New Year's Eve Fried Celebration

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

I am looking forward to the year of 2012.  I feel like the past couple years have been mediocre.  Some really great things have happened, some really crappy things, and a lot of nothing.  Some of it out of my control some of it not.  I am ready for a bit of excitement or a change up.  Let's just hope it happens, whether it's a happy accident or by my own creation.  So far, the year is off to a good start.  Our New Year's Eve party was awesome.  

Invitation (Background)

Champagne Tower. Serious business.

Some of us decided we didn't want to spend and insane amount of money at a bar and no, we would never, ever consider going to Time Square.  So we decided to host our own party split between my and my neighbors apartment.   We wanted to keep it simple since most of us would be return to New York on the 30th or 31st and didn't want to spend too much money.  We also knew we needed a champagne tower.  It was great, especially since we were all sure that tower was going to make a mess.  We also had a New Year's Resolution Board for people to write their resolutions on.  By the end of the night we had some pretty good range of resolutions, some serious, some not so serious. 

Now on to the food: 

Champagne Cupcakes & Jello Shots

Since the party was not starting till late, we stuck to finger foods and simple snacks.  My lovely co-hosts made Champagne Cupcakes, Champagne Jello Shots, (she used 1 cup of water and 2.5 cups of champagne), and a delicious spinach dip.  Since my roommate enjoys frying things, we made sure he was going to be around to provide us with some tasty treats like Fried Oreos, Fried Twinkies and Hush Puppies.  Somehow we did not make it to the twinkies and they are now waiting for their chance in the fridge and did fry deviled eggs.  I did not try those. 

Will frying away. 

I fully admit that Will (roommate) was completely responsible for the finding the Fried Oreo and Hush Puppy recipes and making them.  They were sooo good.  The next morning when we found out that one of our friends decided to help Will make the batter for the oreos and made his own contribution of beer.  Not quite sure how much, but if you want try it, pour a bit in.  This would also probably be good in the hush puppies.  

Fried Oreos

about 39 servings- one cookie each

mmm

• 2 quarts vegetable oil for frying 
• 1 large egg 
• 1 cup milk 
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil 
• 1 cup pancake mix
• 1  package Oreos
• a bit of beer (optional)
• powdered sugar

1. Heat oil in deep-fryer to 375 degrees F. 
2. Whisk together the egg, milk, and 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil in a bowl until smooth. 
3. Stir in the pancake mix until no dry lumps remain.  Add beer.
4. Dip the cookies into the batter one at a time, and carefully place into the hot frying oil. 
5. Fry only 4 or 5 at a time to avoid overcrowding the deep fryer. Cook until the cookies are golden-brown, about 2 minutes. 
6. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate before serving.  Once cooled slightly, sprinkle with powdered sugar. 

Hush Puppies  

the true thing should never be perfectly shaped:)

about 35 puppies  

• 6 cups peanut oil 
• 1 1/2 cups self-rising cornmeal 
• 1/2 cup self-rising flour 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 1 small onion, chopped 
• 1 cup buttermilk 
• 1 egg, lightly beaten 

1. Using a deep pot, preheat oil for frying to 350 degrees F.
2. Using a mixing bowl, stir together the cornmeal, flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the onion. 
3. In a small bowl, stir together the buttermilk and egg. 
4. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until blended. 
5. Drop the batter, 1 teaspoon at a time, into the oil. 
6. Dip the spoon in a glass of water after each hush puppy is dropped in the oil. Fry until golden brown, turning the hushpuppies during the cooking process.
7. Let drain and cool slightly on a paper towel before serving. 

Enjoy! 

Holiday Party!

I love this time of year.  I love the excuse of the holidays to create absolutely delicious treats that you never make any other time.  Every year I say I am going to make them at some other time, but I never do.  I think it would ruin the pure joy when I do have those tasty treats, like candy cane cookies, chocolate covered peanut butter balls, chocolate covered cherries, chocolate covered coconut balls, and almond bark.
My last year at MSU in Bozeman my friends and I got together to make candies and cookies for holidays.  It was so fun to spend time with my close friends in the kitchen, everyone making something to share.  I decided to carry this with me to New York and for the past four years I have had a party.  Everyone brings their ingredients or dough and makes or bakes their treat at my tiny apartment.  This year I mixed up some mulled wine and baked brie as I pretend to be the perfect hostess. 
The mulled wine was really good and simple and since I was debating between mulled wine and spiked cider, this recipe was a perfect in between.  I was doubling the recipe for the large group and used a $3 Trader Joe's Shiraz  for the wine and only half the ginger in the recipe because that was all I had on hand.  It was still delicious.

mulled wine in progress, step one

mulled wine, the finished project

 As for the brie, I made it once using the recipe and since then have made it by memory.  I love the raspberry jam and smear a lot of it on top and pour plenty of syrup on the top.  I normally use a round of brie, but this time i used two wedges and two croissants packages.

Bake brie yummyness. Messy looking, perhaps.

Now on to the goodies.  Every year I make favorite candies that my mom and grandma make back home and one new one that and friends mom introduced me to: chocolate covered peanut butter balls, chocolate covered oreo balls, and chocolate covered peanut butter sandwiches.  If you can't tell, I love chocolate.  We always use almond bark for our covering needs. They have it in white and chocolate.  You can use either one for dipping, but I prefer the chocolate on the peanut butter balls and white on the oreo balls. 

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls 

• 1/2 cup butter melted
• 1/4 cup corn syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup rice krispies (only if you use creamy PB) 
• almond bark (or some kind of candy chocolate) 

Mix all ingredients except almond bark.  I like to put it in the fridge for a bit, but you don't have to.  Roll it into quarter sized balls.  Melt almond bark by directions on package and dip in the balls in chocolate.  Place on wax paper to cool.  Store in the fridge. 

Chocolate Covered Oreo Balls

• one package of oreos (or Trader joes jo-jos, and excellent alternative)
• one package of cream cheese 
• Almond bark

Crush the oreos and mix with the cream cheese.  Roll into quarter sized balls and dip in almond bark.  Place on wax paper to cool. Store in fridge.

Chocolate Covered Peanut butter sandwiches

• Ritz Crackers 
• Peanut butter
• Almond bark

Place peanut butter between two ritz crackers and dip in melted almond bark.  Store in fridge.

The spread of candies, cookies and bars we made this year.

My mom typically mixed the left over almond bark with almond slivers and spread it out on a cookie sheet then break it into pieces once it cooled.  Also called Almond bark.

Oh- one more thing, if you are on the east coast, can you please tell me where to find almond bark?  I bring it back from the mid west every year because I can't find it here.