A Very Monster High Birthday Party -- The Food
I don't remember exactly when Alexis finally decided on having a Monster High themed birthday party, but it was about two seconds before I did a happy dance in my head. Look. Here's the thing, you can hate on Monster High all you want, but I happen to like that there is a toy line/cartoon that revolves around the saying "Be yourself. Be unique. Be a monster." It's not a perfect little money pit, but it's better than whatever crap Barbie is trying to sell.
Anyway, I'm a fan, especially because Monster High makes for a REALLY fun theme for a party. Y'all know how much I love to take a party theme and beat it into the ground. And I did! With glee!
Kicking off the food awesomeness was the cake, which Mindy made.
There will be more said about the whole cake thing, but another day. I really just wanted to be able to go LOOOOOOOOK! LOOOOOOOOOOK! THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY KID FIRES ME FROM MAKING HER CAKE!
Ahem.
Other Monster High birthday party themed awesomeness included Don of the Dead's Taco Dip.
Are you thinking I'm a nut yet? No? Well, here.
Those are Deuce's Breadsticks. They turned out pretty awesome, if you ask me (thanks for the help on that one, Mindy!)
Adding to the madness was the dip trio.
As a matter of fact, yes, I do love me some gel food coloring. Pretend "Frankie" says "Draculara" up there, by the way. I swear I do know which Monster High characters sport which colors, but sometimes I type the wrong name anyway.
There were also a few of C.A. Cupid's Strawberry Roses.
Cleo's Ranch Dip was present and accounted for.
Then, lastly, there were Venus McFlytrap's Fruit Wands.
Recipes/Directions for everything are below.
You can now start making fun of me for beating the theme into the ground. I'm ready for it.
Don of the Dead's Taco Dip
2 cans refried beans
1 package taco seasoning
1 package cream cheese, room temperature
1 small jar salsa
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 package prewashed shredded lettuce
1 small can chopped or sliced black olives
1 brown soft tortilla, cut into the shape of a tree
1 white soft tortilla, cut into several tombstone shapes
1. Mix the refried beans and taco seasoning together. You can use half of the seasoning if you want to cut some of the salt out of this pile of awesome.
2. Place the refried beans in the bottom of a dish. I used a 11" x 7" one, but you could get away with larger.
3. Spoon the cream cheese over top of the refried beans. It won't spread evenly, but that's OK. Just go with it.
4. Pour the salsa on top.
5. Sprinkle the cheese on top.
6. It's the lettuce's turn to join the fun.
7. Top with black olives.
For the tree and tombstones, cut the soft tortillas into the shapes and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 5-7 minutes, or until crispy. They aren't for eating, just decorating, but use a black edible marker to dry on the tombstones just in case somebody decides to try eating one. (P.S. It's totally OK if you leave the tortillas in the oven too long and burn them. It will add to the effect. Really!)
Deuce's Breadsticks
Pillsbury breadsticks in the pop can (Yes, I'm lazy. SHOOOSH.)
Wooden skewers
Sliced black olives
1. Pop open that can and shape the breadsticks into snake-like things.
2. Wrap them around the skewers.
3. Add the eyes.
4. Bake according to the instructions on the can.
Spectras Fruit Dip
1-8 oz package berry-flavored cream cheese (strawberry, mixed berry, whatever), room temperature
1 jar marshmallow fluff
1. Mix them together.
2. Add lilac food coloring, if you want.
3. Serve with fruit.
Laguna Blue's Cookie Dough Dip
1/2 cup butter, melted
1-8 oz package cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 bag mini chocolate chips
1. Mix the melted butter and cream cheese together at low speed.
2. Add the brown sugar. Mix.
3. Add the vanilla. Mix some more.
4. If you're adding in food coloring, do it now. Mix.
5. Stir in the chocolate chips.
6. Serve with Mini Nilla Wafers.
Draculara's Birthday Cake Dip
1-6 oz container vanilla yogurt
1/3 cup Kool Whip
1/2 cup Funfetti Cake Mix (yes, the dry cake mix)
1. Mix it all together.
2. Add pink food coloring, if you want.
3. Serve with animal crackers.
C.A. Cupid's Strawberry Roses
Strawberries (smaller is better)
Pink candy melts
1 tube red Wilton Sparkle Gel
1. Wash the strawberries and dry them thoroughly.
2. Stick a stick in them. Leave the leaves on because they look enough like rose leaves to make it seem like you're smart, not lazy.
3. Melt the pink candy melts according to the instructions on the bag. I melted mine in a 2-cup glass measuring cup.
4. Dip the strawberries into the pink candy melts, twirl them to get the extra off, and allow them to set.
5. Add a swirl with the red sparkle gel. (A lot of different frostings/candy/etc. would work for this part. I happened to have the red sparkle gel on hand, so that's what I used.)
Cleo's Ranch Dip
1-8 oz package cream cheese
1 package dry ranch dressing
1. Mix them together.
2. Serve with crackers.
3. If you're ambitious and making the snake as well, it's just black olives with small circles of cheese for the eyes. The pupils were drawn on the cheese using an edible marker. The snake's tongue is pimento.
Venus McFlytrap's Fruit Wands
I bet you can figure this one out. No, really. I think you can. I have faith!
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Reader Comments (4)
I have no idea what this Monster High thing is (no kids/too old) but it looks like a terrific themed party & amazing cake.
My daughter is a MH fan as well, and I am for sure saving this link for her next birthday. I am not creative in the least, so thanks for figuring this all out and posting the recipes :) Very cool!
(BTW I'm also a fan of the show. The stripper heels that get lost all over my house I could live without, but the core concept is one I can support!)
I've only seen the dolls--I had no idea there was a show. This looks like such an awesome party! So creative.
yes, you ARE a nut. and i love you for it.
thanks for not caring that i ate pretty much the entire bowl of blue dip.