The Perfect Oscars® Party Menu
From cocktails and snacks to mains, sides and desserts—food you can eat on the couch, with one hand holding your ballot.
By Lynn Andriani
Saffron-Scented Gibson with Pickled Cocktail Onions
A gold-hued Gibson gets its sunny color—and heady fragrance—from pearl onions pickled in champagne vinegar and a mixture of saffron, bay leaves, and juniper berries.
Get the recipe: Saffron-Scented Gibson with Pickled Cocktail Onions
Pear Champagne Cocktail
Fruity pear brandy gives this cocktail a light floral undertone. Don't worry about serving it in traditional flutes; juice glasses are fine.
Get the recipe: Pear Champagne Cocktail
Photo: Lara Robby/Studio D.
Cat Cora's Party Mix
Cereal, pretzels, peanuts and, of course, popcorn, this classic snack with a spicy twist has something everyone will enjoy.
Get the recipe: Cat Cora's Party Mix
Photo: Lara Robby/Studio D.
Pizza Popcorn
Taste buds be amazed. This popcorn packs all the flavor of pizza into one tiny bite.
Get the recipe: Pizza Popcorn
Homemade Guacamole with Tortilla Chips
For being one of the easiest things to make for your fiesta, there might not be a more popular dish than this classic Mexican dip. We guarantee the bowl will be empty long before the Best Picture award goes out.
Get the recipe: Homemade Guacamole with Tortilla Chips
Blue Cheese and Triple-Cream Terrine with Walnut Bread and Honey-Nut Sauce
A terrine of blue cheese smeared on walnut bread and topped with honey-nut sauce is a delicious way to make your party special. It's like picnic food for cocktail hour.
Get the recipe: Blue Cheese and Triple-Cream Terrine with Walnut Bread and Honey-Nut Sauce
Fig, Grape, and Applewood Bacon Tart
This tart is designed to accompany a cheese plate, but you could also add a handful of goat or blue cheese crumbles on top.
Get the recipe: Fig, Grape, and Applewood Bacon Tart
Classic Hummus
Serve this beloved chickpea spread with baked bagel or pita chips, blanched broccoli florets or sugar snap peas, or any of
these other interesting dippers.
Get the recipe: Classic Hummus
Cornmeal Crust Pizza with Greens and Ricotta
This recipe yields enough dough for four 10-inch pizzas, which should serve 8 people. You can use whole wheat flour in place of up to 1 cup white flour.
Get the recipe: Cornmeal Crust Pizza with Greens and Ricotta
Pork Ribs with Garlic, Chilies, and Tomato
Spiced up with pickled chilies, this dish gets a kick from tangy Italian tomato puree.
Get the recipe: Pork Ribs with Garlic, Chilies, and Tomato
Ensenada Fish Tacos
The beer-battered fish in these tacos is fried twice—the first can be done up to a day ahead; the second is done quickly right before serving.
Get the recipe:Ensenada Fish Tacos Recipe
Crab Cake Sliders
Spicy homemade mayonnaise adds an extra kick to these crowd-pleasing mini sandwiches.
Get the recipe: Crab Cake Sliders
Chopped Salad with Bacon and Fried Garbanzo Beans
Fried garbanzo beans add unexpected flavor and crunch to a chopped salad you can serve family style.
Get the recipe: Chopped Salad with Bacon and Fried Garbanzo Beans
Sweet Potato Fries
This side is not only delicious, it also provides an extra hit of nutrition compared to fries made from regular potatoes.
Get the recipe: Sweet Potato Fries
Mini Cheesecake Squares
Cut this dessert—which has a graham cracker crust—into brownie-sized squares for nibbling, and top it with mint sprigs.
Get the recipe: Mini Cheesecake Squares
Pecan Pie Truffles
Nobody—and we mean nobody—is too full to eat one (or two, or six) of these irresistible truffles, made by layering dark chocolate ganache and pecan pie filling in miniature baking cups.
Get the recipe: Pecan Pie Truffles
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Published 02/16/2012
