Quick links: Imagination Land Cupcakes | Gluten-Free San Fran Pizza | Broccoli and Beef | Blue Slushie | Verdict
I love love love Inside Out. It is probably the Disney/Pixar movie with the heaviest themes. It has so many layers. It has some fun foods in it, like broccoli pizza!
Foods Shown
- Cupcakes with white frosting
- Graham crackers
- French fries
- Hot dog
- Candy tears
- Triple dent gum
- Chocolate ice cream
- Takeout Chinese beef and broccoli
- Milk and cereal
- Breads
- Broccoli pizza
- Gingerbread house
- Blue Slushie
- Sugar Cookies
- Ice cream on the ground
- Broccoli
- Pepperoni pizza
Imagination Land Cupcakes
In the butchered dream sequence, the dream is failing and the camera pans around to see the Unicorn eating cupcakes.
Ok, we’ve done cake and cupcakes a lot. Normally we would have just linked to another recipe, but we had some friends come over for a baking night and we had to make some yummy treats, so my wife found this great recipe with some really good frosting.
- 1 1/4 cups (296 ml.) vegetable oil
- 1 3/4 cups (373 g.) white granulated sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 tsp. pure almond extract
- 2 1/4 cups (340 g.) all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (68 g.) cornstarch
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 cups (366 g.) full fat sour cream OR full fat yogurt or full fat Greek yogurt
- 1 1/2 cups (322 g.) white granulated sugar
- 3/4 cups (113 g.) all purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 2 1/4 cups (532 ml.) whole milk
- 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) (339 g.) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 to 1 1/2 Tablespoons pure vanilla extract (depending on your taste) or 1 Tablespoon vanilla and 1/2 tsp almond extract
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, 180 degrees Celsius, Gas Mark 4. Put oven rack on the bottom third of the oven. In my oven I bake these in the second rack from the bottom. (I found that with this recipe when the cupcakes were baked in the upper racks they got too brown for my liking.)
- Start by making the base for the frosting. (It needs to cool down before using, this part of the frosting could also be made a day or 2 ahead.) In a large saucepan on medium heat, whisk together the sugar, flour and salt, and slowly add the milk. Cook, whisking frequently, really almost constantly so it doesn't scorch, until it comes to a boil. Once it starts boiling, turn down the heat to medium low, and cook for 3-4 minutes, whisking constantly, this is to cook the flour taste out. Mixture will be very thick. Remove from heat and add 1 tablespoon vanilla extract. Transfer this mixture to another bowl and let cool in the fridge.
- Start making the cupcakes.
- Line muffin tins with cupcake liners (greaseproof are best) and set aside.
- In a large bowl with a hand mixer, or in the bowl of a stand mixer, add the oil and the sugar. Beat them together for 2 minutes or so, so they are mixed well and the sugar has dissolved somewhat. Add the eggs and both extracts and beat again for another 2 or 3 minutes, until the mixture is smooth and creamy looking.
- In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and beat on medium low speed just until it's incorporated, don't over beat. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the sour cream and beat on medium low speed just until the sour cream is mixed in well. Scrape down the sides of the bowl again and beat again just for about 20 seconds to make sure it's all mixed well.
- With a spoon or a scoop, fill the cupcake liners slightly over half full. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. (Start checking after 17 minutes.)
- Cool on a wire rack. When they have cooled enough to handle, remove from muffin tins and let cool on racks. Let cool completely before frosting cupcakes.
- While cupcakes are baking finish making the frosting. Make sure the base in the fridge is completely cool. If it's warm at all, it's going to melt the butter. If it's very cold in the fridge it may very firm. Don't worry, it's fine.
- In a stand mixer or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the butter for 2 minutes, scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat again for another minute or so, until it's nice and light and fluffy. With the mixer going on medium - medium high, gradually add the cooled frosting base, about a "scoop" (a large spoonful) at a time. After each scoop, let it mix until it's fully incorporated. Keep adding and letting it mix together until it's all been used. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat for another few minutes until it's super light and fluffy. Taste it and see if you think it needs a little more vanilla extract, or you can add another extract or flavoring at this time.
- Frost cupcakes. Refrigerate any leftover frosting. If you aren't serving these right away, keep them refrigerated but let them come to room temperature before serving. If you have refrigerated the frosting, you'll need to beat it again before using. The good thing about this frosting is that it doesn't totally harden in the fridge like a typical buttercream does, (since butter solidifies when cold.)
Gluten-free Broccoli Pizza
Congratulations San Francisco, you’ve ruined pizza.
We’ve made pizza before, but since this is San Francisco, we had to make a gluten-free option. It actually turned out really well.
- 1 small head cauliflower, chopped (5 to 6 cups)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce
- Broccoli to top
- Place a pizza stone or rimless baking sheet in the oven; preheat to 475 degrees F.
- Add the cauliflower to a food processor; pulse until finely ground, about the consistency of couscous. Pour the cauliflower onto a clean kitchen towel (I like flour sack towels for this) and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
- To a large bowl, add the cauliflower, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic, salt, some black pepper and the egg. Mix until the mixture holds together when pinched.
- Line a pizza peel or a second rimless baking sheet with parchment paper; liberally brush with olive oil. Spread the cauliflower mixture into a 12-inch-wide circle on the parchment. Slide the parchment onto the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet. Bake until the cauliflower crust is barely golden and darker at the edges, about 15 minutes.
- Remove the crust from the oven, sprinkle with the mozzarella and spread the marinara sauce over the top (this keeps the crust dry), then add broccoli on top. Slide the pizza back onto the pizza stone or baking sheet and bake until bubbly and browned in spots, about 4 minutes.
Broccoli and Beef
The family gets Chinese take out. It is hard to see what exactly they’re eating, but there are some greens you can see.
Broccoli is a theme of the movie, so why couldn’t it be beef and broccoli?
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch, divided
- 1⁄2 cup water, plus
- 2 tablespoons water, divided
- 1⁄2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1⁄2 teaspoon oyster sauce
- 1 lb boneless round steak or 1 lb charcoal chuck steak, cut into thin 3-inch strips
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 4 cups broccoli florets
- 1 small onion, cut into wedges
- 1⁄3 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- In a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch, oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons water and garlic until smooth.
- Add beef and toss.
- In a large skillet or wok over medium high heat, stir-fry beef in 1 tablespoon oil until beef is done; remove and keep warm.
- Stir-fry broccoli and onion in remaining oil for 4-5 minutes.
- Return beef to pan.
- Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger and remaining cornstarch and water until smooth; add to the pan.
- Cook and stir for 2 minutes.
- Serve over rice.
Blue Sushie
BRAIN FREEZE!
Here’s a recipe for a blue slushie to give you your own brain freeze.
- 1 packet blue Kool-aid drink mix
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 2 cups Ice water
- 4 cups Or 1 full tray of ice cubes
- Blend all together
- Use more ice or less water for a thicker slushie
Will it make you Joyful? Sad? Angry? Disgusted? Fearful?
You should definitely eat your broccoli. I didn’t have high hopes for the broccoli pizza, but it wasn’t bad. I don’t think San Francisco ruined it THAT much.
Verdict:
Imagination Cupcakes – 9/10
Gluten-free Pizza – 8/10
Broccoli and Beef – 8/10
Blue Slushie – 7.5/10
Thank You!
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DeAnna
Barbara
Aly (http://www.dreamstobecome.com)