party animal

'Tis the season for swing states, absentee ballots, and of course, DEBATES! Last night we invited a few friends over for some friendly sparring during the most recent presidential debate. We planned a very fun (and we thought, funny) menu to go along with the show. Whether you're a McCainiac or you just can't get enough of Obama, you'll enjoy these treats. Here's what we ate:

"Nope-it-ain't-Moose-Burger!" Sirloin Sliders

A very easy and fun way to eat burgers. Two pounds of ground sirloin should make about 20 sliders. Top with cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, mustard and ketchup.

Iceberg "Wedge Issue" Salad

Chop up a head up iceberg lettuce and mix with bacon crumbles, blue cheese crumbles, tomatoes, and a light dressing of balsamic vinaigrette. Easy!

"Okie-Dokie-Artichokie!" Spread
Mix two cups of chopped canned artichoke hearts with 1/2 c. sour cream, 1/2 c. cream cheese, and 1/2 c. mayonnaise, 1/2 c. grated parmesan. Stir in 1 c. fresh chopped spinach. Crack plenty of black pepper, stir to combine, top with more grated parmesan and bake in a 350 oven until bubbly. Serve with Red, White & Blue Tortilla Chips.

"Can't-We-All-Just-Get Along?" Red & Blue Mixed Berry Crumble
(Thanks, Caitlin!)

Berry filling:

3 C or more fresh or frozen (thawed, drained) blueberries
3 C or more fresh or frozen (thawed, drained) raspberries
3T white sugar
3T all-purpose flour
1 t cinnamon (if desired)

Crisp topping:

1 1/4 C all-purpose flour
1 1/4 C old-fashioned oats
3/4 C packed brown sugar
1 stick butter
1 t cinnamon
1 t nutmeg

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place berries in 9" pie or square glass baking dish. (Berry layer should be between 1.5 to 2" thick, or 3/4 the way up the side of the pan.)

2) Sprinkle berries with 3T flour, 3T white sugar, and 1t cinnamon. Gently fold dry ingredients into the berries until moistened and evenly distributed. Smooth surface of berry layer.

3) In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.

4) Cut chilled butter into 8-10 chunks and drop into dry ingredients. Use either a pastry cutter, two forks, or your hands to fully combine all ingredients until butter is evenly distributed throughout dry ingredients, and the mixture is slightly moist and crumbly.

5) Sprinkle crumbly topping evenly over berries.

6) Place into the oven. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until top is golden brown and berry juice is bubbling through. Cool for 20-30 minutes. Serve warm with homemade whipped cream.

We enjoyed snacking throughout the debate, and will definitely plan to do it again. Perhaps a Maverick cocktail is in the works? Or maybe a Baked Alaska? Lots of other great debate party food ideas can be found here.

*graphic courtesy of lexlibertas.com