Quick links: Apple Porridge | Toad Soup | Call-Back Medieval Recipes | Verdict
I’d say that this is probably one of the most unknown Disney movies ever made. I think Disney has even forgotten they made it. Good thing too, it is probably one of the worst Disney movies. It’s enjoyable at times, but ultimately falls pretty flat. It’s a shame too, because I really liked the books on which it was based growing up. Most of the food featured in this movie we have made before (they aren’t very creative when it comes to medieval-type dishes usually).
Despite the horribleness of the movie, it had lots of firsts. It was the first Disney animated movie to receive a PG rating and it almost got a PG-13 rating, it’s the first not to feature any songs, it’s the first to use computer technology and it’s the first not to feature credits at the beginning of the movie.
Apple Porridge
The first thing shown at the beginning of the movie is some kind of porridge the pig farmer is making for his oracular pig. Although, it apparently isn’t very tasty porridge.
(Credit: Disney)
(Credit: Disney)
It doesn’t say exactly what’s in it, so I took some liberties of course. Later in the movie, the annoying but charming Gurgi steals an apple from Taran.
(Credit: Disney)
So I decided to make some apple-infused porridge. And unlike the film, it turned out pretty good.
- 1 cup oats
- 2/3 cups water
- 2/3 cups milk
- 1 apple (sliced into small chunks)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 clove (crushed)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- Mix the water and milk and bring to a boil
- Add the oats and salt
- Reduce heat to medium
- Cook uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally
- Add the apple and the rest of the ingredients and cook covered for 3 minutes
- Serve hot
Toad Soup
Toward the end of the movie, the group meets a couple of witches. One of them turns Fflewddur Fflam (awesome name, I know) into a frog and tries to stick him in a pot of boiling water.
(Credit: Disney)
I looked everywhere for a place that sold frog meat, but couldn’t find any. However, I did see that a local Chinese restaurant (and a pretty famous and good one at that) called Lao Sze Chaun has some frog dishes. So I went there and ordered some frog soup.
Frog, unsurprisingly, tastes a lot like chicken, but very bony. I actually wasn’t able to eat much of the dish because it was UNBELIEVABLY spicy. One of the spiciest things I have ever tried. But if you’re ever in Chicago, I recommend you go to Lao Sze Chaun. Just try one of their other dishes.
Call-Back food
Being a movie set in the middle-ages, they showed the staple cooked ham and turkey.
(Credit: Disney)
We have made a couple of different recipes of ham and turkey. So I’ll leave the links to those recipes here.
Willie’s Medieval Chicken from Mickey and The Beanstalk
Will it Raise an Army of the Dead?
The porridge was really really good. I guess I didn’t make it exactly to the specification of the movie…unless people in the movie just don’t like sweet porridge.
Frog tastes like dark-meat chicken. Not bad.
Verdict:
Porridge – 8/10