Oscar Night Part One

Ok people - I've fallen off the wagon a little bit with this challenge. (See: fallible). I'll be the first to admit, sometimes life gets in the way of shopping for and preparing quality meals. But the good news is, it is easy to get back on track! So after a rather bad weekend of eating takeout and such, I feel as though I redeemed myself by throwing an Oscar party and making all the food from scratch! Big thanks to my sous-chefs Mark and Suz - without them, I would still be in sweatpants in my kitchen, wringing my hands and wondering how I would get it all done in time.

recognize these ingredients? i needed to make the cauliflower caramelized onion tart again. (Mark and Suz peeling and de-veining shrimp in the background).

enjoying some Pomegranate Cosmos while making Oscar predictions

Pomegranate Cosmos
from Ina Garten's Back to Basics

Ingredients:
2 cups "good" vodka (oh, Ina) I like to use Grey Goose
1 cup Cointreau liqueur I used Grand Marnier instead - you can also use Triple Sec
1 cup cranberry juice cocktail
1/2 cup Pom Wonderful bottled pomegranate juice
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (4 limes)

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. Shake each drink individually with ice in a cocktail shaker - that way you can make them as your guests arrive and they will be cold and not watered down!

These cosmos will really please your guests.

Mark unveils the tart

that's me. yes, i'm wearing an apron over a gown.

Bacon-wrapped dates. They're the easiest thing in the world, and endlessly popular. Also cheap, if you have a lovely store like I do that stocks pitted dates for 1.99 (sorry can't figure out how to flip the pic, darn it).

Bacon Wrapped Dates

Ingredients:
approx 20-25 pitted dates (you can also buy dates with pits and pit them yourself, but it's a huge pain)
1 package of bacon (I used the 365 Whole Foods brand - uncured smoked)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut each bacon slice into thirds (Or halves if your dates are larger). Using a toothpick to secure, wrap each date in bacon. Place on a wire rack on top of a sheet pan and bake for about 20 minutes, or until bacon is cooked through, turning halfway through cooking time.

More on the rest of the menu later!