“How to Throw a Superhero Party Worthy of ‘The Avengers’’”

Invitations: Start your party off right with the perfect invitation. You can make your own postcard invitations with cardboard cut-outs of bright blue painted stars, and include the details about your party in a thin black marker. Decorate the front of each with classic comic book words like POW!, ZAP! And WAM!

Décor: The Avengers bring together 6 epic superheroes. Create your own easy decorations with cardboard cutouts of spiders and paint them black, neon green head’s of The Hulk and classic American flags for Captain America and, throughout the party, use bold colored streamers, which will add some mystery to the room. You can make it really simple by sticking to one character and following those colors. Also, almost all stores carry Avenger’s party things now. Buy a pack of paper plates. Cut the rim off and use a hole punch at top. Use twine or fishing line and make your own garland. Balloons is also a very inexpensive way to decorate and throw on some Avengers stickers!

Centerpieces: Choose your favorite Avenger and decorate the table around that character. Use lots of primary colors, since comic strips are usually blue, yellow and red. Print outs of comic book pages covered in contact paper make great placemats. Blanket your tables with these to tie the décor together and include stars, spiders and Hawkeye cut-outs on wooden sticks around the table with silver confetti. You can also add a character mask with some basket filler to the middle of the table. Tie some balloons to the mask and there you go!

Music: Keep the music simple but fun. “Live to Rise,” the original song written for and appearing in the film is the first single from the Marvel Music/Hollywood Records release Avengers Assemble. The epic and cinematic video, featuring a searing live performance with film footage, was directed by Robert Hales (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Janet Jackson, Kings of Leon, Justin Timberlake). View “Live To Rise”: http://www.vevo.com/watch/soundgarden/live-to-rise-from-marvels-the-avengers/USH5V1221447 orhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3ZNtOcY_1A

Menu: Mini snacks such as cut-out tea-sandwiches make great finger food. I like to do themed food. You could do Captain America food and make everything red, white and blue. Or do Hulk and make everything Green.

Desserts: Look for cookie cutters in shields, stars and spiders to create these treats. Williams Sonoma carries some of the Avengers Characters for the cookies. For Incredible Hulk themed beverages, create trays of green ice cubes by freezing water with green food color, and WOW guests as their clear citrusy beverages transform color before their very eyes. Most grocery stores now have Avengers cake and cupcake toppers. You can even just purchase the cupcake ring toppers for just cents and add them to your own cupcakes.

Party Favors: As a parting gift, place a few Avenger designed cookies in a cellophane bag and close with a gold twist-tie – your guests can enjoy the party for days to follow with these treats!”

RECIPE

1. Whip up a batch of your favorite sugar cookie recipe and use a cookie cutter to make character cookies. They make Superhero cookie cutters in the shape of many Avengers heroes. You can also use any oval shaped cookie cutter and instead fill in the details with your decorating. Once your cookies are baked and cooled, you are ready to begin decorating.

2. You can make your own royal icing (See: How to Make Your Own Royal Icing included below) or use store-bought. Color with food coloring to achieve the various colors you want for decorating. Place each color in a piping bag or squeeze container

3. Begin by outlining the cookie in your base color. (If you were starting with The Hulk, outline the entire shape in green. Color in your outline with green icing and cover the entire cookie. (You can actually use a paintbrush to “paint” your cookie.) Give the base a few minutes to dry and choose your next color. For The Hulk’s hair, outline his hairline in black and proceed to fill in with black icing. You can continue to draw features in and watch your character come to life.

How to Make Your Own Royal Icing

3 egg whites, at room temperature. We prefer dehydrated egg whites, available at most supermarkets.
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
food coloring (optional)

Mix above ingredients with a little warm water until smooth. Add food coloring.