I do not know about you, but I am ready for a party. No more small gatherings with immediate family. No more quiet nights at home. I want to have a big, fun, loud, crowded party. I miss crowds. No, not grocery store lines, but being in a large crowd of people having a good time. A concert, a ball game, a wedding, and most of all - just a big throwdown. I want to talk to friends and hug and dance and tell secrets (but never gossip). I want life without the bother of a mask and trying to figure out what someone is saying or worrying if they are infecting me or I them.
Recently, I woke up in the middle of the night with my mind filled with ideas for a big party once life is back to normal. I decided that while I not-so-patiently wait that I could be optimistic and plan my party for 2021.
I have decided to call the party: The Perfect Purple Prince Party. For those of you who are not Prince fans, I am sorry and I may lose you at this point.
When I was growing up, the best parties involved playing very loud Prince music and dancing to “Let’s Go Crazy.” I am not apologizing and I realize that Prince had issues, but he wrote and performed some of the best party music ever. He could dance, sing, write, compose, and even act. When people talk about “good musicals,” I skip over Cats and Les Misérables and focus on classics like Purple Rain. Now that’s a good musical to me.
I remember my parents telling me and my sister that we were not allowed to listen to Prince or his trashy song “Little Red Corvette.” What did we do? Of course, we played it as loud as we could every day driving to school. Sorry, we were just like that.
It may be a ‘dream party,’ but the hoping and planning during this time might keep me sane. I hope you will plan your perfect party. It may not be Prince. It may be country or classic, boots or dresses, but let’s get planning and keep our eyes toward a better 2021.
The Perfect Purple Prince Party
My party plan starts with attitude and attire. Prince’s song “You’ve Got the Look” comes to mind, and while I do not normally have ‘the look,’ I found an amazing pair of purple paisley pants at a secondhand store several years ago. I bought them for just such an occasion. Sorry, no, “Raspberry Beret,” but the pants are amazing. To complete the look: add a flashy purple jacket and some platform shoes. I think I can already hear you singing “Baby I’m a Star.”
Then the party menu:
“Purple Rain” Martini
This yummy cocktail is a concoction of blue liqueurs and cranberry juice (red and blue makes purple) and a splash of vodka. I think if anyone has one of these, they will be dancing.
1 1/2 ounces vodka (lemon flavored if possible)
1 ounce Blue Curacao liqueur
1/2 ounce (or less for sweetness) Grenadine syrup
1 ounce Lemon-lime soda such as Sprite
1 ounce cranberry juice
Mix all ingredients and serve cold or over ice.
“Delirious” Cocktail
This is just the recipe for my favorite cocktail, the French 75, and my perfect party would not be complete without it. It is a refreshing mixture of lemon juice, gin and champagne. I know Prince would have LOVED this drink.
This mixture makes enough for four drinks but feel free to prepare the mixture ahead and store everything in the refrigerator. I add the champagne at the last minute.
1/2 cup gin
1/2 cup simple syrup
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice, about two lemons
1 bottle good champagne chilled
4 strips of lemon zest
*Simple syrup is a combination of one cup water and one cup of sugar that has been boiled until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved. Can be made ahead and stored in refrigerator.
Combine Gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice and store in refrigerator until thoroughly chilled. Fill for champagne flutes about 2/3 full of Gin mixture, then fill the remaining space with champagne. Garnish with lemon zest and serve ice cold.
“Let’s Go Crazy (Let’s Get Nuts)” Snack Mix
This is an old homemade party mix recipe that my mom would send to me during college exam week to use as a study snack. All my friends were crazy about the mix, and at graduation she finally shared the recipe. I think they all almost died when they saw the secret ingredient: It is bacon drippings!! I still save any bacon drippings in my refrigerator to help my mother make this delicious snack mix. The flavor cannot be beaten.
One box each:
Corn Chex cereal, Rice Chex cereal, Wheat Chex cereal, Cheerios, Crispix
2 bags Bugles
2 bags of pretzel sticks
*Add any other additions including: small Melba toast crackers, oyster crackers, pecans, cashews, peanuts or any nut mixture.
Put all dry ingredients in a large garbage bag and toss to mix.
Meanwhile, in a heavy-duty sauce pan, mix the following:
1 1/2 pounds margarine or butter
1 1/2 cups bacon drippings
4 tablespoons or more Worcestershire sauce
2 to 3 tablespoons of Tabasco, less if you do not like it hot
1 to 2 tablespoons red pepper, less if you do not like it hot
1 1/2 tablespoons garlic salt
1 1/2 tablespoons celery salt
Mix all wet ingredients on your stove top until it is melted and thoroughly mixed.
Spread cereal out in single layers in multiple roasting dishes or baking pans. Carefully spoon butter mixture over cereal, mixing thoroughly and being sure to get some of the spices from the bottom of the pan thoroughly coating all mixture.
Bake at about 250° for 1 or 2 hours stirring every 15 minutes.
This makes a lot so you will have plenty to share.
“When Doves Cry” Poppers
If you do not have access to dove breasts, boneless-skinless chicken breasts can be substituted.
20 doves, fileted or breasted and deboned
10 slices of thin sliced bacon, cut in half
1/2 cup of your favorite meat marinade such as Dales, Allegro, or any other game marinade
Pour marinated over doves and cover an allowed to rest in the refrigerator overnight.
Assemble dove poppers: wrap each breast with a half of a slice of bacon and secure it with a toothpick. Grill poppers over hot grill being careful not over-cook and baste frequently with the marinade. Cook about 10 minutes until dove are medium rare.
“I Would Die for You” Hot Cheese Dip with Candied Jalapeños
I love this dip so much, and the sweet-spicy candied jalapenos kick it up to another level.
1/2 cup mayonnaise
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup cheddar or swiss cheese, grated
2 green onions, chopped
1/2 - 1 cup candied jalapenos (recipe to follow)
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
6-10 buttery crackers, crushed
In a bowl combine: mayo, cream cheese, swiss or cheddar and green onions. Spread into a well -greased shallow oven proof baking dish. Top with candied jalapenos, bacon and crackers. Bake 350 for 15 minutes. Serve with crackers, Fritos or tortilla chips.
Easy Candied Jalapenos
1 (12-ounce) jar pickled, sliced jalapenos
2/3 cup sugar
Drain all the juice from the jar of jalapenos, keeping jalapenos in the jar. Pour sugar over jalapenos and pack in. Seal jar tightly and store in the refrigerator for five days, shaking and turning each day.
“Raspberry Beret” Bars
These are seriously good and addictive.
For the crust:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
16 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces and chilled.
For raspberry filling:
2 cups or 9 ounces frozen raspberries, thawed
1 cup seedless raspberry preserves
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
a pinch of salt.
For the strudel topping:
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter cut into small pieces, softened
To make the crust:
preheat oven to 375° and cover a 9 x 13“ baking pan with foil that is been sprayed with nonstick spray. Be sure to push foil into all the corners and up the sides of the pan. This will allow you to easily remove the cookies when finished baking. Process flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor until combined. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles wet sand, about 15 pulses
Remove 1 1/4 cups crust mixture and reserve in another mixing bowl.
Pour remaining crust into the prepared baking pan and press evenly distribute the crust over the entire bottom of the pan. Use the bottom of a dry measuring cup to firmly press the dough into an even layer. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until crust is light golden brown.
To make the raspberry filling: Put all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until chopped.
To make strudel topping:
Combine oats and sugar to the reserved crust dough. Add butter and rub mixture between your fingers until butter is fully incorporated in the mixture forms small clumps.
Once the crust has been baked to a golden brown, spread raspberry filling over crust and sprinkle streusel topping over filling. Bake in a 375° oven for about 24 to 28 minutes turning the pan halfway through baking.
Allow bars to thoroughly cool before lifting out of the pan. Cut bars into squares and serve.
Peanut Butter “Kiss” Cookies
1 3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter (or another nut butter)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
About five dozen (one 11-ounce bag) Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped
Sift together flour, soda and salt. Meanwhile, in the bowl of a mixer, cream together butter, peanut butter, white and brown sugar. Add in egg, milk, and vanilla. Beat until well blended. Wrap dough and refrigerate for at least one hour.
Preheat oven to 375. Spray cookie sheet with non-stick spray of line with parchment paper. Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Place about two inches apart on pan and bake for about six to eight minutes until puffed and brown. Remove from oven and push a kiss into the center of each cookie. Return to oven and bake about two to three minutes longer. Remove and allow to cool completely.
