Creative ideas for a round-shapes party

18 years ago

OK you may all think this is kind of weird but my dad just wrapped up his course of radiation to combat his prostate cancer. And I wanna throw him a party and the theme is "balls".

He's a way strong guy who has a sense of humor so I want to throw him a party that laughs at his experience. I know it's ok to do this because my Mom threw him a 40th bday party with everyone dressed as kids and she did it because he's the first guy in his family ever to live past 40. I was 11 and there at the party he took it well.

So far I'm thinking Melon Balls-literal and drinks, cheese balls, stuffed mushrooms, meatballs, crabballs, brussel sprouts, rice balls, and Tartufo. But I'm open to any ides anyone may have.

My sister, SIL and all involved are "in" and think it's a fun great idea. All I need now is more BALLS!!!

Have a ball with me! I'd love to hear your ideas!

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Comments (37)

blizlady
18 years ago
OMG, what a great idea! Off to think of some more balls recipes!
blizlady
18 years ago
How about these Oreo Balls (truffles) for dessert.

Here is a link that might be useful: oreo balls
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teresa_nc7
18 years ago
A big bowl of cherry tomatoes? Potato salad made with tiny new red potatoes or the same potatoes served hot with butter and parsley?
khandi
18 years ago
Sweet and sour chicken balls (I have a good recipe if you want it)

Almond Chocolate Balls

(Paula Deen)

2 (16 oz) boxes confectionerÂs (icing) sugar
Â½ cup butter, softened
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp pure almond extract
1 (14 oz) pkg shredded coconut
1Â½ cups chopped nuts
1 (12 oz) pkg chocolate chips

Cream together sugar and butter in a bowl; add milk. Stir in almond extract, coconut, and nuts; mix well.

Form candy into 1-inch balls. Place on waxed paper and refrigerate at least 3 hours.

Melt chocolate in top of double boiler, stirring well. Remove from heat but allow chocolate to remain over hot water. (If chocolate becomes too thick, return to heat for a minute or so to thin).

With a toothpick, dip each ball in chocolate and place on waxed paper until set.
jimster
18 years ago
sands, you're way ahead of me so far as creative ideas are concerned. It's wonderful that you folks can face that sort of situation with such great humor. I can only give you and your dad my best wishes. I'll try to come up with a creative suggestion if I can.

Jim
lindac
18 years ago
Oh and sour kraut balls and something called "coon balls" made with hot sausage and coon cheese.
And corn fritters..in the requisite shape and doughnut holes.....and don't forget a lovely cheese ball or 2!
And I trust you won't clue him in on the theme until he guesses it will you?
Great idea!!
Linda C
doucanoe
18 years ago
Oh that is the funniest and most creative idea I have heard of in a long time! I've got a feeling I would love your dad! LOL

To add to the options:

Salmon Balls in Dill Sauce

Oil
2 scallions, minced
1 15-1/2 oz can salmon, drained and flaked
1 c dried bread crumbs
1 T lemon juice
1 egg
8 oz sour cream
Pepper
Dill weed
1 c chicken broth
Parsley for garnish

Heat 1T oil in skillet over medium heat, add scallions and cook until tender. Remove to large bowl, add salmon, bread crumbs, lemon juice, egg, 1/4c sour cream, 1/4tsp pepper and 1/4tsp dill weed. Mix well, shape into 2 inch balls.

Heat 2T oil in same skillet, over medium heat. Brown salmon balls, transfer to plate. Pour oil from skillet, add chicken broth, bring to boil, lower heat, stir in remaining sour cream, remaining dill weed and pepper. Return salmon balls to sauce and heat through. Serve hot.

Makes 5 main dish servings or make balls one inch diameter for a wonderful appetizer!
Cherie's Meatballs 2lb ground beef 1 egg 1c cracker crumbs 1/2c sour cream 2T dry onion soup mix Combine all ingredients and shape into balls. Roll in flour and paprika, brown in 1T oil in skillet. 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 can mushrooms & Juice 1 can beef broth Blend together and pour over meatballs. Place in casserole and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
You could dish this up using a small (ahem...or large...) scoop. Heck, you could arrange grapefruit sections similar to Ann's orange sections in WFD! heehee

Champagne Grapefruit Sorbet

3 cups good quality Champagne
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups water
1 cup pink grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed
1/3 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed

Pop cork from champagne bottle 1 to 2 hours before using. Gradually pour champagne, allowing for foaming, into a 2-quart container; set aside.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar and water. Stir until mixture comes to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand approximately 10 minutes or until cool.

To champagne, add sugar syrup, grapefruit juice, and lemon juice (do not strain pulp from juices); stir until thoroughly blended.

Ice Cream Maker - Transfer mixture to ice cream maker, process according to manufacturer's instructions.
Freezer Method - Pour into container, cover, and place mixture in the freezer. When it is semi-solid, mash it up with a fork and refreeze again. When frozen, place in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Cover and refreeze until serving time.

NOTE: Can be prepared 3 days in advance. Cover and keep frozen.
Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Linda
antiquesilver
18 years ago
Bourbon or Rum balls if he likes either of these.
irislover7b
18 years ago
A plate of figs, with a few fig leaves covering a few of them?
Terri_PacNW
18 years ago
My "little" brother is a Testicular Cancer survivor, and he's only got one. LOL What a great idea.

Those Oreo balls are fabulous. Both in Vanilla oreos and regular.

How about cheesecake balls?
Buckeyes?
Meatballs in a few different sauces.
canarybird01
18 years ago
There's always meatballs:

- 4 servings

700 grams (about 1 1/2 lbs) ground veal or beef (I use 1/2 pork & 1/2 veal)
3 eggs - beaten
1 medium onion - minced
2 cloves garlic - minced
flat-leaf parsley - lots
2 teasp oregano
2 teasp thyme
2 teasp sweet paprika powder
2 teasp salt
fresh ground black pepper
cooking oil
3 medium very ripe tomatoes - (skinning is optional) chopped
1/2 cup milk & 1/4 cup water
flour
4 - 6 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into chips (french fries)

Utensils needed:

- small frying pan about 6 inches diameter
- medium or large frying pan or chip fryer
- earthenware or ceramic stovetop casserole with lid

1) Mix meat with beaten egg, minced garlic, 2/3 of the chopped onion, salt & pepper, herbs and paprika. Add a few stalks of parsley chopped fine. Mix all together.
2) Pour about 1 cm oil into small frying pan and put on medium heat. Put some seasoned flour (s&p) on a dinner plate and using a small spoon, scoop out meat mixture and begin forming meatballs with help of floured hands, rolling them in flour as needed. Put them on floured plate and when you have six and oil is hot, put them carefully using spoon into the small frying pan to brown.
3) After two or three minutes turn meatballs over using a small spoon. Continue forming more meatballs.
4) As meatballs brown, remove and put them into casserole dish, adding the fresh ones to the pan, six at a time.
5) When done, strain out any burned bits in the frying pan oil and put in the rest of the onion with the tomato, as well as a handful of minced parsley. Cook on medium heat.
6) After a few minutes add the milk and water. Taste and if tomato flavour is too sharp add a pinch of sugar, also some salt.
7) Pour sauce over meatballs in casserole, (optional is pour it through a sieve for finer sauce) put on low heat with lid and simmer very gently 20 minutes, checking and turning them over once.
8) Prepare potatoes and in oil in large frying pan or chip fryer begin making the french fries a few at a time, salting them and keeping them hot in oven.
9) Put a few chips on top of the meatballs, add a bit of chopped parsley and serve at table with extra chips on each plate.

Source: Adapted from 'Cocina selecta Mallorquin'

SharonCb
stacy3
18 years ago
Spicy Bloody Mary Balls
Cherry tomatoes
Vodka (use a good brand)
Celery salt, Old Bay, Cayenne pepper, salt, pepper, in small bowls
Toothpicks

Preparation:
Blanch the tomatoes by dropping them into boiling water until the skin puckers. Remove the tomatoes and pull the skin off. Allow them to cool.
Soak the tomatoes in vodka overnight.

Put your spices into small bowls.
Spear a tomato with a toothpick, roll into the spices of your choice, and pop it into your mouth.
Alternatively, you can season the vodka prior to soaking the tomatoes, then provide some Old Bay for dipping.
fenworth
18 years ago
Anyone have a good recipe for Mountain Oysters? (Annie?)
flamingo1121
18 years ago
Blanching the tomatoes makes more sense Stacy3 than when I "made" them. Presentation was great..used one of those oversized martini glasses, soaked the tomatoes (w/out blanching) in vodka, filled the glass and had large scewers. Let me tell you it is very hard to poke a very "not so" drunken tomato. Since mine had the skins on they didn't get drunk...what a waste of vodka. Nexting they are hitting the hot tub before the glass.

Perhaps your serving platter and bowls can be in baseballs or basketballs or tennis balls. The plastic kind :)

Cheesecake pops would work..balls on a stick. Buckeye Balls.

Like the idea!
Heidi
shaun
18 years ago
"Balls!", Said the Queen. "If I had em, I'd be KING!"
dedtired
18 years ago
I saw a TV ad for this Puff Pan. You can make lots of ball-shaped food with it.

How about the real thing? Rocky Mountain Oysters.

I thin this is a riot. Nice to know he has such a great sense of humor.

Here is a link that might be useful: Puff Pan
colleenoz
18 years ago
Scotch eggs? You cover hard boiled eggs with a spiced sausagemeat mixture, then dip in egg and roll in breadcrumbs before deep frying. Serve warm or cold.
trixietx
18 years ago
That's what I was going to suggest, mountain oysters. Your don't need a recipe, just roll them in seasoned flour and fry them!

Or how about sausage balls?
fenworth
18 years ago
A friend of mine makes these for tailgate parties - she calls them Sweaty Balls:

CHEESE SAUSAGE BALLS

1 lb. hot Jimmy Dean sausage
8 oz. Cheddar cheese, grated
3 c. Bisquick

Mix with hands until smooth. Form into small balls, put on cookie sheet and bake 25 minutes at 325 degrees.
mustangs81
18 years ago
Congratulations and good health to your father!

Turkey Balls

10 servings

5 lbs ground turkey

1 (8 ounce) box seasoned stuffing mix
1 tablespoon ground sage
2 eggs
1 (16 ounce) can cranberry sauce
1/4 cup orange juice
4 tablespoons prepared horseradish (to taste)

1.Crush stuffing mix in a blender or by other means to make bread crumbs.
2.Combine and mix: turkey, eggs, sage, and breadcrumbs.
3.Using a tablespoon, divide mix and form balls, placing on a baking sheet. You will need two sheets (or bake in two batches).
4.Bake at 350 for approx 25 minutes.
5.Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine and mix the cranberry sauce, OJ, and horseradish. Add more or less horseradish based on your tastes. I found 4 Tbsp to be perfect- detectable but not hot. That may vary depending on the brand you buy.
6.When the meatballs are done cooking, you can either top them with the sauce and serve; or cool the meatballs and sauce separately. Keep in the fridge overnight. 15 minutes before serving, microwave the sauce for 1 minute to make it more fluid. Poured the sauce over the balls, tossed to coat, and warmed them in the oven for 10 minutes. Or warm and keep them in a crock pot.
sands99
Original Author
18 years ago
I don't think Rocky Mt Oysters would fly with a NYC boy! But I think I could make Scotch Eggs and call them RMO's just for giggles.

Mustangs, those TB's look excellent! They are definitely in. As are the Bloody Mary cherry tomatoes!

Sharon I am making those ballseseses for ME! lol

And Linda [dou] I have Salmon! What a perfect contribution.

Fen those Sweaty's may come into play if it's a brunch [we are having family scheduling horrors as usual ::roll eyes::]

I love all the dessert and presentation ideas too, you guys are a gold mine!

Anyone have a recipe for brussel sprouts? One I can make on the deck so the roasting devils dingleberries don't make me run away screaming? ;-)
magothyrivergirl
18 years ago
For the Brussel Sprouts - Since you want them kept whole (ball shape :-) steam or parboil - coat with olive oil, S& P - and grill until slightly blackened - YUM-
A hint from Julia Child many years ago, cut an X in the bottom of the stem - I can't remember why.....but I always do it.
Great idea for Party -
obxgina
18 years ago
All of my ideas have already been taken, I just wanted to say what an awesome, fun idea for your dad's party! And I hope he lives a long, healthy life! Gina
Marigene
18 years ago
How about a package of Hostess Sno Balls? You can order them on-line if they aren't available in your area.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hostess Sno Balls
lyndaluu2
18 years ago
What a great idea for a party...my DH is also a Testicular Cancer survivor, and he's only got one, if fact after the surgery them brought him spaghetti and ONE meat ball for dinner how ironic. We laughed so hard that night.... LOL

Meatballs, sausage balls (I make the Bisquick ones too, everyone loves them), sorbet balls for dessert...

Have a "Ball"

Linda
annie1992
18 years ago
And of course, you have Weed's famous "Balls and Nips". Cheese pastry around an olive, sometimes they are balls and sometimes, if the pastry isn't cold enough, they flatten out and become "nipples".

Olive Surprise Cheese Balls

2 cups grated sharp cheddar
1 stick butter, softened
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1 small jar pimento stuffed olives.

Sift dry ingredients together. Add softened butter and cheese. (use hands to mix)

Take about 1 tsp of dough and flatten. Put an olive in the middle and wrap dough around it, then roll to make a ball.
Put tray of olives in freezer until firm.

Bake 15 minutes in 400 degree oven. Sprinkle with paprika while still warm.

As for those Mountain Oysters, I agree with trixie, just roll them in flour, season with salt and pepper and fry. Good luck finding any, though. LOL

Oh, and scallops are round, wrapped in bacon and skewered, then grilled.

Annie
arlinek
18 years ago
Oh, you HAVE to serve peanut butter balls after dinner!

arline
rachelellen
18 years ago
And I wanna throw him a party and the theme is "balls"

ROFL!!!!

Magothy, the cross cut in the stem helps the core cook a bit faster so you don't have to cook them until the outside is overdone before the center is cooked. You only have to do that with the large ones...sprouts smaller round than a half dollar don't need it.

You've got to have music too!

Great Balls of Fire-Jerry Lee Lewis
Red Rubber Ball-Cyrkle
Dark Town Strutters Ball-Duke Ellington

Anyone think of others?
steelmagnolia2007
18 years ago
the coolest thing I have heard of in a long while... I am just in awe!!
mustangs81
18 years ago
Magothyrivergirl, X because the stem end will cook faster - even with the leafy part.
magothyrivergirl
18 years ago
Aha! Thanks for the "X" responses - makes sense! I can still hear Julia's gravely voice and see her in my mine's eye cutting those "X's " - it had to be 25 years ago!
indicanoe
18 years ago
For a male friend's birthday we once served meatballs and mini weiners, in the bbq/grape jelly sauce from the crock pot. We also got creative with the ballons and made giant um, well, you know, we used blue ballons for the ball parts and the long balloons as well. In case you need decoration ideas as well....hehe. Happy wishes to you and you family.
jessyf
18 years ago
Sands, what a great idea. I'm with Gina, everyone has mentioned stuff I was going to.

Stuffed mushrooms? Also, I may have a small container of roasted, vacuum packed chestnuts from TJs to contribute.

I'd take the brussel sprouts and make decorations with them. Perfect shape.
annie1992
18 years ago
Oh yeah, you definitely need to get a copy of "Big Balls" by ACDC. LOL

Annie
colleenoz
18 years ago
And here I always thought you cut the "X" in the bottom of the brussels sprout was because they are a cruciferous vegetable, which means they have a cross.......... ;-P
sands99
Original Author
18 years ago
The party is ON for this Saturday and Dad is going to be so surprised! I'm using many of the great ideas you all have so generously shared and it's going to be a great night!

The menu includes: A key lime cheese ball, deviled eggs, a balled fruit salad, turkey meatballs with cranberry sauce and sweet and sour sauce, salmon balls with dill, brussel sprouts, pearl onions, parsley baby red potatoes, drunken bloody mary cherry tomatoes, Hostess Sno-Balls, and Truffle balls. With Melon ball cocktails and a champagne toast.

We're decorating with black and blue mylar ball-oons and graduation undertones. And greeting him with "Great balls of Fire" on CD.

I think it's going to be a blast. Thank you for all the suggestions and recipes! I can't wait to see his face as he figures out all the ball references it's gonna be a hoot!
stacy3
18 years ago
Can't wait to hear all about it sands - how fun - and what a great celebration!

Creative ideas for a round-shapes party

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