Posh Super Bowl Menu (Super Bowl LI - 2017: by TSD)

I admit that even I tend to go for the popular, albeit common, party foods when it comes to my Super Bowl Spreads.  For Super Bowl 50, I had one unique recipe, 'MACHOS' Jalapeno Stuffed Boneless Buffalo Wings, and then opted for the usual football- themed food that we have all come to love and expect from our Super Bowl hosts/ hostesses. But for Super Bowl LI, I wanted to go for something a little different.  This posh Super Bowl menu will not only be unique twists on some of our favorites for the big game, but also adds a flair that will separate your party from all others.  Don't forget to check out TSD's team-themed Super Bowl-tinis, the Patriot-tini and the Falcons-tini to complete the party!

On the Menu

Maple Bacon Popcorn 

Cochon en la Oreiller 

Fries Couture 

Braised Short Rib Sliders

Chicken Satay Martinis

Click here for my Maple Bacon Popcorn recipe.

Cochon en la Oreiller 

Pigs in a Blanket..? Please! We're way too high class for that! So let's call these babies by their French translation of Pigs in a Pillow and up the ingredients!
Ingredients - makes 20-24 appetizers:
olive oil cooking spray
4 Andouille sausage links
2 sheets pastry puff, defrosted, room temperature
2 tbsp light olive oil
Optional Accompaniments:
Spicy brown mustard
Chipotle mustard
BBQ sauce

1. Preheat oven 425 degrees F.
2. Prepare baking sheet (I lay down tin foil for wasier clean up), spray with cooking oil
3. Cut pastry puff into approximately 14-16 squares per dough sheet
4. Slice sausages into 1" thick pieces
5. Wrap each sausage piece in a puff pastry square like a pouch, leaving a small opening at the top and pinch the top corners around the sausage. Repeat with all pastry puff squares and sausage cuts.
6. Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until pastry puff "puffs out" like pillows and become a golden brown and sausages peak out and are sizzling.
7. Remove from oven and serve. 

Couture Fries 
Ingredients - 6-8 servings:
1 pkg frozen potato fries
8 oz Angus sirloin steak (boneless) 
1 tbsp teriyaki sauce
1 tsp. garlic powder
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2-3 strips bacon, cooked
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp. brown sugar
splashes of chardonnay wine
3/4 cup gruyere cheese, shredded
2 tbsp. fresh parsley, minced (optional)

1. In a small sauce pan, over medium heat, add butter, onions, brown sugar and a splash of chardonnay wine and mix well.
2. Cook until onions darken and caramelize, adding splashes of chardonnay wine as needed to deglaze the pan.
3. Once onions caramelize, remove from heat and set aside. 
4. In a skillet, add oil over medium heat.
5. Trim steak as needed and cut into small pieces (almost shredded).
6. Cook in skillet until no longer pink and mix in teriyaki sauce and garlic powder. 
7. Remove steak from skillet and set aside.
8. Cook fries in oven per package instruction.
9. While fries cook, make Spicy Aioli (per the below).
10. Remove fries from oven and transfer to a shallow, oven proof baking dish (I personally used a pie dish) keep oven on, at 400 degrees F.
11. Drizzle fries with Spicy Aioli sauce, then sprinkle the caramelized onions evenly over the fries.
    
12. Then evenly layer cooked steak and crumble bacon over the fries.
13. Last, add a layer of the shredded cheese.
14. Place fries back into the oven and cook for approximately 8 minutes or until cheese melts.

Spicy Aioli
Ingredients - 8-10 servings:
4 tbsp. thousand island dressing
2 tbsp. olive oil mayonnaise
1 tbsp. mayonnaise, hot & spicy
splashes of chardonnay wine

1. Mix thousand island dressing and the two kinds of mayonnaise together.
2. Add splashes of chardonnay to get a desired consistency, which should be like a thin salad dressing (thinner than most aiolis to make drizzling on fries easier).

Braised Short Rib Sliders
I personally like these sliders plain without additional accompaniments because the braised meat is already rich and flavorful, but for guests at your party it's nice to serve this with additional condiments and I found these options to be the most popular but any slider condiments will work well.  Click here for my delicious Braised Beef Short Ribs recipe.
Ingredients:
8-10 slider buns
2-3 short braised beef short rib meat, shredded
Optional Condiments:
sliced pickles
sliced onions
cherry tomatoes, halved
BBQ Sauce

1. Place approximately 1/4-1/2 cup of shredded braised beef short rib meat into each slider. 
2. Serve with condiment options.

Chicken Satay Martinis

These are a perfect substitute to the boring old buffalo wings and/ or chicken nuggets during the game. Serve them in martini glasses for that je nais se qua.
Ingredients - 4-6 servings:

2 chicken boneless breasts, cut into tender-size pieces
1 cup zero fat, plain Greek yogurt
1 tbsp turmeric
2 tbsp. sweet & spicy chili sauce
2 tbsp. garlic paste
1/4 cup onion, minced
2 pieces pickled ginger, minced
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup  spicy Thai peanut sauce

1. In a Tupperware container, mix all the ingredients together, except for the Thai peanut sauce and chicken, and blend until it is a marinade consistency (add more water if needed).
2. Add in chicken tenders and make sure each piece is coated in the marinade.
3. Refrigerate a few hours or overnight.
4. Prepare grill on low-medium heat.
5. Grill chicken tenders until outside is grill charred and internal temperature is 165 degrees F at thickest parts. (If the marinade begins to burn too easily on the grill, you can finish the chicken in the oven at 350 degrees F.)
6. Divide spicy Thai peanut sauce into martini glasses and lay 2-4 chicken tenders on the side of the glass and serve.

Maple Bacon Popcorn

I can report that I've been to some of the most cosmopolitan movie theater houses in the nation, and by far this recipe for maple bacon popcorn surpasses any seasonings and flavored butter popcorn bar out there!  If you enjoy mixing salty snacks with sweet treats, this snack is sure to satisfy your taste buds on all levels, not to mention it has BACON! Perfect for Romantic Movie Nights, Poker Parties and I enjoy this with my Posh Super Bowl Menu. 

Ingredients:

Bag of preferred microwaveable popcorn 

2-3 slices of bacon

2-3 tbsp. pure maple syrup
Salt to taste

1. Cook slices of bacon, reserve 2-3 tbsp. of the bacon grease.
2. Microwave bag of popcorn per bag instructions/ microwave settings.
3. Transfer popped popcorn to bowl.
4. Crumble bacon strips into popcorn bowl (add salt as desired), toss popcorn to mix in bacon at all levels.
5. Mix reserved bacon grease with maple syrup (in a coffee mug), and using a spoon drizzle the mixture all over the popcorn.
6. Toss popcorn one more time to evenly distribute the mixture and serve.

Healthy Mushroom Soup (Broth-based)

When it's cold outside, there is nothing better than warming up from the inside out with delicious soup.  But many soups can be cream-based which, while very flavorful, can pack on the calories and grams of fat.  So this is a healthy broth-based mushroom soup, rich in earthy flavors and veggies.  I love to serve this as a starter to my Braised Beef Short Ribs Family Dinner and it's part of my Winter Soup Series.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp. butter
3/4 cup onion, diced
1/2 cup celery, sliced
1/2 carrot, diced
1 tbsp garlic paste
1 pkg of Bella mushrooms, thoroughly washed, stems removed, chopped
1/2 cup water
5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. sage
salt & pepper to taste

1. Over a medium heat, add butter and onions and carrots and cook until onions begin to caramelize.
2. Scrape up any pan drippings and add celery , garlic paste and mushrooms and the water. 
3. Once veggies soften and mushrooms shrink, add broth and seasoning and reduce heat to medium-low.
4. Cover and let soup simmer and blend flavors stirring occasionally for at least 15 minutes or allow to simmer for awhile over a lower heat setting.

Roaring 20's/ Great Gatsby Party Spread

The flappers, the decadence, the thrill of pretending to violate prohibition laws of days gone by... Who doesn't love a Roaring 20's or Great Gatsby themed party...?  I personally did this spread for a birthday party but it works great for a New Year's Eve party as well.  Here, I give recipe ideas that are easy yet fancy as well as I had both vegetarian and gluten-free diet guests to accommodate, so this party is in true Gatsby form in order to serve a wide variety of pallets for all those crazy party guests...Enjoy!!!

On the Menu
Caviar Platter

Crudites Cups

Mini-Shrimp Cocktail 

Lisa's Famous Artichoke Dip 

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Steak & Scallops with Mashed Potatoes Martinis

Champagne & Chocolate Cupcakes

Caviar Platter - I can in no way afford Russian Beluga caviar (approximately between $30-$250 per oz)  but did splurge to bring my spread to that fancy level with black lump fish caviar and wild salmon roe caviar, which both range approximately $10-15 per 2 oz. jar.

Ingredients:

2.5 oz jar of black caviar
2.5 oz jar of  salmon roe caviar

1/2 red onion, diced

2 hard boiled eggs, peeled, chopped

1 pkg. of neufchatel cream cheese, soften

1. On your serving platter, begin with spreading the cream cheese in the center of the dish, leaving a 1" margin from the rim of your dish.
2. Place red onion and eggs around cream cheese in an order or design of your choosing.
3. Top cream cheese with half of the black caviar and half of the roe.
4. Serve with preferred crackers (I used GF crackers)

Crudites Cups - Requires small individual cups to serve in.

Ingredients:

3-4 stalks of celery

1/2 head of broccoli

3-4 carrots

2 cups preferred ranch dressing/ dip

1. Thoroughly wash all vegetables.
2. Cut celery into approximately 3" sections, then slice lengthwise into thirds.
3. Peel carrots, cut into approximately 3" sections, then slice lengthwise into pieces similar to the size of your celery sticks.
4. Cut broccoli into individual florets.
5. Fill each individual appetizer serving cup with preferred dressing or dip (I used
   
   Greek yogurt based dressing to accommodate my GF diet guests, as well as it is a much healthier alternative to normal salad dressings and vegetable dips) about 1/4 full.
6. Arrange celery and carrot sticks in the "back" portion of the cu, and place the broccoli floret in the front.            

Mini-Shrimp Cocktail - Requires small individual cups to serve in.

Ingredients:

1/2 lbs cooked shrimp, peeled, tail-on, de-veined (or a shrimp ring platter)

2 cups cocktail sauce

1. Fill each individual appetizer serving cup with preferred cocktail sauce, about 1/4 full.
2. Arrange about 4 shrimp tails in cups, tail up and hanging over the side of the cup.

Click Here for Lisa's Famous Artichoke Dip

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms - ingredients may need adjusting based on size of mushrooms you use.

Ingredients:

1-2 pkgs of large, whole Bella Mushrooms caps, stems and inner rims removed, thoroughly washed

1 can of real crab

3/4 cup panko bread crumbs

3/4 cup monterey jack cheese shredded
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. old bay seasoning
1 tbsp. worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Prepare a baking sheet (I lay down tin foil for easier cleaning) and grease pan or spray with olive oil cooking spray.
3. Arrange mushrooms "up-side-down" on baking sheet so the cups are face up.
4. In a mixing bowl, blend all ingredients together, except the mushroom caps.
5. Scoop 1-2 tbsp. of mixture (depending on size of caps) into mushroom bases.
6. Cook for approximately 10-12 minutes or until cheese is completely melted and mushrooms brown slightly around the edges.

Steak & Scallops with Mashed Potatoes Martinis - Requires martini glasses (either plastic party ones or real glass ones) and cocktail toothpicks.

Ingredients:

1-2 7oz New York Strip/ Boneless Sirloin Steak
3 tbsp garlic paste
salt & pepper to taste

1/2 - 1 lbs. cocktail scallops
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup white wine
1 tsp red pepper flakes

8 cups mashed potatoes

1. Prepare barbecue grill to medium - high heat, depending on meat rareness preference.
2. Trim fat from sirloin steak.
3. Spread 1 tbsp. per steak (assuming 2 are being used) of garlic paste evenly over each steak.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Grill steaks to desired rareness (I prefer Medium, so about 5-8 minutes each side).
6. Remove from grill and set aside on plate.
7. In a skillet melt butter over a medium heat.
8. Add last tbsp of garlic paste and wine.
9. Toss in cocktail scallops until each scallop is well coated with butter and wine mixture.
10. Raise heat to medium-high heat and sprinkle with red pepper flakes.
11. Sear scallops and shake skillet to "roll" scallops to get an even sear on all/ most sides.
12. Spoon mashed potatoes into martini glasses to make them half way full.
13. Cut steaks into 1-2" pieces, and skewer steak and scallops alternating on cocktail toothpicks (I did some that were purely scallops for those guests preferring to avoid red meat, and steak only for those that don't eat shellfish).
14. Place completed toothpick skewers into mashed potatoes and serve.

Champagne & Chocolate Cupcakes - For these cupcakes, I used both chocolate and yellow cake mixes, and alternated between triple chocolate fudge icing and cream cheese icing as the base.  I used gold, white and chocolate sprinkles and gold and pearl dragees, alternating between different flavor combinations as well as found champagne bottle cupcake toppers (which served as the 'birthday wish candles for a birthday party).

My Speakeasy Table is where I served the champagne and champagne accessories, which
can also serve as dessert for those who want to pass on cupcakes (but who would do that, right?) Strawberries are a natural accompaniment for champagne (and chocolate dipping sauce is a natural accompaniment to strawberries).  In addition, other berries can be dropped into the champagne to enhance the flavor of the drink as well as have champagne soaked berries at the end of the cocktail. 

Speakeasy Table:
Gold & Pink Champagne
Fresh Strawberries w/ chocolate dipping sauce
Fresh Raspberries & Blackberries
Ferrero Rocher Fine Hazelnut Chocolates

More Decoration Ideas:

Fiddy had his tux on...!

Channeling Daisy...

Lisa's Famous Artichoke Dip

When I say artichoke dip, you may be thinking what's so special about artichoke dip? It's pretty common, almost every restaurant offers it in their appetizers, and you can buy it in the frozen food section easily enough.  But my Artichoke Dip is truly unique and it's my go-to dish for parties, potlucks, etc. and it's always a hit.  Even though I always strive to vary my menus based on theme, I use this dip quite frequently and to date, I have a perfect record for no left overs.

Ingredients:

1 can whole artichoke hearts

1 small can medium green chilies

1 cup olive oil mayonnaise

1/4 cup grated Parmesan-Romano cheese

1/2 cup marinated jalapenos, finely diced (optional)

1 and 1/4 cups shredded Swiss cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Take artichoke heats and drain liquid from can and place on a cutting board.
3. Remove ends (if you desire) and then finely dice.
4. Place diced artichoke hearts, and all other ingredients (reserve 1/2 cup of shredded Swiss cheese) in a pie baking dish (or other shallow baking dish).
5. Mix ingredients thoroughly and spread out evenly within the dish.
6. Top with remaining shredded cheese.
7. Bake in oven until cheese is completely melted and bubbling and browning on the edges.
8. Serve hot on a trivet (use oven mitts to transfer) and serve with tortilla chips and/ or favorite crackers.

Best Beach-side Picnic

This menu is a versatile option between a beach party with friends or a romantic sea-side (or sea-side faux setting) picnic.  The dishes here appeal to all palates and create a sophisticated twist on beach food favorites.  Enjoy!

On the Menu

1st Course - Starters: Deviled Eggs & Tropical Fruit Salad 

2nd Course - Main Dish: Sea Dogs

3rd Course - Side Dishes: Broccoli Cheese Salad & Crab Stuffed Cheesy Garlic Bread

4th Course - Recommended Dessert: Coconut Lemon Loaf 

Recommended Libation: Sassy Pineapple Margarita or champagne, depending on the mood!

1st Course - Starters: Deviled Eggs & Tropical Fruit Salad

These starters are a fun way to kick off any meal, using both a traditional appetizer like Deviled Eggs, and click here to learn the way to make perfectly hard boiled eggs (easy to peel & delicious).  

Deviled Eggs Ingredients - makes 6 servings
3 hard boiled eggs, peeled
1/4 cup yellow onion, minced
3/4 cup olive oil mayonnaise
1/2 tbsp of yellow mustard
1 tsp. paprika

1. Take peeled hard boiled eggs, and cut in half length-wise.
2. Scoop out the yolks of each half and place into a mixing bowl.  Place empty egg white halves onto serving dish.
3. Add in mayonnaise, onion and mustard with egg yolks and mix together well, breaking up the yolks to make a lumpy (small lumps) mixture.
4. Transfer egg yolk/ mayonnaise to to a piping bag, or simply use a spoon to fill each egg white half with approximately a 1/2-3/4 tbsp. amount of egg yolk/ mayonnaise mixture.  
5. Sprinkle each egg with paprika and serve. 

The Tropical Fruit Salad makes a unique introduction because of its blend of flavors and ingredient and is part of my Summer Salads Series.

Tropical Fruit Salad Ingredients

2 cups pineapple chunks

1 can mandarin oranges

1 kiwi, peeled & sliced

1 banana, peeled & sliced

1/4 cup sweetened, shredded coconut

1-2 splashes of chardonnay/ or favorite white wine (or if you want to make alcohol-free, use nectar of guava juice)

1. Drain the mandarin oranges from the juice in the can.
2. Mix oranges with all other pieces of fruit.
3. Toss in splashes of wine or guava nectar.
4. Sprinkle and mix in shredded coconut and serve.

2nd Course - Main Dish: Sea Dogs

Everyone knows that hot dogs and shrimp po' boys are both favorites when it comes to beach food.  Combining them makes this an almost elegant entree and yet a childhood favorite.

Sea Dogs Ingredients - Makes 2-3 servings

1 package of "hoagie-style" buns

1 package hot dogs (I prefer Johnsonville Cheddar Dogs, somewhat thicker than the average hot dog)

lettuce

2 cups shrimp, cooked, de-veined and peeled with tail-off

1 cup olive oil mayonnaise

2/3 cup of hot & spicy mayonnaise

1-2 celery stalks sliced

1/4 cup red onion minced

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. onion powder

salt & pepper to taste

Additional/ optional hot dog dressings: ketchup, mustard, fresh dill, shredded cheese (Swiss cheese is the best  with the shrimp mixture), etc.

1. Preheat grill to medium heat.
2. Cook hot dog for desired time (approximately 3-5 minutes across all sides; until you have grill marks, until skin bursts, etc.)
3. Mix shrimp, both mayonnaise, celery, onion and seasonings until shrimp and veggies are well coated.
4. Prepare hoagie buns by laying lettuce in the inside.
5. Butterfly cut cooked hot dogs length-wise and lay on top of lettuce beds on hoagie buns (If you have larger buns, smaller hot dogs, you may want to use two hot dogs per servings).
6. Spoon shrimp mixture over the top of hot dogs and add any additional desired toppings.

3rd Course - Side Dishes: Broccoli Cheese Salad & Crab Stuffed Garlic Cheesy Bread

My Broccoli Cheese Salad is also part my Summer Salad Series; a yummy and healthier variation of Ruby Tuesday's salad bar broccoli salad.  

Crab Stuffed Cheesy Garlic Bread Ingredients

1 loaf garlic bread ( I personally use pre-garlic buttered loaves, but a plain is fine also)

1 package of imitation-crab

1/2 cup hot spicy  mayonnaise

1/4 cup yellow onion, minced

2 cups shredded, low-fat mozzarella cheese

Optional:

2 tbsp. of jalapenos, minced, if you life it extra spicy, like I do!

1. Preheat bread to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix mayonnaise, onion, crab and (jalapenos if desired).
3. Spread crab mixture evenly over bread halves.
4. Generously cover with shredded cheese.
5. Cook for approximately 15 minutes or until cheese is completely melted (or even crusting on top of cheese and bread edges, which I prefer - it may be an additional 8-10 minutes)
6. Slice in pieces and enjoy!

Perfectly Hard Boiled Eggs

I know there isn't anything overly special about hard boiled eggs, but I use Deviled Eggs so often for various parties and as appetizers or hard boiled eggs for a quick breakfast or snack, it begs the need to include a post.  Because I find that while many folks love to include Deviled Eggs or hard boiled eggs on their menus, it can sometimes be tricky to hard boil them correctly so that they easily peel, each and every time.  Here you ca discover the trick to perfectly hard boiled eggs so that your Deviled Eggs are easy to put together and are aesthetically perfect.

Ingredients:

6 eggs

4-6 cups of water

1. Pull out the 6 eggs you plan to hard boil from the fridge.  This is an important step to ensuring your eggs don't crack from the sudden change in temperature. 
2. Bring the water to a rapid boil in a sauce pan deep/ big enough to full submerge all 6 eggs.
3. Take a spoon or tongs and place eggs into boiling water.
4. Boil for approximately 10 minutes or until eggs are done (you can tell they are done, by *removing one of the eggs, placing it on your counter or table, and spinning the egg.  If its spins fast like a top, it's done.  If it spins slower and wobbles, it's not done.)
5. When eggs are done transfer eggs to a bowl, and run cold water over them.  Let them sit in cold water for a few minutes and repeat adding cold water into the bowl 2-3 times.
6. Drain eggs of water and place bowl into refrigerator and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes prior to peeling.

*Caution: eggs will be extremely hot to the touch.  Use both tongs or spoon to remove egg from boiling water and use an oven mitt or dish towel over your hand/ fingers to spin the egg to test its done-ness.

Home-style Cornbread Muffins

These sweet, traditional cornbread muffins are a crowd-pleaser at any meal.  The fluffy bread combined with sweet corn kernels make a delightful and southern nostalgic taste in your mouth even if you've never been down South.  I personally love to use these with my Boyfriend BBQ Dish.

Ingredients - 4-5 servings (large muffins)

1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix

1 egg

7-8 oz can of creamed corn

2 tbsp. of butter

1/2 pinch of sugar

Olive oil spray cooking oil

1. Preheat oven 375 degrees F.
2. Mix corn muffin mix, egg, creamed corn and sugar.
3. Prepare baking pan (I use a large 6-muffin pan) with cooking spray.
4. Cut cold butter into small pieces and slowly mix into batter.
5. Fill muffin tin cups 2/3 full.
6. Bake for approximately 18-22 minutes or until the tops are a golden brown and sticking a toothpick through the center of the bread comes clean.

Caribbean Cornbread

This is a fun and unique twist of flavor for cornbread to the traditional cornbread at the dinner table.  This is a fantastic blend of peppery tastes with the sweetness of the corn.  I love to use this recipe as an appetizer/ side dish to my Island Time Sunday BBQ Dinner, but this can go well with any BBQ and southern-style dish.

Ingredients - 8 servings (mini loaf-size):

1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix

1 egg

1 small can of chopped green chilies

1/2 cup red pepper, minced

7-8 oz. can creamed corn

1 tbsp. cold butter

1/2 pinch of sugar
Olive oil cooking spray

1. Preheat oven 375 degrees.
2. Mix corn muffin mix, egg, green chilies, red pepper creamed corn and sugar in a mixing bowl.
3. Prepare baking pan (I use an 8-mini loaf pan personally, but a muffin pan or shallow baking dish will work) with spray cooking oil.
4. Cut cold butter into small pieces and slowly mix into batter.
5. Fill baking dish 2/3 full if using an individual serving size pan or pour batter into baking dish completely.
6. Bake for approximately 18-22 minutes or until the top(s) are a golden brown and sticking a toothpick through the center of the bread comes clean.

Loaded Potato Biscuits

These are a fun way to spruce up boring old biscuits or to have that potato skins craving satisfied on a Friday night.  I also use these to accompany my Bacon & Beer Dish.  

Ingredients:

1 cup frozen hash browns, slightly thawed

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

4 pads of cold butter, cut in halves to make 8 pieces

1 can of pizza dough

1 1/2 cups sour cream

2 green onion stalks finely sliced

3-4 pieces of bacon, cooked and crumbles

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, and prepare baking sheet by lining it with a sheet of tin foil (optional for easy clean up) and greased with spray cooking oil.
2. Unroll pizza dough onto a cutting board, large enough to accommodate it.
3. Spread hash browns and cheese evenly all over the pizza dough.
4. Strategically place cold butter pads all over pizza dough.
5. Tightly roll pizza dough to make one long roll.
6. Cut into 6-8 biscuit size rolls and place onto baking sheet.
7. Bake for approximately 18-20 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown.
8. Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes.
9. Top each biscuit with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle with green onion and crumbled bacon...Enjoy!

'Orange Is the New Black' Series Screening Party

My OITNB Party Invite

Just like many people (dare I say most people) I have certain television shows that I have become hooked on.  The Netflix series "Orange Is The New Black" (referred to herein after as OITNB) is one of those shows. My personal favorite character is a toss up between Red, played by Kate Mulgrew, or the character, Crazy Eyes or a.k.a. Suzanne Warren, played by award-winning Uzoamaka Nwanneka Aduba.  So like any normal person who loves to throw themed parties and a fan of the show, here is my OITNB Party Spread!  
Now, because this is an after work party and I was coming from work, I had to make sure food was set up fast. Therefore, many of these dishes are not my usual provision of original recipes so use this more as a reference for fun, themed party ideas.  This being said however, the cocktails included are all original except for the Moscow Mule recipe.

On the Menu

"Taco Night" Cupcakes

"The Chickening" Boneless Wings

OITNB Caviar Hors d'oeuvres

OITNB Fruit Skewers & Veggie Plate

Crazy Eyes Threw Her (Pizza) Pie & Other Themed Fillers

"Blood Donut" Holes

Moscow Mule

Tit Punch

Toilet Hooch

OITNB Signature Martini

"Taco Night" Cupcakes - makes 12 servings

Ingredients:

12 sheets of egg roll wrappers

4 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil

1 lbs. lean, ground beef

1 packet of taco seasoning

1/4 cup minced onion
1 cup fresh diced tomatoes

1 cup shredded lettuce

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups guacamole/ sour cream (optional)

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Form egg roll wrappers in a large, greased muffin tin.  This is usually a six-cup tin as opposed to the smaller 12-cup muffin tins.  These will resemble mini-taco shells formed for taco salads (see picture)
3. Drizzle the egg roll wrappers with extra virgin olive oil and use a a kitchen brush to coat the sides of and overlapping tops.
4. Place in oven and cook for about 7-10 minutes, or until the wrappers bubble and "fry" up to a crisp.
   
5. Remove from heat and allow to cool until no longer hot.  
6. Repeat with the other six egg roll wrappers if using a six-cup muffin tin.
7. In the meantime, brown ground beef in a skillet over medium to high heat until no longer pink.
8. Add in onion and add taco seasoning as per packet instructions.  
9. Cook for about 10 minutes or until flavors are well blended and onions begin to soften.  Remove from heat.
10. Fill the taco shell cups with ground beef mixture, sprinkle with cheese, then shredded lettuce and fresh tomato.  Add a dollop of guacamole and/ sour cream as desired...Serve immediately and Enjoy!

The rest of the menu doesn't really require recipes, but these are quick and easy ideas, as well as perfectly themed to make your OITNB Party the most talked about screening party of the year:

A.) "The Chickening" Boneless Wings - Again for time purposes, I simply used frozen boneless buffalo wings, in a sweet n' sour flavoring which gives the wings an orangy color.  I

then used orange confetti toothpicks to top them off.  BUT if you are anti-frozen foods, which normally I am, I have a great recipe for spicy stuffed boneless chicken wings. These will still have an orange-ish color to them because of the BBQ sauce recipe.

B.)  OITNB Caviar & Smoked Salmon Hors d'oeuvres - It's not prison food by any means, but this adds great decadence to your party: Take your favorite cracker, (I used flavored Ritz crackers with an orange tint to them), spread with Neufchatel cream cheese, top with a slice of smoked salmon and a 1/2-1 tsp of black caviar.

C.) OITNB Fruit Skewers & Veggie Plate - For fruit and veggies I simply chose naturally black and orange produce.  For the fruit skewers, I used alternating cantaloupe pieces, black berries, mandarin orange slices and purple grapes (which look almost black).  For the veggies, I simply used baby carrots and black olives (veggies are never very popular at my parties :-p)  Other ideas can include mango, roasted purple sweet potatoes and beets (these are almost black once roasted).

D.) Crazy Eyes Threw Her (Pizza) Pie & Other Themed Fillers - A major time saver here, I simply ordered a pizza to fulfill a Crazy Eyes reference.  Other items we used were sweet potato chips (very orange in color, you can also use BBQ flavored chips), Reeses Pieces Candies and Pepperidge Farm Orange Milano cookies are great table spread fillers. 

E.) 'Blood Donut' Holes - as a dessert, I bought some 'plain or dusted' donut holes and drizzled them with Strawberry flavored sundae syrup.

Decoration Ideas:

I used an orange back drop with toilet paper and black crepe paper to
make my spread background.

It's absolutely gross even "clean" but receives lots of laughs and ewwwws at the party.
I got an unused tampon and slid it into an English muffin.  If you want to take it a step
further you can drizzle some ketchup on there but I just couldn't go there myself!
I also just happened to have had an orange and black striped screw driver.

A few of my party guests who dressed for the occassion.  Pictured here we have 'Porn-Stache' and a
female inmate in orange, complete with a D.O.C. name tag.  For decoration,
note that I actually used black crepe paper on all the windows (in the background -
back sliding glass door) to make my house look like a guest was inside a jail cell.

Although this is an extra expense, I decided to purchase actual prison trays
for my guests to select their food buffet style. 

Check out 'OITNB' celebration cosmetic artistry by Lisa's Creations.