FoodBuzz 24, 24, 24: 45 Years, 45 Beers!

{FoodBuzz 24, 24,24 is a blogging event hosted by FoodBuzz. One night per month, 24 bloggers host 24 meals in the same 24 hours...I'm very excited to be a part of this month's event!}

My husband's birthday was yesterday...the big 4-5. We had a few friends over to celebrate what we called "45 Years, 45 Beers."

We had 45 different beers, to share of course, and snacks and sweets. This IS Bake at 350, so let's start with the desserts, shall we? :)

{Cake Truffles & Cookies}

These were the red velvet cake truffles...I'm not sure I can have a party without cake truffles now. Click here for instructions on making them.

Cookies...I made bite-size ones so they were a little more cocktail friendly. Scroll down for decorating how-to's.

Then, the cupcakes...I used Martha Stewart's Cupcakes. (I bought this book last week and am IN LOVE with it.) The yellow buttermilk cupcakes were frosted half with chocolate fudge and half with creamy vanilla frosting. {I'm going to do a whole cupcake post on these next week...YUM!}

How do you like those beer and gun toppers? Very manly, I thought! {From the cuteness that is the Layer Cake Shop!}

Alright...the snacks...

{Beaumont Dip and Herbed Goat Cheese Balls, Tortilla Roll-ups}

Tortilla Roll-ups: I don't think you can have a party in Texas without these. Cream cheese, jalapenos, salsa, lime juice....I love these. You can make them ahead and the recipe makes a lot.

Beaumont Dip: This is a recipe my parents picked up in Beaumont (duh!), Texas. Easy, easy...and "always a hit." (Meg...that's for you.) Serve with tortilla chips.

Last, but not least, Giada's Herbed Goat Cheese. Goat cheese rolled in herbs and lemon zest. I tried not to eat them all...good thing the cake truffles distracted me.

Blueberry Sangria...mmmmm. For the non-beer drinkers. :)

Want to see all of that beer?

Yes, I bought 45 different singles! It was really fun to see them all together.

We have ~~some~~ seven left over....come on by!

The recipes!

Tortilla Roll-Ups

3 (8 ounce) pkg cream cheese
1 pint sour cream
2 TBSP salsa
10 green onion tops, chopped
juice of 1 lime
4 jalapenos, seeded and chopped
large flour tortillas

Combine all except the tortillas until smooth. Spread on flour tortillas and roll. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate several hours or overnight. slice and serve with salsa.

Beaumont Dip

2 small cans diced black olives
2 small cans diced green chiles
4 green onions, chopped (white & green parts)
3 tomatoes, diced
3 TBSP red wine vinegar
2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

Combine all of the ingredients and refrigerate several hours. Serve with tortilla chips.

Blueberry Sangria, serves 15, easily halved
(adapted from 101 Sangrias & pitcher drinks)

2 c water
2 c sugar
3 c blueberries
2 bottles red wine (I used chianti)
2 c pomegranate cranberry juice
1/2 c brandy
1/2 c triple sec
2 oranges, halved and thinly sliced

Combine the water and sugar over low heat. Stir until sugar has dissolved to make a simple syrup. Let cool.

Combine 1 & 1/2 c simple syrup and the blueberries over low heat. Sit constantly until the berries begin to change color and the syrup thickens. Combine remaining ingredients in a large container. Add the blueberry mixture and stir well. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Serve over ice.

For making the cookies:

Pipe the edge of a mini circle in brown royal icing using a #2 tip (AmeriColor Chocolate Brown).
Thin red and yellow icing with water until the consistency of a thick syrup. Cover with a damp towel and let sit several minutes (AmeriColor Super Red and Egg Yellow) .
Stir gently with a rubber spatula to pop any air bubbles that have formed on the top. Transfer to squeeze bottles.
Fill several cookies with red icing, using a toothpick to guide to edges.
Go back over the wet red icing and drop on the thinned yellow icing to make dots.
Let sit 1 hour.
Using the brown icing and #2 tip, pipe on the number.
Let dry overnight before packaging.

Thank you FoodBuzz....we had such a good time being a part of 24, 24, 24!!!