To tell the truth, I'm glad I got invited to someone else's election night party because I'd probably go totally overboard putting together a menu.
For those of you scratching your heads about how to stay nourished through what might be a long night, we have a few ideas to get you started. Please also share your own ideas for what to make for Tuesday's supper. We'll keep this post floating toward the top until it's all over (hopefully) Tuesday night.
Elizabeth got us started with a post on October 1st about what to make for the VP debate with a roundup of many recipes from Alaska and Delaware. There are some fun suggestions in there, especially on the Alaska front.
Here are some other suggestions for things to serve for your Election Night event:
A Cocktail: Some people might feel the need to stay well-lubricated. Pace them, though. No matter what, have lots of water on hand.
How about an Americano (above left), originally posted as a summer cocktail, but no reason it couldn't be served in the fall. It also happens to be red.
Or, if you're into the whole blue theme thing, try a Blue Moon Cocktail (above right), which features crème de violette, a nod to bi-partisanship.
CHOW sent a Presidente recipe out today to their email subscribers, but Nora suggested the another version of the recipe, adapted from Joy of Mixology). See below
A Salad: Long ago I posted a recipe for Beet Box, a dish I'd had at a restaurant here in NYC with beets, blue cheese (there's your red white and blue) and hazelnuts. It's delicious, easy to make, and feels comforting.
More bright red beet recipes:
Sautéed Rainbow Chard with Raw Beets and Goat Cheese
Velvety Beet and Cocoa Cake
Entrees: One could argue you need something hearty to keep you strong and get you through the night, and possibly absorb vast amounts of alcohol you may end up consuming. For that, the obvious silly choice is to serve McCain's famous rubbed ribs recipe or Obama's family chili recipe.
Or take a trip down The Kitchn's memory lane and make something from our Cindy McCain Recipe Challenge warm spinach salad from the post we ran about her family recipes (except that they turned out to be taken from Food Network's website) - one reader made all five of the recipes and liked the Rosemary Chicken Breasts and Warm Spinach Salad with Bacon (above) best.
You could also argue that you need to keep it light and mild, in case of internal digestive upset due to stress. In that case I might suggest big bowls of barely dressed greens, pint glasses of filtered water, and some boxes of antacid.
Desserts:
YesWeCake.com is your one stop shop for all Obama-related sweets. It doesn't end there, however. The web is filled with Obama sweet: google "obama desserts," "obama cookies," "obama cakes" and you'll busy all afternoon.
Believe me, I tried to get some McCain dessert photos. Nada. What kept coming up was the above photo of McCain and President Bush cutting McCain's birthday cake in Arizona, during the Katrina aftermath. If someone has a McCain-related dessert, please let us know!
Political Truffles - If you want to be totally neutral, how about some grey donkey and elephant truffles?
Buckeye Candies - celebrate the swing state of Ohio with these delicious peanut butter and chocolate treats.
El Presidente
(adapted from Gary Regan, Joy of Mixology)
2 ounces light rum
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce pineapple juice
Dash of grenadine
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.
Related:
• The Food of Florida - more swing state eating.
(Images: I Voted image from Flickr member sleepyneko licensed for use under Creative Commons, Obama cookie from La Prochaine Fois via YesWeCake.com)
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
My favorite Seattle cupcake shop has some beautiful Obama cakes: http://www.trophycupcakes.com/
view peaceami's profile
If you're an Obama supporter, you could always go with Donuts and Bacon:
http://www.zazzle.com/donuts_and_bacon_taste_we_can_believe_in_blue_shirt-235503205979919999
view Julie's profile
I'll be bringing beer-braised pork shoulder to an election night potluck; other dishes will be an Obama cake, pumpkin cupcakes, no-knead bread, and a big pan of collard greens. And lots and lots of beer, naturally.
view nadarine's profile
Tuesdays are always Obama Burger nights--this Tuesday will be the last, get them while their hot:
http://www.juicywine.com/events/obama/
view art's profile
If my presidential candidate wins, I'll be heavily drinking top shelf martinis on election night; if my candidate loses, I'll be drinking cheap ass rail drinks. Food? Eh.
view david's profile
well...there's pale ale brewed by Sixpoint Craft Ale called Hop Obama...how about a drink to go along with whatever the entree is!
view reggiesoang's profile
there's such a thing as election night party!? agh? seriously!!?
view Nudik's profile
Some of us prefer to call it a Regime Change party.
view Jezebella's profile
This Canadian is going to a pot luck with a pot of honey garlic chicken thighs.
view peacelily's profile
I'm making arugula carbonara (wild, organic, local baby arugula dressed with a little fine red wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil, topped with pancetta lardons and a soft-bellied fried egg that will ooze gently over the whole affair) in honor of Obama. Of course, I'm an Australian expat and can't vote, but still... I'm excited!
view Kate@tastememories's profile
Oh, to answer the question: we are going with an Elitist Folks theme, so I will be bringing champagne and making baked macaroni and cheese (high/low, baby!). Those of us with doctorates are threatening to wear our mortarboards and fling arugula.
view Jezebella's profile
Jezebella, I love the Elitist Folks theme!
This year's election is making me lose my mind and I'll be glad when it's over. There will probably be heavy drinking to be hopefully followed with a ceremonial opening of a bottle of champagne.
view Trilobyte's profile
For the rest of us voters:
Krispy Kreme: FREE star-shaped doughnut with red, white & blue sprinkles with your "I voted" sticker
Pat & Oscar's: 20% off your dine-in check with your "I voted" sticker
view Stephie_is_a_dork's profile
Ben and Jerry's is giving out free ice cream at its scoop shops on election day! (Originally is was just for people who had "I voted" stickers, but they were concerned about violating state laws, so anyone can get one now).
view Rosie's profile
Hm, I would probably go the stereotypical American food route: burgers and hot dogs or some sort of casserole involving Tater Tots, a bean dip with multiple layers floating around the party during news-watching time, a sheet cake for dessert and ice cold beer drunk straight from the bottle. I love indulging in some heart-clogging grandparents-style recipes every now and then!
view mariamercedes's profile
Oh yeah, since people are posting about free "I voted" food: Starbucks is offering a free cup of coffee to everyone who voted. Just passin' it along!
view mariamercedes's profile
I'm doing a taco night. I'm making chicken fajita filling and providing the typical fixins. Others are bringing guac, a super delicious homemade refried beans, salsa, chile brownies, and so forth.
I figure it'll be easy to set up in a 'eat as you get the munchies' sort of way (I've got a slow cooker so the chicken will be in that on the 'keep warm' setting) AND, best yet, I don't have to do any prep while results are coming in.
Oh. And I have a bottle of delicious bourbon just waiting for a certain candidate to pass that 270 mark. Then toasts all around!
view laetitiae's profile
To find _mccain dessert -Hurricane_, search Google Images. Skip the first page, then see a selection.
Cute:
http://www.amazon.com/John-McCain-Cookie-Cake/dp/B0017HG64Y
Canadian:
http://american-eh.blogspot.com/2008/06/foods-how-i-miss-you-how-i-will-buy-you.html
Cakewreck-ready:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rkbcupcakes/2805988457/
view m_j_s's profile
i had decided on chili-and-fixins before i found out that obama loves to cook chili, so now i'm extra excited to make it. for some odd reason i'm craving artichoke-spinach dip, which i haven't eaten in years, so even though it's a bit incongruous given the rest of the menu, i'm making it. comfort food, i suppose.
view vanessa.vichitvadakan's profile
vanessa: chili and spinach&artichooke dip each go well in a bread bowl! see? it can fit in!
view Stephie_is_a_dork's profile
we're probably just going to keep it simple and make spaghetti with meatballs (have some in the fridge) and salad and garlic bread, with leftover apple cobbler for dessert. i have a feeling i'll be too distracted to do any real cooking. also the starch will help soak up the champagne if our candidate wins, which is good, because i have to be at work at 7am the next day. :)
view thinkingwoman's profile
I'm making Senate Bean Soup, given that both candidates are senators. (The beans are soaking right now.)
view madampince's profile
Crockpot Oxtails with pork gravy and polenta and a salad of mixed bitter greens with a sherry vinagrette. It practically cooks itself.
view kimcumber's profile
Some great cookies and cupcakes of both the candidates can be found here:
http://www.elenis.com/
view perkyNbLue's profile
I made Obama's Chili and it was rather good! Although you need to add a healthy dose of salt to it.
view Hullaballumallu's profile