In keeping with my post-Oscars tradition, I thought I’d do a quick post to wrap up last night’s festivities, and share some pictures from our annual spread of food puns. It was s different gathering than usual, since my long-time Oscar buddy Rob and his beautiful wife Tiffany were busy having their first evening home with their brand new son. We missed them, of course, but we’re delighted to have a new little boy in our lives to love (especially since he’s one we can hand back after we love on him!).
If you stayed up to watch last night, you know that the Oscar wins were pretty evenly divided between several films, with no one movie running away with the night. I like it that way, don’t you? Different faces on the podium, spread the joy around, etc.
I loved Jimmy Kimmel and the fact that his Oscars show is pretty much an extension of his regular show, just slightly more high-brow. Taking the celebs across the street to hand out candy to patrons at the movie theater was a nice touch. Also, the costume designer who won a jet ski for the brevity of his speech. If Jimmy Kimmel is becoming our collective conscience, I’m glad our conscience hasn’t lost his easy generosity and cheesy sense of humor.
The speeches were great (Gary Oldman needs an editor, perhaps, he was a bit rambly). My two favorite speeches were from Frances McDormand, who invited all the female nominees to stand and celebrate with her when she won for best actress (I admit it, I cried), and seeing Jordan Peele become the first African-American to win for Best Original Screenplay. I loved Get Out, on so many levels (even though I am a big chicken about horror movies and spent a decent part of the film hiding under a blanket). The teacup Hubs put out with our “Get Stout” offering was still creeping me out by the light of day. So there’s pun #1.
Pun #2 was Phantom Bread, on which we served “The Roast” for adults in honor of 
#3 The Post. The kids got to enjoy some “government coverups” (pigs in blankets) from the same theme. There was a Victory Garden Salad in honor of #4 Darkest Hour, as some tuna/egg and zucchini/cheese boats went out to rescue the troops at #5 Dunkirk. A friend also brought “Dunkirk Donuts,” which were well-received by all the short people in our house. For desserts, we had #6 Lady Bird Fingers with berries & whipped cream; and #7 “The Shape of Jello.”
The adults enjoyed a peaches & cream milkshake, made by a dear friend in honor of #8 Call Me By Your Name. And ever the mixologist, Hubs made two kinds of Molotov Cocktails (with Fireball whiskey!) in honor of #9 Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Honestly, when he suggested this particular ingredient would be central to our evening, I cringed a little. Fireball isn’t exactly my favorite sipping drink. But these cocktails were so delicious (especially the surprising first one), that I thought I’d share his recipes with you.
Old Fashioned Fireball
This one surprised all of us with how much we liked it. I’m giving you two versions, the super-nerdy first one in which you can tell my husband is a chemical engineer, and the second is for less-persnickety bartenders who are comfortable with words like “splash,” “dash,” and “smidgen.”
- 10 parts orange juice
- 10 parts Fireball whiskey
- 1 part maple syrup
- Shake, pour over ice
OR
- 3 parts orange juice
- 3 parts Fireball whiskey
- Splash maple syrup
- Shake, pour over ice
Fiery Apple Pie
- 4 parts apple juice
- 1.5 vanilla vodka
- 1.5 Fireball whiskey
- Pinch cinnamon
- Shake, pour over ice
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick
If you make these at home, I’m sure Hubs would love to know how they came out. And if you do your own Oscar puns, post pictures or comments below.
Enjoy!
P.S. I’ll be sending out the next installment of Easy as Pie, my novella in progress, to my Distracted Reader newsletter subscribers in the next few days. If you aren’t on my list and want to get in on the fun, sign up here!
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MJ Pullen
