Oscar Inspired Cocktails

In honor of the 86th Academy Awards this Sunday, March 2nd, I'm serving up sneekys inspired by each Best Picture Nominated film. Host a viewing party with easy appetizers and these sneekys. With all the great films nominated, there's sure to be a sneeky that speaks to everyone. Cheers!

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12 Years a Slave : Blackberry Royale

In 12 Years a Slave, Solomon Northup tries to fashion a pen and ink out of wood and blackberries in a desperate attempt to reach his family in the North. I'm serving up a refreshing pitcher starring blackberries.

• 1 cup fresh blackberries
• 2.5 oz créme de cassis
• 1 lemon
• 1 bottle (12 ounces) ginger beer, chilled
• 4 cups ice
• 1 bottle (750 ml) chilled dry sparkling wine

1. In a large pitcher, combine blackberries, créme de cassis, and 1 tablespoon from half the lemon. Stir to combine, lightly pressing on berries to release juices.
2. Add ice to pitcher. Fill with ginger beer and sparkling wine and stir gently to combine. Slice remaining half of lemon in thin slices and add to pitcher as garnish.

Gravity : Kahlua White Russian

For a movie that has audience members thrilled and on the edge of their seats, George Clooney provides some comic relief by saying he knows where the Russian stash their vodka on board the Russian satellite. Inspired by the small role vodka plays in the movie, I'm serving up White Russians.

• 2 oz Kahlua
• 1 oz vodka
• 1 oz cream or milk

Philomena : Buck's Fizz

There are several food moments through Philomena as Philomena proves to be enthusiastic about food and drinks. The one that stood out to me is when she is offered a Buck's Fizz cocktail on the flight to Washington D.C.

• 1 (750 ml) bottle champagne
• 0.5 liter squeezed fresh orange juice

Chill your Champagne & Orange Juice. Select a tall and elegant shaped champagne glasses! Pour about one third of orange juice into the glass first and then top up with champagne.

Nebraska : No Frills Beer

Beer plays a big role in the film Nebraska. Bruce Dern consumes a great deal of beer throughout the movie and is drunk once or twice. For beer buffs I recommend a good American craft beer such as Brooklyn Lager.

Her : Grand Cosmo

This movie was a little difficult to come up with a sneeky. I was ultimately inspired by how sentimental and romantic it was so I'm serving up this sweet, classic cosmo.

• 0.5 oz grand marnier
• 0.5 oz Belvedere Vodka
• 0.5 oz cranberry juice
• 0.25 oz fresh lime juice

Dallas Buyer's Club : Skinny Man Margarita

A skinny margarita for Ron Woodruff, an AIDS patient who smuggled unapproved pharmaceuticals into Texas when he found they improved his symptoms and distributed them to fellow patient. Cheers to you Ron!

• lime wedge
• 1/2 cup kosher salt
• 3 oz. (90 ml) tequila
• 1 oz. (30 ml) lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 oz. (30 ml) agave nectar
• ice

Combine the silver tequila, lime juice and agave nectar in a cocktail shaker. Add ice to the cocktail shaker and replace the lid. Shake the drink until the ingredients are well combined. Pour the drink into salted  glasses.

The Wolf of Wall Street : Money Maker Martini

A lavish twist on a classic martini to accompany a movie based on a beyond lavish lifestyle.

• 1.5oz Vodka
• 0.5oz Chambord
• 0.5oz pineapple juice
• 0.5 oz champagne

American Hustle : After Party (pictured above)

• 6oz Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
• Juices of 1 lime
• 4 slices jalapeno
• 4oz pomegranate juice10oz. agave nectar or simple syrup
• Seltzer on top

Muddle lime juice, jalapeno, and simple syrup. Add pomegranate juice, bourbon, and shake well. Strain into ice filled Collins glasses. And top with seltzer. Garnish with lime wheels and pomegranate seeds.

*Recipe courtesy of Huffington Post

National Margarita Day

If you're like me, you probably don't need an excuse to lift a celebratory sneeky. Still, even this classic margarita gets its own holiday. So Happy National Margarita Day! I'm serving up these refreshing Clementine Margaritas on this beautiful California day. Cheers!

Clementine Margarita

2 oz. Tequila 2 oz. Clementine juice (You can also use orange or grapefruit. Whatever is in season) 1 Freshly squeezed lime 1/2 oz. Cointreau

Shake, shake, shake. Pour over ice. Adorn with a clementine slice and sprig of rosemary.

Afternoon Sneeky

DO IT YOURSELF!

Any day can be valentines day. It's just thinking. Of your loved one or a friend or may be someone you don't know. I love Hershey kisses. I mean love. A sneeky and some Hershey kisses need I say more. I love this tray and the glasses because they can be used for many different things.

Frozen Gin Lemon Mojito Sneeky - East Coast Blizzard Edition

So apparently it's snowing out on the east coast - but it's still sunny and 77 here in LA, so I thought I'd do a bicostal post to bring some warmth to my people out east who are dreaming of a warmer life. Check out my recipe below for frozen gin mojitos - my favourite way to relive the summer when it's cold outside. First thing's first though - you need some awesome boots to get you to the store to buy the ingredients - so check out these by Hunter that I just love! Be sure to use good knives to cut the lemons and of course you need a good blender to make them in, and none is better than the Vitamix! Then you can serve them in these beautiful collins glasses with this delicious key lime cheesecake from Neiman Marcus.

Frozen Gin Mojito Sneeky

1 (6 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate 8 (1.5 fluid ounce) jiggers gin 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves plus more for garnish 1 tray ice cubes 1 Lemon for garnish

Put the lemonade, gin, ice cubes, and mint into your blender and blend until they are the perfect consistency. This is what I love most about the Vitamx, by the way - you can just set it to the desired consistency and before you know it, you're off to the beach with your frozen Sneeky!

Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday Seattle Seahawks v Denver Broncos February 2nd, 2014 Display veggies in vases and glasses you have around the house for a chicer adaptation of the classic veggie tray Use kraft paper (you can find at hardware store in large rolls), white painters tape and number stickers to pull off this easy look! Take ordinary cans and turn them into football servers using paint and craft paper! Burger Potato Bites Ingredients 16 large frozen French-fried waffle-cut potatoes (1/3 of a 22-oz. pkg.) 1 pound ground beef or turkey 2 teaspoons grilling seasoning blend 4 slices cheddar cheese, cut into quarters (4 oz.) 4 cherry tomatoes, sliced Mustard, ketchup, dairy sour cream, and/or dill pickle slices Directions Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Evenly space potatoes on baking sheet. Bake potatoes for 18 to 20 minutes or until crisp and lightly browned. Remove from oven. Adjust oven racks and preheat broiler. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl combine meat and seasoning. Form into sixteen 1-ounce mini burgers (about 2 tablespoons). In a 12-inch skillet cook burgers, uncovered, over medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until temperature registers 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, turning burgers once halfway through cooking. Drain fat. Top each potato with a burger, cheese quarter, and tomato slice. Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat for 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted and tomato begins to brown. Serve with mustard, ketchup, sour cream, and/or pickles. Makes 16 snacks. Any Juice Margaritas 2 oz. Tequila 2 oz. Clementine juice (You can also use orange,grapefruit, lychee or anything you may have on hand.. Whatever is in season)  1 Freshly squeezed lime 1/2 oz. Cointreau or Patron Citronage Shake, shake, shake! Pour over ice.Adorn with mint, clementine slice or slice of cucumber. Mint and Rosemary are always a fun garnbish too.

BLUEBERRY BUTTERMILK PANCAKES

BLUEBERRY BUTTERMILK PANCAKES

I always used to ask”what are we having for breakfast on a Friday night.”  I always new it wold be something yummy but blueberry pancakes were my favorite…….My mother would melt the unsalted land o lakes  butter and heat up the  Vermont maple syrup.  Yes, I practically licked the plate …….

• 1/2-stick butter sliced into roughly tbsp portions or cooking spray
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 cup cinnamon
• 2 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 4 large eggs
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups blueberries
• 1/2 stick butter sliced into roughly tbsp portions or cooking spray

Sift the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl.  In a separate bowl, whisk the buttermilk, eggs and butter.  Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and stir just until incorporated.  Batter should be slightly lumpy.  Carefully fold the blueberries into the batter.  Batter may be stored, covered, in the fridge for up to twelve hours.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat.  Add a portion of butter or cooking spray to pan.  Use a 1/4 cup to drop batter into pan leaving at least two inches between pancakes.  Cook on first side until small bubbles on the upper surface start to pop and edges are smooth or set, about 2-3 minutes.  Using a spatula, turn the pancakes and cook on the second side until golden brown—the second side will not take as long to cook as the first.  It may be necessary to adjust the temperature to get a nice golden brown pancake that is cooked thoroughly,

Alix's Cauliflower

My good friend Alix Jaffe shared this amazing recipe with me. Here's my twist on it.

As my friends often say, I "Lulu-ized it!"

1/2 cup oil (sunflower,grape seed,or canola) 1 tablespoon ground cumin 2 teaspoons turmeric 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper Sea salt 3 heads of cauliflower—halved, cored and cut into 1-inch florets 4 cups chick peas 1/4 cup pine nuts 1/4 cup white raisins 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro 2 tablespoons chopped mint

Preheat the oven to 425°. In a small bowl, combine the oil, cumin, turmeric, crushed red pepper and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. On 2 large rimmed baking sheets, drizzle the cauliflower with the spiced oil and toss well to coat; season with salt. Spread the cauliflower in an even layer and bake for 30 minutes until browned and tender; switch the baking sheets halfway through cooking. Meanwhile, in a pie plate, bake the pine nuts for about 1 minute, until toasted. Let cool. Transfer the cauliflower to a large serving bowl. Sprinkle with the pine nuts, raisins,cilantro and mint. Ready to serve!!!

Just an idea: Great to put over a piece of fish or chicken. Or use it for a bruschetta

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