Oscar Party Cocktails: Amour – Perfect Love
Amour is a story about a couple’s struggle after the wife suffers a stroke. The couple, retired music teachers, are in their eighties and have a daughter who lives abroad with her family.
Because Amour is a French-language film, my cocktail for Amour is named after Parfait Amour, a floral infused liqueur, which is French for “perfect love.”
Ingredients:
- ½ oz. Parfait Amour
- ½ oz. Cointreau
- Top with Moet & Chandon Champagne
Instructions:
Add Parfait Amour and Cointreau into a Champagne flute and slowly top off with chilled Champagne.
“The Duel” — Recommended by Gomez Addams
Gomez Addams
Gomez is in love with his wife, Morticia and cannot resist the urge to sweep her up in his arms and kiss her anytime that he sees her. He loves to duel and is a master of the sultry tango, which he and Morticia practice nightly.
Cocktail:
The Duel
5oz Martini Glass Chilled
Ingredients:
3/4 oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
3/4 oz Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Vodka
1/4 oz Chambord
2 cocktail shakers
Fill a shaker with ice and pour in Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, shake until chilled. Strain the Godiva Chocolate Liqueur into the bottom of a chilled martini glass. Godiva Ligueur has a rich creamy flavor, that complements the chocolate essence of the light, delicious vodka. Fill the second shaker with ice and pour in the Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Vodka and Chambord, shake until chilled. To layer the cocktail, turn a spoon upside down and gently pour the Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Vodka over the first layer.
Food Paring:
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“Endless Love” — Recommended by Wednesday Addams
Wednesday
Wednesday is the daughter of Gomez and Morticia Addams who closely resembles her mother. Wednesday enjoys torturing her brother, but as of late has her sights on another young man. Could Wednesday Addams, the daughter of darkness, have found love?
Cocktail:
Endless Love
Served in an 8oz Glass
Medicine Jar
Dropper
Ingredients:
7 oz Ginger Ale
1 cup Pom Juice
2 tbsp Lemon Juice
2 tbsp Ginger Simple Syrup
In a medicine jar combine Pom Juice, Lemon Juice and Ginger Simple Syrup. Fill an 8oz highball glass with ice and fill with Ginger Ale. Fill a medicine dropper with the juice concoction from the medicine jar and fuse the contents of the dropper into the highball with Ginger Ale.
For more fun and interactive cocktail like this one, visit The Mad Scientist Bar I created for last year’s Halloween Party here!
Food Pairing:
“Bleeding Heart” Brownie
Warm heart shaped brownie with strawberry filling.
Ingredients:
I Box Chocolate Brownie Mix
Eggs
Oil
Water
Strawberry Jam
Heart Shaped Cupcake pan
or
Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter and Baking Pan
Follow the instructions on the back of the boxed Chocolate Brownie mix, following the necessary steps to make the brownies. Once the brownies are baked and cooled, remove them from the pan. If using the cookie cutters, cut the brownies into the heart shapes. Heat the strawberry jam till it is warm and a bit runny. Spoon a tablespoon of jam onto the heart once plated.
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“Electric Shock” — Recommended by Uncle Fester
Uncle Fester
Uncle Fester, Gomez’s brother has an explosive personality and is in love with the moon. Fester runs on electrical current and can power electrical devices all on his own.
Cocktail:
Electric Shock
8 oz Highball
Ingredients:
4 oz Mountain Dew
1 oz Smirnoff Vodka
½ oz Chambord
1 pack Strawberry Pop Rocks
Lime Wedge
To garnish the rim of the highball, moisten the edge using lime juice and dredge in Pop Rocks. Fill the glass with ice. Fill a shaker with ice, Mountain Dew, Chambord and Vodka, shake until mixed and chilled. Pour into glass.
** To make non-alcoholic, replace Chambord with cherry juice and omit the vodka.
Food Pairings:
Bat Chips and Bloody Dip
Bat Shaped Pita Chips and red pepper oil drizzled hummus
Ingredients:
Hummus
Pimento Peppers
Pita Bread
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
To make Bat Chips: Using a bat shaped cookie cutter, cut the pieces of Pita Bread into the desired shapes, you may use any cookie cutter for the desired shape. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush the pita chips with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
To make Hummus: Using a blender, puree the pimento peppers. Drizzle the puree on top of hummus and serve.
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The Royal Wedding
At your next celebration, bring the chic class of the Royal Wedding to your table with details only Buckingham Palace could inspire. With sustainable flower arrangements, monogrammed plates, and napkin rings that become fascinators, your guests will surely feel like royalty.
Inspired by the 20 ft. maples Kate and Will had brought into Westminster Abbey, these small topiaries bring to mind old English gardens and specifically the Palace Gardens, where much of the greenery for the wedding came from. PK and PW (their street names) wanted to be sustainably green and entirely British for their big day!
Let the flowers speak for you. Not only does a good centerpiece transform a table, but flowers have meaning, too. These arrangements were created in bowls from Ruth Fischl, in white and green, the same colors as the royal wedding florals. The flowers included white roses, which are a natural symbol for love, as well as England, pear blossoms for good fortune, and lilies of the valley, which symbolize sweetness and humility. In addition to being absolutely gorgeous, all of the flowers were regional and representative of either the qualities that the couple will strive to bring to their relationship, and to England.
For the first time in history, the monogram of a royal couple shows the lady’s name on top. To avoid any crass remarks about a Water Cabinet, the Queen did the sensible thing, and reversed tradition. You can create your own monogram by printing it out on vellum paper. Use copy fx paper (found at your local art store) in gold or silver and use your home printer to transfer the design you made onto vellum paper. Lay these over your plates and make your guests feel like royalty when they see their own initials!
Every detail counts, and sometimes it’s the smaller ones like gold rimmed glasses that make your event seem truly chic. After all, it’s such a subtle touch your guests might think you always drink this stylishly.
Inspired by Pippa’s controversial foray into disco at the Royal Reception, these table mirrors in various sized bring a sophisticated shimmer to your tabletop. They catch the reflection of glassware, florals, and light, which makes it almost as though you have a chandelier on top of your table rather than above it.
The Brits are famous for hats. From those which have the wingspan of two eagles to those which jut out from the forehead like small cakes, there is perhaps no other fashion tradition which carries with it such repute. Inspired by these ornate status symbols worn at the Royal Wedding, I created fascinators – the napkin ring that also makes your guests chic and posh by doubling as an accessory that is almost as elaborate as those hats themselves.
Don’t worry, I didn’t forget the gentleman guests. For them, the fascinatiere! A napkin ring that doubles as a boutonniere to heighten the appeal of any dashing fellow.
Get ready for a classy affair.
Heart Time-line Valentine’s Day Card
(click on image to enlarge)
My signature Hand-made Love Timeline Valentine is one part valentine card meets paper doll chain. Each heart represents moments and/or milestones in your relationship…from when you met to your first date!
The longer the relationship, the longer the time line and more hearts!
I have made the template for the hearts but get creative! Add ticket stubs, dried flowers, anything to symbolize your growing relationship!
(click here to download the Heart Time-line Card template and step-by-step instructions)
Sweet Nothings Flower Arrangement
Who doesn’t LOVE flowers? Especially on Valentine’s Day? I began my centerpiece using a roses and I’ve added paper flowers that are made of individual hearts each with a “sweet nothing” about your lover written on each heart shaped petal. There’s none of that “he loves me, he loves me not…” It is all “he LOVES me!”
I am all about re purposing what I already have and using it in an unexpected way… for the base of my rose flower arrangement, I filled a square vase with my remaining M&Ms and added other iconic Valentine’s Day candies creating a sand-art effect. By adding a sheer pink ribbon, it make the square glass vase look like an extra sweet gift to perch the sticky sweet, sweet nothing flowers. All this is so sweet that it is giving me a tooth ache!
Instructions for Sweet Nothings Flower:
Tools:
Colored Paper (Recommend A Heavier Stock)
Heart Template
Push Pin
24-Gauge Wire
Small Beads
Ribbon or Floral Tape
Hot Glue/Hot Glue Gun
Marker (Black, Gold, Silver, or Red)
Scissors
Step-By-Step:
1. Using our template cut out six hearts of the same size and write loving notes on 2-3 petals using a marker.
2. Stack hearts together and use a pushpin, make a hole near the pointed end of each heart.
3. For the wire stem, cut a piece of wire 12-24” and fold in half. Thread 3 small beads onto the cut wire and twist the wire so the beads stay at the end.
4. Thread hearts onto the wire until all the hearts are stacked against the bead. Twist the wire again to keep the hearts in place.
5. Cover the stem with floral tape or glue ribbon around the wire
(click here to download the Sweet Nothings Flower template)
Hidden Forget-Me-Not Notes
Surprise your partner with this fun and easy craft! Create these fun envelopes with heart-felt hidden messages. Take it one step further & hide them inside a linen or satin napkin tied with ribbon so when your guest opens it, a surprise flurry of Forget-Me-Not Notes tumble into their lap! Add a bit of confetti inside the envelope for an extra surprise!
Tools:
template
themed paper
scissors
bone folding tool
Step-By-Step:
1. Cut out your heart template.
2. Trace the heart on your favorite paper and cut it out.
3. Follow the template to make the folds on the themed paper using a bone folder.
4. Write a message or put some confetti in the center of the heart.
5. Following the folds made, fold heart into the envelope shape.
(click here to download the Victorian Hearts template)
Valentine WOW Table!
WOW your lover with my signature Romantic Valentine’s Day dinner table. I really dove into the holiday & theme by incorporating iconic Valentine’s Day elements with an unexpected twist! I started with a red satin tablecloth to set the sexy stage, bright red charger plates for a bit of drama, and ordinary white dishes – embellished to fit the holiday. M&Ms are my favorite candy to add a candy-beaded rim to ordinary white plates. They come already packaged in holiday colors and can also be personalized – GO TO My M&M’s website
To jazz up your plain white plates follow my easy steps below!
Candy Beaded Valentine’s Day Plates
Tools:
white salad plate
white dinner plate
red charger plate
M&Ms candies in light pink, dark pink, red and white.
For icing:
2 large egg whites
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
3 cups (330 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted
In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the egg whites with the lemon juice. Add the sifted powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined and smooth. The icing needs to be used immediately or transferred to an airtight container as royal icing hardens when exposed to air. Cover with plastic wrap when not in use.
Step-By-Step:
Step 1: Begin by mixing the icing and pouring into the corner of a plastic bag (Ziploc, etc.). Tear the corner of your bag to pipe the icing.
Step: Begin piping the icing in small pea-sized dots that are about 1/2” apart.
Step 3: This icing hardens very quickly, so make sure you place your candy on in a timely manner.
Step 4: Continue piping the icing all the way around the plate.
Step 5: Once complete, add a colorful napkin and silverware. Begin your place setting by putting your dinner plate on top of your charger plate.
Step 6: Place a bowl or salad plate on top of your dinner plate.
Step 7: Have your guests enjoy eating from a festive place setting for Valentine’s Day!
