Roll the red carpet up to your TV. It is time to honor yet another year of filmmaking magic. For those of you considering entertaining Oscar-style, honor your nutritious self in the planning. Celeb worthy celebrations should be replete with something sparkly to drink and delicious to nibble, but gala-ware can be quick to remind you that looking and feeling great really are the best accessory. I have come to help you with your menu . . . lights, camera, action!

 

 

Descendants cocktail – served in a stemmed martini glass with a wedge of pineapple, this drink has Oscar worthy elegance and honors Descendant-land-Hawaii. You can maintain the elegance, lessen the alcohol and zip out some calories by serving this in a champagne glass — fill half way and top with seltzer.

 

• 1 ½ ounces rye whiskey
• ¾ ounce dry vermouth
• ¾ ounce pineapple juice

Pour all of the ingredients into a well chilled cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Shake well and strain into chilled martini glass. Serve with a wedge of fresh pineapple.

 

 

Artist-ic appetizer – Prohibition spinach dip is perfect fare as you wait for your favorite flick to be announced. Prohibition changed the face of restaurant fare as technology was creeping into the food supply, making frozen foods more common and dairy more safe. Easy and delicious, make this one a day in advance.

 

• 1 (10 ounce) box frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 1 pint low fat or fat free sour cream
• ½ cup low fat Greek yogurt
• 1 packet onion soup mix
• 1 tablespoon Onion Crunch
• 1 can water chestnuts, drained and diced

Mix the sour cream, yogurt and onion soup mix well to combine. Add the water chestnuts, spinach. Mix in Onion Crunch. Serve with endive, celery and carrots.

 

 

Help Yourself Chicken Salad– Mississippi in the 1960s is all about the best of southern cooking. Tomatoes stuffed with chicken salad were popular, elegant and kind to the figure. This recipe will transcend you to the south.

 

• 16 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Water
• 20 cherry tomatoes
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup plain, non fat Greek yogurt
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
• Paprika for garnish

Arrange chicken in a pot in a single layer. Poach chicken by covering it by ½ inch in water and bring to a low boil. Low simmer the chicken for 15 minutes, then turn of the heat and leave the chicken in the pot for 10 more minutes. Set it aside to cool. Carefully slice off a small amount of the top of tomatoes (be careful not to remove too much) and scoop out seeds. Finely chop cooled chicken, season with salt and pepper and cinnamon, and stir in Greek yogurt, chives and chopped parsley, mixing well. Spoon chicken salad into tomatoes and garnish with paprika.

 

 

Iron Lady Eggs – It is rumored that Margaret Thatcher lost 20 lbs on a high egg diet. Why not honor her with a devilish version that will please all the adoring fans?

 

• 1 dozen eggs
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 1/3 low fat sour cream
• 1 tablespoon minced shallot
• 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
• Salt and pepper
• Green onion for garnish

Hard boil the eggs by placing them in one layer in the bottom of a pot, covered with water by ½ inch. Bring the pot to boil, then turn off the flame. Let them sit in the water for 12 minutes, then drain. Crack the egg shells while the eggs are cooling, so they are easier to peel. Place in cool water until they are cool enough to handle and peel. Using a sharp knife, slice each egg in half, lengthwise. Gently remove the yolk halves and place in a small mixing bowl and mix with mustard, sour cream, shallot and Tabasco. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange the egg white halves on a serving platter and fill with yolk mixture (it is easiest to use a pastry bag or freezer bag with the tip cut off to fill). Garnish with green onion.

 

 

Enjoy your delicious and healthful red carpet bash. I hope your favorites come away with an Oscar!

 

Posted on: Feb 22, 2012

Tags: chicken salad, cocktail, eggs, Oscars, spinach dip