Getting the 90s Vibe Back
So, my niece was having a birthday, and her mom, my sister, decided on a “90s Throwback” theme. Pretty cool, right? But then she points at me and says, “You’re handling the snacks. You actually lived through the 90s, you’ll know what to do.” Oh boy. Easier said than done, let me tell you. It’s not like I kept a detailed log of every party ring and cheese football I consumed back in the day.
The Great Snack Brainstorm of ’24
Honestly, my first reaction was a bit of a blank. What did we eat at parties back then? It’s funny how your brain just kind of fuzzes over the details after a while. I really had to sit and think. Pizza Bagels definitely came to mind pretty quick. Those were everywhere. And those funny cheese and pineapple things on sticks, poked into half an orange? My mom made those for every single family gathering, no exceptions.
I actually spent a good hour just trying to remember. Even called my old mate Steve to pick his brain. First thing he shouted? “Dude, Dunkaroos!” Yeah, Dunkaroos were big, but let’s be real, that’s just a sugar bomb. I wasn’t about to unleash that on a bunch of kids, or try to find the real deal. Making a homemade version? Sounded like way too much faff for what is essentially cookies and icing.
Into the Kitchen We Go!
Okay, so after much deliberation, I settled on a few solid classics. Things that weren’t too bonkers to make and wouldn’t send everyone into a diabetic coma. Here’s the rundown of what I ended up making:
- Mini Pizzas on English Muffins: This was a total must. I got a pack of English muffins, sliced ’em open, slathered on some basic tomato puree – nothing fancy, just the stuff from a tube – a sprinkle of dried oregano, because that felt authentic, and a good handful of grated cheddar. Whacked them under the grill until they were all melty and bubbly. Super simple.
- Sausage Rolls: Alright, confession time. I used store-bought puff pastry. Don’t judge me. Life’s too short sometimes. But, I did make the sausage filling from scratch. Good pork sausage meat, bit of finely chopped onion, some sage. Rolled them up, brushed with egg, baked ’til golden. They smelled amazing, way better than the frozen ones you buy.
- Ants on a Log: You know these: celery sticks, filled with peanut butter, and a few raisins on top for the “ants.” It’s a classic for a reason. I actually had to explain what they were to a couple of the younger parents there. Made me feel about a hundred years old.
- Cheese and Crackers (90s style): No fancy charcuterie board here. I cubed up some cheddar and maybe some Red Leicester, surrounded them with a bunch of different crackers – Ritz, Tuc, water biscuits, the whole gang. Threw in some of those little pickled onions and gherkins too. Surprisingly, those were a big hit.
So, How Did It Go Down?
You know what? It was brilliant. The kids were a bit confused by the ‘Ants on a Log’ at first, but once one kid tried them, they all piled in. The mini pizzas were gone in like, five minutes flat. All the adults were getting misty-eyed over the sausage rolls and the cheese and crackers. My sister was happy, which was the main goal, really.
It was actually a lot of fun to do. A proper trip down memory lane. Made me realize how straightforward party food used to be. No pressure for everything to be organic or artisanal. Just simple, tasty, maybe slightly beige, grub. And sometimes, that’s just what you need. It wasn’t exactly haute cuisine, but it was fun putting it all together, and seeing everyone enjoy it was the best part. I even managed to avoid making anything luminous green, which, for a 90s theme, I think is a pretty big achievement.
