If Oscar-Winning Movies Were Recipes...

The Oscars are all about glitz, glamour, and the best-of-the-best coming out for one night of cinematic celebration. And being the food-lovers we are, we couldn’t help but pose the question, “If these outstanding movies were recipes, what recipes would they be?” See our answers for past Oscar winners and some of this year's favorite Oscar-nominated films.

The island scenery in best-picture nominee, The Descendants, (not to mention George Clooney in an assortment of flowered Hawaiian shirts) is enough to make you want to roast a pig and host a luau. We’d love to help you get started.

Recipe: Chicken Char Siu

Paris is clearly the place to be this year with appearances in two best picture nominees.   Take yourself there with the classic Croque-Madame, pommes frites and a glass of chilled Sancerre.

Recipe: Croque-Madame

We must protest the Academy’s snub of chocolate pie this year as we believe that it certainly deserved a nod for a supporting role as “the Terrible, Awful Thing”.  In fact, Southern recipes make a number of appearances this movie about women who worked as domestic help in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s, so don’t go to the movie hungry! 

If you’re entertaining during the Oscars, check out this whole collection of Southern recipes inspired by the movie. 

Recipe: Chocolate Icebox Pie 

When Lionel Logue's wife is surprised by the presence of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at tea, perhaps she had the wherewithal to offer some English scones. You just never know when the royals might show up expecting a curtsy and a spot o' tea.

Recipe: Mangels House English Scones

In training to play both the Black Swan and White Swan, Nina could have taken a few pointers from this pound cake (which successfully brings opposite flavors together in one dessert). Too bad anything resembling this sweet, satisfying creation is off limits to prima ballerinas. And that, of course, leaves more for us!

Recipe: Black-and-White Pound Cake

In the initial meeting between Facebook co-founders Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin and Napster co-founder Sean Parker, Parker buys the table a few rounds of appletinis. Now boys, we all know some of you were underage, so this spritzer would have been more appropriate. Far be it from us to start checking IDs; we’ll just sit back, have a round of classic martinis in honor of the movie, and call it a day.

Recipe: Sour-Apple Spritzers

As Mattie Ross sets out for the Indian territory with "Rooster" Cogburn in search of her father's killer, there certainly had to be a number of meals cooked in cast-iron skillets over an open fire. Staples for their suppers? Our guess is Chuckwagon Pinto Beans and this savory cornbread. Saddle up.

Recipe: Sour Cream Cornbread

Mountain climber Aron Ralston survived extreme conditions, conquered days trapped in a canyon, and hiked many miles before being rescued. In honor of the true story, we offer this recipe for trail mix bars. Try one, even if your next climb is just to the top row of the movie theater.

Recipe: Sweet and Salty Trail Mix Bars

No matter where Jamal’s journey took him through India, naan (traditional Indian bread) would have been offered. But to celebrate him defying the odds and rekindling his love for Latika, we’re going to throw a Bollywood Bash (complete with this Indian classic).

Recipe: Tandoori Chicken

We just know that if Julie and Julia had to choose one recipe to prepare, they would agree on the delicious and traditional boeuf bourguignon. After all, this is the dish that Julie cooked when Julia's editor, Judith Jones, was coming for dinner. We also know that fearless Julia Child would never stop at one dish. We think she'd want you to explore all French recipes from steak frites to créme brûlée.

Recipe: Boeuf Bourguignonne with Egg Noodles

Disney's latest animated musical unfolds in the magical city of New Orleans. Princess Tiana, Disney's first Cajun foodie to date, dreams of opening a restaurant. Her plans go awry when she falls under a voodoo spell and turns into a frog.

Vibrant Creole personalities pepper this make-believe world just as rich Cajun spices add flavor to gumbo. Because all fairy tales have happily-ever-after endings, we recommend treating yourself to the pastry synonomous with New Orleans—French Market beignets.

Recipe: Duck and Oyster Gumbo

We aren't sure if martini glasses exist in the lush world of Pandora. But we do know that the recipe to define Avatar and the film's love story would have to be the out-of-this-world Pandora Elixir. Neytiri would surely mix up this passion fruit and lime concoction for her lover, Jake.

Recipe: Pandora Elixir

Watching contenders punch the stuffing out of each other may leave you antsy to do a little bob-and-weave of your own. Keep the pillows intact and pound a chicken breast scallopini-style instead. You'll keep the feathers from flying and end up with a dinner than cooks in about 20 minutes. Serve it with a slice of Million Dollar Pound Cake for dessert.

Recipe: Chicken Scallopini

Let this award-winner serve not only as the evening's entertainment, but also as a timer. Before you start the movie, pop the fruity gelatin salad in the fridge and, when the trilogy's over, it'll be ready to serve. In the meantime, enjoy Beer-Battered Onion Rings, Maple-Glazed Acorn Squash Rings, or a Roast Sausage Ring. They're faster, just as tasty, and, of course, ring shaped.

Recipe: Sparkling White-Sangria Salad

Thanks to William Wallace, the 13th century Scottish warrior, the Scots fought long and hard and finally won their freedom, even though William did not live to see the day.  Due to the efforts of all those battled-hardened fighters, we are free to enjoy haggis, whiskey, and shortbread.  Our grateful hearts say thank you to William Wallace and to Mel Gibson for bringing him to the screen. 

Recipe: Scottish Shortbread

Shrimp is a great movie-night food because it's easy to prepare and cooks quickly. And, thanks to Buford "Bubba" Blue, we know that we can "barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sauté it" for "shrimp-kabobs, shrimp Creole, shrimp gumbo." Or, try it "pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried." You get the picture. Keep it simple with the bright flavors of lemon, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay, rosemary, and thyme. And, of course, don't forget to pick up Forrest's favorite, a "box of chocolates" for dessert.

Recipe: BBQ Shrimp

Remember the haunting scene when Hannibal Lecter relishes the memory of dining on (human) liver with "fava beans and a nice chianti?" While we don't recommend Hannibal's main course, our audience convinced us that fava beans deserve a second shot at the spotlight. We put them in a veggie soup, just to be safe. If you are craving liver, leave the poor census-takers alone and try Chicken Livers with Caramelized Onions and Mardira.

Recipe: Fava Bean, Asparagus, and Pasta Soup

“I had a farm in Africa”.  The flavorful aroma of coffee beans might come to mind if our minds weren’t so clouded with images of Robert Redford and Meryl Streep in fabulous safari clothes dining and dancing under the trees out on the African plain. And that hair-washing scene!  Oh, my. Now we really need some coffee to bring us out of our safari reverie.

Recipe: Cardamom Coffee

The scene where Rocky runs up the 72 steps before the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the all-time great movie moments and has made those steps a popular tourist attraction in Philadelphia. If Rocky had been eating more of these lean cheesesteak sandwiches, he might not have had to run so much to get in shape.

Recipe: Lean Philly Cheesesteaks

One of the memorable quotes from this Best Picture winner is when the neurotic Alvy Singer says to Annie, “There's a big lobster behind the refrigerator. I can't get it out. This thing's heavy. Maybe if I put a little dish of butter sauce here with a nutcracker, it will run out the other side.”   In honor of Alvy and Annie’s crazy relationship and the lobster behind the refrigerator, we offer . . .  lobster.

Recipe: Split Grilled Lobsters with Herb Butter 

It’s hard to say which happens more often in the Godfather – eating and drinking or killing.  There’s a lot of both.  Since restaurants seem to be dangerous places in this movie, stay home, get your Italian on, and enjoy this spaghetti sauce that we think even Don Corleone himself would enjoy.

Recipe: Sicilian Spaghetti Sauce 

"Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels, Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles" are obviously a few of Julie Andrews' favorite things. Traditionally German, schnitzel is meat dipped in egg, and then breaded and fried. That's three more favorite things to love right there. This easy version will be done before you get through the previews.

Recipe: Easy Schnitzel

When lean times in the war-ravaged South left Scarlett digging for root vegetables and nibbling on whole potatoes, she became inflamed and inspired, pronouncing "As God is my witness, I'll never go hungry again." Try an equally inspired side of roasted potatoes dressed lightly with a minty watercress sauce. Their unique flavor may inspire you to do even more, so consider hiding the curtains before you dive in.

Recipe: Roasted Potatoes with Tangy Watercress Sauce