The Academy Awards are this Sunday, and what better reason to invite friends over for a little red-carpet action? Think of it as a slightly-fancier, home cocktail party while watching Hollywood’s biggest event. For the Oscar party, serve finger foods
The Academy Awards are this Sunday, and what better reason to invite friends over for a little red-carpet action?
Think of it as a slightly-fancier, home cocktail party while watching Hollywood’s biggest event.
For the Oscar party, serve finger foods that are light and easy to munch on throughout the night.
Food experts from the Pear Bureau Northwest and the National Chicken Council have come up with some party-friendly suggestions that should prove to be real winners.
Keep things simple with a cheese, fruit and cracker platter.
Choose at least one soft cheese and one hard cheese to give everyone options.
Have the fruits nice and sliced up, so no one has to do too much work.
The pear salsa is a tasty alternative to the regular, tomato-based salsa.
It’s colorful and makes for a sweet twist to the traditional.
Serve with graham crackers and it’s golden.
Lastly, serve sandwiches cut up into small portions.
This makes things easier for everyone to walk around and socialize.
A simple option is to go to the deli and buy some fresh-cut meats.
The sandwiches in a way should balance out all the lighter pupus being served.
Another option is to kick things up by serving savory Curried Chicken Salad Sandwiches.
These may take a little longer to prepare, but they’ll surely be party-pleasers.
Pear Party Salsa
1 Comice pear, cored and finely chopped
1 apple, cored and finely chopped
2 kiwi, peeled and finely chopped
1 orange, peeled and finely chopped
2 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Cinnamon graham crackers
Combine pear, apple, kiwi and orange in a medium-sized bowl. Pour honey and lemon juice over fruit and gently toss. Scoop up mouthfuls of fruit salsa using cinnamon graham crackers.
Makes 4 servings.
Curried Chicken Salad Sandwiches
4 chicken-breast halves, boneless and skinless
4 cups water
1 can (14 ounces) low-sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 red onion, medium-sized, chopped
1 ripe mango, peeled and diced
1 cup red seedless grapes, halved
1/2 cup roasted cashews
6 leaves butter lettuce
6 soft sandwich rolls
In medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, bring water and chicken broth to low simmer. Add chicken and cook, uncovered, for six minutes. Remove pan from heat and cover. Let stand until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and cool 10 minutes. Chop chicken into 1/2-inch pieces. While chicken is cooling, in large bowl whisk together mayonnaise, curry, lime juice, honey, ginger, salt and pepper. Add chicken, onion, mango, grapes and cashews. Stir gently to combine.
Slice each roll and place lettuce leaf on each. Divide chicken salad among the six rolls and serve.
Makes 6 sandwiches.
Lanaly Cabalo, lifestyle writer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.
