4 Tasty Oscar Drinks and Food Pairings to Share with Friends
Having an Oscar party? Try these fun movie-themed treats and drinks.
-PJ Gach, BettyConfidential.com
This Sunday are the Oscars. It seems that everyone is planning on having an Oscar viewing party. Whether you're throwing the bash or going over to a friend's house, here are some tasty wine and nibble pairings for you. The drinks and food are meant to compliment the movie, giving you a yummy sensory experience. The below wines can be found at wine shops nationwide or at WineSearcher.com.
1. The Artist
Masi's Costasera Amarone &The Artist - Amarone is the estate's specialty. This high quality
wine expresses a particular majesty and complexity; the wine is sophisticated enough for the wine-knowledgeable, versatile enough to pair with any menu and drinkable enough for all to enjoy while viewing The Artist - because the wine speaks for itself. (SRP - $60.00). Try pairing Amarone with mini red velvet cupcakes to bring out the chocolate flavors in this sweet treat, while celebrating the luxurious red carpet.
Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes (from Land O' Lakes)
Cupcakes
1 (18.25-ounce) package German chocolate cake mix
1/2 cup Land O Lakes® Butter, melted
3 Land O Lakes® All-Natural Eggs
1 (1-ounce) bottle red food color
Water, as directed on package
Frosting
2/3 cup Land O Lakes® Butter, softened
6 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 to 6 tablespoons Land O Lakes® Fat Free Half & Half or milk
Decorations
Decorator sprinkles
Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper or foil baking cups into 48 mini or 24 regular muffin cups; set aside.
Combine cake mix, melted butter, eggs, red food color and water in large bowl. Beat at low speed 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium; beat, scraping bowl often, until well mixed.
Fill prepared cups 2/3 full. Bake for 12 to 16 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove to wire cooling rack. Cool completely.
Place 2/3 cup butter in medium bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy. Continue beating, gradually adding powdered sugar, vanilla, salt and enough half & half for desired spreading consistency. Pipe or frost onto cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle with decorator sprinkles.
Variation:
Red Velvet Layer Cake: Substitute 2 greased and floured 9-inch cake pans for muffin pan cups. Bake at 350°F. for 25 to 30 minutes.
2. The Help
Masi Tupungato-Passo Doble & The Help - Passo Doble is an exclusive blend of Malbec and Corvina grapes and has the just enough spice to match the intensity of the strong willed ladies in The Help. (approx. $16.99) No Oscar party would be right without golden popcorn. Indulge a bit and add movie theater style butter for the silver screen experience.
3. Moneyball
Masi's Masianco Pinot Grigio & Moneyball - Masianco is the estate's exclusive blend
of Pinot Grigio and native Italian Verduzzo grapes. Masianco is a unique twist on the traditional Pinot Grigio, and is a great option for enjoying a cold drink at a ball game. (approx. $17.95) Pairing: Lemon Chiffon Cake. While the ladies walking the Oscars' carpet will be wearing chiffon, your guests can enjoy this light and airy sweet treat - a wonderful dessert to serve to guests as it pairs well with the fresh notes in Masianco.
Lemon Chiffon Cake (from Epicurious.com)
Ingredients
2 cups sifted cake flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
8 eggs, separated
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup water
2 1/2 tablespoons grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter
Powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 325°F. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into large bowl. Using electric mixer at low speed, beat in vegetable oil, egg yolks, lemon juice, water and lemon peel. Combine egg whites and cream of tartar in another large bowl. Using clean dry beaters, beat until stiff but not dry. Fold 1/4 of whites into batter to lighten. Gently fold in remaining whites.
Pour cake batter into ungreased 10-inch-diameter tube pan. Tap pan on counter or run rubber spatula through cake batter to release air pockets. Bake cake until springy to touch, about 1 1/4 hours. Immediately invert cake in pan over neck of bottle. Cool cake completely. Run knife around pan sides to loosen cake. Transfer cake to plate. Dust with powdered sugar.
4. The Descendants
Masi's Campofiorin & The Descendants - Campofiorin is an affordable luxury and another one
of the estate's specialties. Campofiorin is a versatile wine that encompasses the quality and characteristics of the Verona region. When the going gets tough, the tough reach for Campofiorin. (approx. $19.95) Pairing: Bow tie salad with fennel, prociutto and parmesan. This quick and easy salad is a great complement to a glass of Campofiorin, and is a fun way to pay homage to the black tie attire gracing the red carpet!
Bow tie salad with fennel, prociutto and parmesan (from Food and Wine)
Ingredients
1/2 pound bow ties
1 large fennel bulb (about 1 pound), sliced as thin as possible
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1/4 pound thin-sliced prosciutto, cut into strips
1/4-pound chunk Parmesan cheese, or 1/3 cup grated Parmesan
In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the bow ties until just done, about 15 minutes. Drain. Rinse with cold water and drain thoroughly.
In a large bowl, toss together the bow ties, fennel, oil, lemon juice, salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Add the prosciutto and toss again.
To serve, mound the salad on plates. Top with strips of Parmesan shaved from the chunk of cheese with a vegetable peeler or with the grated Parmesan. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper over the cheese.
NOTES Test-Kitchen Tip: The easiest way to slice fennel is to cut off the stalks, cut the bulb in half from the top through the root end, lay each half flat-side down and slice. For that matter, this is a good technique for almost any round fruit or vegetable.
Happy Oscar viewing!
PJ Gach is Senior Editor: Style + Beauty at BettyConfidential.
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