Every year I throw an Oscar party, with food and drinks that are fit for a star-studded evening. And for party food ideas my first stop is LA-based caterer Lulu Powers, author of Lulu Powers Food to Flowers: Simple, Stylish Food for Easy Entertaining. (Full disclosure: I helped her write the book!) Lulu knows parties, and she knows glamour–she's catered for some of the biggest celebs in town and can always be counted on for creative yet approachable recipe and decorating ideas.

Her recipe for Apricots with Blue Cheese & Mint is a perfect example: elegant without being fussy, and easy to make. It also combines my two favorite flavors, sweet and salty. Serve a platter or two of these along with a few bottles of bubbly and your living room will be instantly glam.

APRICOTS WITH BLUE CHEESE & MINT

• 1 cup soft blue cheese, such as Cashel Blue
• 30 dried apricot halves
• 30 whole or julienned fresh mint leaves

Scoop a teaspoon of cheese into each apricot and top with a mint leaf or a few shreds. You can make these up to 8 hours ahead and refrigerate; just add the mint leaf right before serving. Make sure the apricots are at room temperature before serving so that the cheese has maximum flavor.

Recipe courtesy Lulu Powers; photo courtesy Stephen Danelian