Party: The 87th Academy Awards, The Oscars

Are you counting down the days to this years 87th Academy Awards? The Oscars will take place this Sunday, February 22, 2015 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The host this year is Neil Patrick Harris! The pre-show starts at 3pm (Pacific time). We have to admit this is our favorite part! I love to see what everyone is wearing & watch them walk the red carpet.

Below are a few ideas to throw a fabulous Oscar party Connie & Jenn put together.

1. Dress up in Oscar worthy dresses (old prom dresses anyone?)
2. Print out ballots: Have a ballot for each main category & the person who gets the most right will receive a reward.
3. Oscar "photo-booth": Create a gold or black/white backdrop and have swanky props like champagne glasses, mustaches, top hats, kissy lips. Set up a photo stand or use a polaroid
4. Have a popcorn bar: since popcorn and a good movie go hand in hand. (Connie & I will have to skip this one because we gave it up for lent this year) 
5. Box candy from the theater
6. Drinks: champagne, champagne & more champagne
7. Fresh lobster is always great too!
8. Have gold stars everywhere for decoration

 

A re-cap of the big winners: WILL BE POSTED IN A FEW DAYS

We are really gunning for our favorite, American Sniper (pun intended ;))

Here is a direct link to the OSCARS nomination page http://oscar.go.com/nominees/

You can even choose you picks on here as well: http://oscar.go.com/mypicks

Stay Classy & fabulous! Until we blog again. XOXO, Connie & Jenn

Party & Food: Football Season

Living in San Diego for the past 5+ years and growing up in California my whole life, I am a huge Chargers fan.
But both Connie & I love a good football party!

Here are some fun party ideas to try this football season: 

Fun Football Dessert: Team Cupcakes

 

 

An easy but crowd pleasing dessert to make are team themed football cupcakes!

Start off by making the toppings for your cupcakes.

Football Cupcake Toppings, you will need:

• pretzel sticks (for the field goals)
• colored tootsie rolls (for the flag & bolts)
• caramels (for the footballs)
• skinny frosting tubes (for the football laces & flag designs)

All you do here is roll out the candies and cut to make you team themed cupcake toppings. The flags are easy, cut triangles then wrap around a pretzel stick. For the footballs shape into an oval to create a football.

Then bake your cupcakes, I just used boxed chocolate & vanilla cupcakes for these. Follow the directions on the box. I topped with canned frosting and added food dye to create yellow, blue & green frosting. So this part is very simple & easy and you won't stress out while preparing for your football party.

Here is a photo from the 1st Chargers Football game I went to in 2009

Football Appetizer: Homemade Jalapeno Poppers

 

Two ways to make your own!

 

 

# 1 Breaded Stuffed Jalapenos

Matt & I made these for Connie & Godwin when they came to visit us.

 

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 tablespoon bacon bits
• 12 ounces jalapeno peppers, seeded and halved
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup dry bread crumbs
• 2 quarts oil for frying

Directions:

In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese, Cheddar cheese and bacon bits. Spoon this mixture into the jalapeno pepper halves.

 Put the milk and flour into two separate small bowls. Dip the stuffed jalapenos first into the milk then into the flour, making sure they are well coated with each. Allow the coated jalapenos to dry for about 10 minutes.

 

Dip the jalapenos in milk again and roll them through the breadcrumbs. Allow them to dry, then repeat to ensure the entire surface of the jalapeno is coated.

In a medium skillet, heat the oil to 365 degrees F ( 180 degrees C). Deep fry the coated jalapenos 2 to 3 minutes each, until golden brown. Remove and let drain on a paper towel.
 

# 2 Pillsbury Crescent Roll Jalapeno Poppers

Connie made these delicious Jalapeno poppers

 

Ingredients:

• jalapeno peppers, seeded and cut
• 12 oz package cream cheese, softened
• 2 packages Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
• 4-5 slices bacon, cooked
• 1/4 cup chopped chives 

Directions:

 

First, wash & cut jalapeno peppers. Cut the bottom first, then place on cutting board standing up to cut sides.

 

 

Next, cook bacon & add to food processor with cream cheese and  chives, mixing until blended together and creamy.

 

Then lay out crescent roll sheets on cutting board. Flatten with hands to remove seams and form each sheet into a rectangle.

Cut each rectangle into fourths.

Add cream cheese mixture and jalapeno pepper slice to each section.

 

 

Fold sides over to cover.

Bake in oven at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes.

 

 

Fantastic Football Meal: Crock Pot Chili

Ingredients:

• 3/4 pounds lean ground beef
• 4 ounces smoked sausage
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 red or green bell pepper
• 3 clove garlic, minced
• 1 can (4 oz) green chili peppers
• 2 tbsp diced jalapeno peppers
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1/2 can (4 ounces) tomato sauce
• 1 can- 8oz black beans, drained
• 1 can – 8oz kidney beans
• 1 teaspoon grill seasoning blend
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Directions: In a large skillet or sauté pan, brown the ground beef and sausage with onion until meat is no longer pink. Add the chopped bell pepper and garlic and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute longer. Transfer to the slow cooker and add remaining ingredients; cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.

What goes great with Chili? Jalapeno cornbread: You will need 1 box of cornbread mix (follow directions) then add 1 handful mozzarella cheese and 3 sliced and diced jalapenos. Stir cheese and jalapenos into cornbread mix, add into muffin trays and bake following cornbread box directions. An easy way to spice up normal cornbread.

*Serve this chili with cornbread, crusty rolls, tortilla chips &/or avocados on top*

Enjoy!

 

Until we blog again, XOXO,

Sister Cooks

 

 

Party: Halloween Costume Party

Halloween has always been a fun time of year for us since we were little girls. We love to dress up! The best way to celebrate Halloween is to throw a party with a haunting atmosphere, eerie eats and drinks and of course the perfect costumes. We threw a Halloween party at Connie's house. Below are a few things you could do as well to create a memorable Halloween party. Instead of normal drinks create festive names for everyone to enjoy like, "Bloody Rum Punch" & "Wormy Jell-O Shooters" (which we used),  "Candy-Corn Cocktail" and "Monster Mimosa". The key is to be creative. If you serve the drinks in a punch bowl your party guests will be able to drink at their leisure. For treats there are many, many options. We have a “wormy Jell-o” to share with you.

Bloody Rum Punch

It is very simple to make the "Bloody Punch" all you do is combine all ingredients into a large punch bowl and place in the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving.

Ingredients:

• 1-750ml bottle dark or light rum
• 1/2 bottle red wine
• 6 oz triple sec liqueur
• 6 oz lime juice
• 6 oz simple syrup
• 2 limes sliced thin
• 2 blood red oranges sliced thin

A spooky addition to this drink is to buy plastic eyeballs to add to the punch as seen below. Beware, this drink is very strong and your party guests may get very intoxicated form multiple drinks.

Wormy Jell-O Shooters

This is very similar to the ingredients on the box.

Ingredients:

• 3 oz Jell-O or other gelatin (any flavor)
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup Vodka
• 1/2 cup cold water

What to Do:

1. Pour gelatin into a medium sized bowl.
2. Add boiling water, stirring until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
3. Stir in chilled liquor and water mix.
4. Pour into plastic cup molds, or shot glasses.
5. Refrigerate until the jell-o hardens. (At least 2 hours, but overnight refrigeration is recommended)
6. Serve cold

 

Even your pets can be a part of the Halloween fun!

 

 

Another fun idea for your party is to create a Halloween Photo Booth. We hung up an orange plastic table cloth with a Trick or Treat banner and added pumpkins and candles all around. Some other ideas are to have scarecrows, skeletons, ghosts and/or witch statues, cob webs and spiders, basically anything that goes along with the Halloween theme.  

 

 

Connie & I were Inspired by The Great Gatsby so we dressed up as flappers.

 

 

Until we blog again, XoXo Connie & Jenn

Party: New Year's Eve Party & Ideas

Wow, this holiday season just flew by and we neglected our blog due to the craziness. It has been months and we are very sorry! I want to do a re-cap. Starting with NYE.

My boyfriend Matt and I hosted a New Years Eve party this year. It was great.

 

 

Our friend Mike is a Photographer so we set up a Photo booth area. (the pictures above are from Michael's camera and lighting). He did a wonderful job and was very helpful.

 

When sending out an invitation you want it to be something unique, fun & catchy. You also want your invite to explain your party and what is expected. The invite we sent is:

 

The New Year’s rolling in;
We’re planning quite a bash.
Please arrive at 8pm.
So we can all get smashed!

The champagne will be flowing
On December 31st
At the house of the Coleman’s
Let’s party all night, right into January 1st

Be dressed up in your cocktail attire,
You may get wild, but don’t start a fire.

We’ll laugh and we’ll play, we’ll sing (karaoke) and dance,
By the time it hits midnight you’ll be in a trance

Bring your awesome self or "selves"
And what you want to drink.
And we’ll provide hors’ devours & stuff,
Including the kitchen sink!

When you let us know you’ll come,
We’ll smile & shout "Whoopee!"
So sit right down and respond
With your kind R.S.V.P!

Picking an outfit for New Years may be the most important thing. I chose a gold and black sparkle and sheer dress. For New Years it is a great idea to chose a statement piece that makes you feel great.

 

We had a snack table set up & guest brought more snacks as well. With all the champagne and drinking it is a good idea to have snacks on hand.

 

 

A fun thing I did was to make champagne, star and clock cookies. Sticking to the NYE theme. I was going to make a clock cake but I ran out of time.

We wanted to have some props and goodies for our guests so I made a little table of crowns, party hats, blow horns, beads and 2013 glow-in-the dark glasses for our guests.

We also had a band in the backyard near the fire pit. So Cal Vibes. Everything came together nicely and was a huge success! What did you do for NYE?

Until we blog again, xoxo,
Connie & Jenn

Craft & Party: Pumpkin Carving & Decorating

Every year our Grandma 'Garden' hosts a pumpkin carving day at her house.
She provides the pumpkins and each family brings a snack or dish to share.

This year the girls decided to dress up our pumpkins and skip the messy-ness of carving!!

Here's the pumpkin Connie made:

If you want to give it a shot here's what you'll need:

• Black Matte Spray Paint
• Ribbon
• Netting or Lace
• Push Pins

Step 1. Spray paint your pumpkin. Wrap the stem if you don't want it black too.
We spray painted them in a box so we didn't get paint everywhere.

Step 2. After the pumpkin is dry - use the end of a peeler or other tool to carve a design if you'd like.

Step 3. Wrap the pumpkin in lace or netting, pinning it in place as you go.

Step 4. Next, add ribbon and other embellishments.

Step 5. Make & add a bow as a final touch, if you feel so inclined.

Ta da!

 

 

The boys also did some regular old pumpkin carving, well kind of.

 

Here are the pumpkins Jenn & her boyfriend Matt carved all lit up! Jenn's had a candy corn hangover. Matt carved a spooky Jack-o-lantern!

 

 

Happy Halloween!!

 

XOXO,

 

Double Decker Sister Cooks

 

Connie & Jenn

 

Food & Party: Pumpkin Carving Party

Friday night (10/19/12) I went to a Pumpkin Carving party. My friend Jen & I went to the PB Pumpkin Patch before to pick up our pumpkins. I couldn't believe pumpkins are $12 now! Inflation? Even so, I found the perfect sized pumpkin.

 

 

At the party we ate, drank and carved pumpkins. It was a good time with friends. I brought an appetizer to the party. The recipe is below.

 

My pumpkin found a girlfriend at the party...

 

 

A little tip: Today I rubbed the inside of my pumpkin w/ petroleum jelly to keep mold and dehydration away. I don't want a moldy Jack. It's a good little trick. You can also spray the inside daily with a bleach and water mixture.

 

PUMPKIN FLUFF DIP

 

 

Ingredients:

1 (8 oz) container fat-free cool whip

1/2 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree

1/2 (5oz) box of Jell-o fat - free vanilla pudding

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ginger

** for the spices you may add as much or little as you like**

 

 

Directions:

In a medium bowl mix together all ingredients. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve. This recipe is so easy to make. If you like pumpkin pie you will love this appetizer.

 

 

 

Until I blog again, Xoxo, Jenn

******

 

Connie also made this Pumpkin Dip to bring to a party. She served hers in a pumpkin with apples and Nilla wafers.

 

 

Gossip Girls Night In

A friend and I started getting together on Mondays to catch up and watch Gossip Girl together. We also make dinner & have wine (of course!) This week we had Gorgonzola Mashers & Cream of Mushroom Crock Pot Chicken. It was delish!!

Gorgonzola Mashers
About 5 medium potatoes, quartered (red or Yukon or mix of both)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup fat free milk, cream or fat-free half & half
5 oz. Gorgonzola cheese
2 cups spinach
2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp oil
1 tsp. garlic salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste

1. Add one inch water in pot with steamer basket. Place potatoes in steamer basket, cover and steam for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Drain well, then return to pot or mixer and mash to your liking, chunky or smooth.
 

2. While potatoes are steaming, heat oil in small pan. Add garlic and cook till golden brown.
3. Stir milk/cream, cheese, garlic and spinach into potatoes. ENJOY!

 

Cream of Mushroom Crock Pot Chicken

Growing up my mom often made oven baked cream of mushroom chicken. I decided to make the same thing in the crockpot and add a little someth'n someth'n.

4 chicken breasts, mine were defrosted (in the fridge) but still a tad bit frozen
2 cans Cream of Mushroom soup
Freshly ground pepper
1 tbsp or so Oregano
1/2 cup Panco bread crumbs
1 cup fried fried onions
Oil spray

1. Spray oil on all sides crock pot or use disposable crock pot liner (makes for easy clean up later).
Place chicken on bottom of crock pot.
Sprinkle pepper and oregano on chicken.
Spread cream of mushroom soup over chicken.
Lastly, top with bread crumbs and french fried onions.
2. Cook on low 8 hrs.

Easiest dinner ever & super yummy! The cream of mushroom sauce from the chicken went really well with the mashed potatoes. I've also made the mashed potatoes as a side with steak.

Can't wait to have another Gossip Girl night tomorrow. We're having Slow Cooker Greek Chicken! Mmmmm

Until Next Time.

XOXO,

Connie

 

******

 

Jenn also made Cream of Mushroom Crock Pot Chicken this week using the above recipe but added spinach instead of fried onions. She also added a side of Baked Kale Chips. It came out great.

 

 

Baked Kale Chips

 

1 cup Kale

1 tbsp. parmesan cheese

dash of garlic salt

olive oil

 

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Break kale up and spread kale evenly on baking tray. Place in oven with a drizle of olive oil, parmesan cheese & garlic salt. Let cook for 8-12 minutes or until crispy. Let cool & serve.