As another season of American Idol wraps up, treat fellow fans to a finale gathering, complete with themed food!
American Idol is one of the kingpins of reality TV. Even if you don't watch it, you probably know the names of the judges and have heard at least one song by Kelly Clarkson, the winner of the first season. Water coolers across North America are buzzing every Wednesday and Thursday morning with gossip on the performances, the eliminations, the wardrobes, and Paula Abdul's sobriety.
When a show this big airs its season finale, it's only fitting to invite fellow fans over to watch all the action and either celebrate or commiserate, depending on the outcome. An American Idol theme party to the rescue! Decorate with shiny CDs hanging by colorful ribbons, printed American Idol logos, and any other music-inspired kitsch you can think of. Set up your own judging panel and let your guests take turns playing Simon, Paula, and Randy. The rest of the gang can make up the Dawg Pound.
Throw on some Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, or Carrie Underwood tunes, or pick up the Best and Worst of American Idol DVD to warm up the audience. Now all you have to do is come up with some food!
Besides the TV-friendly snacks, pass around some hot hors d'oeuvres and have a few different beverages to choose from, both alcoholic and designated-driver-friendly. I've come up with a couple of suggestions to use as a starting off point - just use your imagination and see what you can dream up! If all else fails, you can always serve Rubens with (Kellie) Picklers on the side.
Simon Cowell Crab Cakes
A crispy exterior, but warm and soft inside - remind you of Simon Cowell at all? Serve them with a dipping sauce that has a bit of a bite to it, just like Simon.
- 2 lbs lump crabmeat
- 2 cups fine, fresh bread crumbs
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp lemon or lime juice
- 1 tsp dry mustard powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- butter or vegetable oil for frying
Pick over crab meat and remove any bits of cartilage. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except crab and oil; mix well. Add crab meat and mix gently but thoroughly.
Shape crab mixture into 12 patties, each about 3/4" thick. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil until hot but not smoking.
Fry the crab cakes in small batches in the heated oil until cooked through and crispy; about 4 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and transfer the crab cakes to a warm oven (about 200 F) until ready to serve.
Serve with lemon or lime wedges and dipping sauce of your choice. Makes 12 crab cakes.
Paula Coladas
Ah yes, what would an Idol extravaganza be without an alcoholic beverage named after our favorite allegedly substance-impaired judge? You can skip the alcohol if you want to, but you might have to rename that version. This is like a dessert in a glass, but you can skip the ice cream for a more authentic Pina Colada.
Makes one serving, but can be doubled, tripled, etc. to make more.
- 1 oz white rum
- 1/2 oz coconut rum
- small handful fresh pineapple chunks
- small scoop vanilla ice cream
Combine ingredients in a blender with 1 cup crushed ice; blend until frozen. Add more ice or pineapple juice until you reach your desired consistency. Serve with a pineapple chunk for a garnish.
Oh, and one last thing: Go Taylor!
