The Oscars are here! It's time for Hollywood to give us her most glamorous night, and for the stars to dazzle in their beautiful gowns and shining jewels. Growing up, the Academy Awards were one of the few nights I was allowed to stay up late and watch television. Mind you that this was long before the VCR or DVD players brought films right into our living rooms, and there were no "Hollywood News Shows" to keep us updated anything and everything in the movie biz. Perhaps that's why it was such a special event--there was a bit of "peeking behind the curtain" back then and live television meant anything could happen.
For a while, I used to try and see most of the films, and was quite competitive about picking the winners. {Click Here for the 2011 Ballot.} This year I have seen a grand total of ZERO of the nominated films, but it won't keep me from tuning in for every moment.....
If you are in need of a tasty treat for an Oscar party, try these delicious (and easy) Artichoke Balls. Clever Girl Lynn has made these for years, and they are a guaranteed hit! Make plenty--they go fast...
Lynn's Artichoke Balls
2-Cloves Garlic, crushed
2 T. Olive Oil
1-14oz can Artichoke Hearts, drained and mashed
2 Eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 C. Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 C. Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs
Saute garlic in oil. Add artichokes and egg. Cook over low heat about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add cheese and 1/2 of the bread crumbs. Roll into balls using 1 tsp. of the mixture for each ball. Roll in remaining breadcrumbs. Chill until firm. Makes 2-3 dozen. Everybody loves these!
One last thing: For even more terrific party food ideas, check out one of our best-selling cookbooks, The I Love Trader Joe's Party Cookbook. We sell out of this one every time--makes a great hostess gift, too!
