominee “Life of Pi” CHRISTOPHER SMITH/ Tulsa World

Get a taste of Philadelphia, the setting for Oscarcontender “Silver Linings Playbook,” with these PhillyCheesesteak Sliders. CHRISTOPHER SMITH/ Tulsa World