How to Throw the Best and Easiest Awards Show Party

Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine

By Ashley Mateo, SELF magazine

With the Golden Globes kicking off 2011's official red carpet season and the Oscars coming soon, we decided to get in on the glamour! Read on for everything you need to know to throw the perfect awards party (and impress your friends!) at home.

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First, you'll want to make sure you have some fun, healthy snacks--no one wants to chow down on fattening treats while critiquing starlets in fancy dresses. Here are our top three picks for new twists on party classics:

POPCORN BALLS Combine popcorn, cereal and cranberries in a bowl. Set aside. Cook honey, sugar, 2 tbsp water and salt in a medium saucepan on medium-low heat, stirring until mixture begins to boil, about 30 seconds. Reduce heat. Cook until the mixture is thick and reduces by half, 1 or 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Add vanilla. Pour immediately over popcorn mixture. Mix well. Rinse hands in cold water or slightly grease hands with vegetable-oil cooking spray and press popcorn into 6 balls. Wrap in waxed paper and store at room temperature for 3 or 4 days, or serve immediately.

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EDAMAME HUMMUS Heat oven to 450°. Bring edamame to a boil in a medium saucepan with enough water to cover; cook, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Drain in a colander and run under cold water. Bake pita triangles on a baking sheet until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Pulse edamame, garlic, tahini, juice, oil, salt, cumin and pepper in a food processor until mixture is the consistency of guacamole; add water 1 tbsp at a time if too thick. Cover; refrigerate until party time. Serve with pita toasts and peppers for dipping.

PEPPERS STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE Whisk shallots, scallion and vinegar in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Slice open the top of each pepper to create a pocket. Spoon cheese into peppers, dividing it equally among them. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat; coat with cooking spray. Cook peppers, flipping once, until cheese begins to melt, about 30 seconds each side. Transfer to a platter. Sprinkle with parsley and thyme. Drizzle dressing over peppers and serve.

Of course, you'll need a drink with those tapas. Try one of these festive sips:

SANGRIA BLANCA This festive bubbly cocktail doubles offers the antioxidant resveratrol, which may help reduce inflammation and protect cells from damage.

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PEPPERMINT COSMO
One cute cocktail contains only 7 grams of sugar--including the candy cane. Sip and stay sleek!

POMEGRANATE COCKTAIL This brightly colored cocktail is rich in polyphenols, antioxidants that help protect your ticker.

Want to spice things up a bit? Have a Golden Globes grab bag! Have each friend you invite bring a DVD from one of the Best Motion Picture or Best Television series. Before the show, download NBC's official ballot and fill it out with your votes. Whoever guesses the most wins correctly could take home all the DVDs! If you want everyone to come out a winner, let each person blindly pick from the bag so everyone gets a gift.

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Photo Credit: Condé Nast Digital Studio