Academy Awards Watching Party Appetizers

“Movies can and do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives in the realm of entertainment towards the ideals and objectives of normal adulthood.”- Walt Disney

The Academy Awards are Sunday and I honestly couldn’t be more excited.  It’s one on my favorite days of the year.  Today I’m sharing four recipes with you that are perfect for sitting TV side and watching the Oscars.

Invite friend over and throw a watching party.  For extra fun print out ballots and have your friends guess the winners before the show starts.  To make it extra fun put money on it.  Everyone throws in $20 and whoever gets the most winner correct wins the pot!

Goat Cheese Purses

INGREDIENTS:
1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1 log of goat cheese

DIRECTIONS:
Heat oven to 350°F.
Unroll dough onto work surface. Press seams and perforations to seal. Cut dough into 6 squares.
Slice cheese into inch thick pieces.
Place 1 cheese on each square. Bring dough up around cheese; seal so dough completely covers cheese. Place seam up on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until puffed and light golden brown.
Remove from cookie sheet to serving platter. Cool slightly.

Smoked Salmon with Herbed Butter Spread and Mustard Sauce

Herbed Butter:
Mix butter, chopped parsley, chopped sage, chopped thyme, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in medium bowl to blend (can be prepared 3 days ahead)
Transfer herb butter to small bowl; cover and refrigerate
Bring butter to room temperature before using
Spread thinly on pumpernickel bread
Mustard Sauce:
INGREDIENTS:
½ cup Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons dry ground mustard
6 tablespoons sugar
¼ cup white wine vinegar
2/3 cup good olive oil
6 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
DIRECTIONS:
Combine the Dijon mustard, ground mustard, sugar, and vinegar in a small bowl
Slowly whisk in the oil and stir in the chopped dill
Serve with smoked salmon and dark pumpernickel bread

Colorful Salad

INGREDIENTS:
1 Tbsp. Orange Muscat Champagne vinegar
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
3 Tbsp. EVOO
4 oz. Mache
1 Ruby Red grapefruit
1 avocado, sliced
2 oz. goat cheese
pomegranate seeds
candied pecans
S & P
DIRECTIONS:
Whisk vinegar, mustard and EVOO. Toss and serve.

Individual Apple Crisps

INGREDIENTS:
Filling:
5 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, chopped small
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Topping:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into pieces
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
For the Filling:
Mix all the ingredients together. Place into 7 to 8-ounce ramekins.
For topping:
Mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in mixing bowl. Add the butter into the mixture and mix until it forms pea size balls. Stir in pecans and sprinkle over apple filling.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Top with vanilla ice cream and get ready to be in apple crisp heaven!

Kisses and the Academy Award goes to… wishes,