Lights! Camera! Oscar!

It’s that time of year again-  Time for the annual Oscars!  In our home when my girls, Kristina and Kara were in high school, they loved hosting Oscar Parties.  They would decorate elaborately and creatively, along with food to go along with the theme of the Oscar-nominated movies.   Both were involved in theatre at school and this was one way they could celebrate with their fellow thespians every year. When Kristina moved to Los Angeles over ten years ago, she loved attending the real Oscars as media and seeing every single winner in the press room.  I know she misses it now that she has moved to New York City.

But all is not lost, as I still love celebrating the Oscars and getting into the excitement of the moment back here at home. I especially enjoy making food to go along with a theme and decided on “Light as Air” Meringue Cookies in the spirit of the Oscar nominated movie “Gravity.”

The recipe is from our old church cookbook back in the ’50’s.  Meringue cookies have never gone out of style, and these are really good.  As you can see, the old cookbook is very tattered, but loved and well-used with all kinds of wonderful from-scratch cooking.

My husband has been munching on these all day.

“Light-As-Air” Meringue Cookies

2 egg whites
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup mini chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Heat oven to 300 degrees.  Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Beat egg whites, salt, cream of tartar, and vanilla to form stiff peaks.  Gradually add sugar and beat until very stiff. Gently but thoroughly fold in chocolate chips and pecans.  Drop by spoonfuls a couple inches apart onto parchment paper.  Bake for 25 minutes, or until meringues feel dry to the touch and barely start to brown on the edges.  Cool a few minutes on the cookie sheet, then carefully remove to a cooking rack and cool completely.  Makes about 2 dozen meringues, or you can make 4 dozen mini meringues.

Here is the list of this year’s nominations for Best Picture:

-American Hustle
-Captain Phillips
-Dallas Buyer’s Club
-Gravity
-Her
-Nebraska
-Philomena
-12 Years a Slave
-The Wolf of Wall Street

Do you have any food ideas for these movies?  Don’t forget to watch the excitement on Sunday and see who wins. Have fun!