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Aladdin [Part 2/2] – Cheesecake, Ful, Chicken Ala King, Alaskan King Crab, Caesar Salad, Kabobs, Persian Rolls

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Quick links: Cheesecake | Ful | Chicken ala King | Alaskan King Crab | Caesar Salad | Kabobs | Persian Rolls | Verdict

 

You’ll never have a meal like this. This is week 2/2 of Aladdin. This will cover some of Friend like Me and the rest of the movie.

We have some more great Arabic food and also some non-arabic food brought to you by the genie. 

 

Cheesecake

Try some of column A. The genie creates a bunch of food on this rising column.

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

There are a few different foods, on this. Some chicken, which you can see the recipe in our previous post. Theres also a pineapple, a celery, a mellon, some rolls (which are addressed later in this post), some mush (which is covered next) and some cheesecake. I love cheesecake, so I was happy to jump in on this recipe

Cheesecake
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Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
1 hr 30 min
Total Time
5 hr
Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
1 hr 30 min
Total Time
5 hr
Crust
  1. 2 cups (475 ml) of Graham cracker crumbs (from a little less than 2 packages Graham crackers
  2. 2 Tbsp sugar
  3. Pinch salt
  4. 5 Tbsp (70 g) unsalted butter (if using salted butter, omit the pinch of salt), melted
Filling
  1. 2 pounds cream cheese (900 g), room temperature
  2. 1 1/3 cup granulated sugar (270 g)
  3. Pinch of salt
  4. 2 teaspoons vanilla
  5. 4 large eggs
  6. 2/3 cup sour cream (160 ml)
  7. 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream (160 ml)
Toppings
  1. 2 cups sour cream (475 ml)
  2. 1/3 cup powdered sugar (35 g)
  3. 1 teaspoon vanilla
  4. 12 ounces (340 g) fresh raspberries
  5. 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100 g)
  6. 1/2 cup water (120 ml)
Special equipment needed
  1. 9-inch, 2 3/4-inch high springform pan
  2. Heavy-duty, 18-inch wide aluminum foil
  3. A large, high-sided roasting pan
Instructions
  1. Prepare the springform pan so that no water leaks into it while cooking.
  2. Place a large 18-inch by 18-inch square of heavy duty aluminum foil on a flat surface.
  3. Place the springform pan in the middle of the foil.
  4. Gently fold up the sides of the foil around the pan.
  5. Make sure to do this gently so that you don't create any holes in the foil.
  6. If there are any holes, water will get into the pan and ruin the crust.
  7. Press the foil around the edges of the pan.
  8. Place a second large square of foil underneath the pan, and repeat, gently folding up the sides of the foil around the pan and pressing the foil against the pan.
  9. To be triply safe, repeat with a third layer of heavy duty foil.
  10. Gently crimp the top of the foil sheets around the top edge of the pan.
  11. Preheat oven to 350°F, with rack in lower third of oven.
  12. Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor or blender until finely ground. (Or use pre-crushed graham cracker crumbs)
  13. Put in a large bowl, and stir in the sugar and salt.
  14. Use your (clean) hands to stir in the melted butter.
  15. Put all but 1/4 cup of the graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of the springform pan. (Save the remaining 1/4 cup for if you happen to have any holes that need to be filled in, either while you are making the crust, or after the cake has cooked and you've unmolded it.)
  16. Gently press down on the crumbs using your fingers, until the crumbs are a nice even layer at the bottom of the pan, with maybe just a slight rise along the inside edges of the pan.
  17. Be careful as you do this, as not to tear the aluminum foil.
  18. Place in the oven for 10 minutes.
  19. Remove from the oven and let cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F.
Make the filling
  1. Cut the cream cheese into chunks and place in the bowl of an electric mixer, with the paddle attachment. (We softened the cream cheese in the microwave at a low setting, stirring every 45 seconds)
  2. Mix on medium speed for 4 minutes until smooth, soft and creamy.
  3. Add the sugar, beat for 4 minutes more.
  4. Add the salt and vanilla, beating after each addition.
  5. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for one minute after each addition.
  6. Add the sour cream, beat until incorporated.
  7. Add the heavy cream, beat until incorporated.
  8. Remember to scrape down the sides of the mixer bowl, and scrape up any thicker bits of cream cheese that have stuck to the bottom of the mixer that paddle attachment has failed to incorporate.
Cook the cheesecake
  1. Place the foil-wrapped springform pan in a large, high-sided roasting pan. (We didn't have a pan that big so we used a cookie sheet and a lot of aluminum foil to make walls)
  2. Prepare 2 quarts of boiling water.
  3. Pour the cream cheese filling into the springform pan, over the graham cracker bottom layer.
  4. Smooth the top with a rubber spatula.
  5. Place the roasting pan with the springform pan in it, in the oven, on the lower rack.
  6. Carefully pour the hot water into the roasting pan (without touching the hot oven), to create a water bath for the cheesecake, pouring until the water reaches halfway up the side of the springform pan, about 1 1/4 inches. (Alternatively you can add the water before putting the pan in the oven, whichever is easier for you.)
  7. Cook at 325°F for 1 1/2 hours.
  8. Turn off the heat of the oven.
  9. Crack open the oven door 1-inch, and let the cake cool in the oven, as the oven cools, for another hour.
  10. This gentle cooling will help prevent the cheesecake surface from cracking.
  11. Cover the top of the cheesecake with foil, so that it doesn't actually touch the cheesecake.
  12. Chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours, or overnight.
Prepare sour cream topping
  1. Place sour cream in a medium sized bowl, stir in the powdered sugar and vanilla, until smooth.
  2. Chill until you are ready to serve the cake.
  3. Note that this recipe produces enough sour cream topping for a thick topping and some extra to spoon over individual pieces of cheesecake, if desired. If you would like a thinner layer of topping and no extra, reduce the sour cream topping ingredients in half.
Prepare the raspberry sauce
  1. Place raspberries, sugar, and water in a small saucepan.
  2. Use a potato masher to mash the raspberries.
  3. Heat on medium, whisking, about 5 minutes, until the sauce begins to thicken.
  4. Remove from heat. Let cool.
Prepare the cake to serve
  1. Remove the cake from the refrigerator.
  2. Remove the foil from the sides of the pan, and place the cake on your cake serving dish.
  3. Run the side of a blunt knife between the edge of the cake and the pan.
  4. You can use a hair dryer to heat the sides of the pan to make it easier to remove.
  5. Open the springform latch and gently open the pan and lift up the sides.
  6. Spread the top with the sour cream mixture.
  7. Serve plain or drizzled with raspberry sauce.
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/

Ful

On that picture, you see some brown mush behind Aladdin. It probably wasn’t meant to be any food. But I looked online for some Persian/Arabic food that looked similar. I found a breakfast food called Ful. Our recipe turned out whiter than it should have because we used lima beans. We couldn’t find Fava beans.

Ful
http://www.tartqueenskitchen.com/?p=1864
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Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
5 min
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
5 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 can fava (or lima) beans, drained, liquid reserved
  2. 1/4 c. onion, finely minced
  3. 2 cl. garlic, minced
  4. 2 – 4 (depending on size and heat level) tabasco or pepperoncini peppers, minced
  5. 1/4 c. parsley, minced
  6. Salt and pepper to taste
  7. Lemon to taste
  8. Olive oil
  9. additional minced parsley for garnish, optional
Instructions
  1. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, mix together the fava beans, onion, garlic, peppers, about 2 – 3 tablespoons of the reserved liquid from the beans, and a pinch of salt & pepper.
  2. Heat the mixture slowly, stirring occasionally.
  3. Cook about 20 minutes.
  4. Add more liquid if the beans become too dry.
  5. Once the mixture is cooked, taste it for seasoning and some lemon to taste.
  6. Remove the saucepan from the heat and mash the beans, leaving some texture.
  7. Place the ful on a plate, drizzle over some olive oil and additional parsley.
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/

Chicken ala King

The next three recipes come from Genie’s own cookbook when he’s trying to find the recipe to make Aladdin a prince.

The first recipe is Chicken Ala King.

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

Chicken ala king is actually really good. I’m not a HUGE fan of mushrooms, but they totally work in this recipe.

Chicken Ala King
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
40 min
Total Time
50 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
40 min
Total Time
50 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 (4.5 ounce) can mushrooms, drained, liquid reserved
  2. 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  3. 1/2 cup butter
  4. 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  5. 1 teaspoon salt
  6. 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  7. 1 1/2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder
  8. 1 1/2 cups milk
  9. 1 1/4 cups hot water
  10. 4 boneless chicken breast halves, chopped
  11. 4 ounces chopped pimento
Instructions
  1. Heat oil in a large pan. Cook the chicken until fully cooked. Set aside.
  2. Drain the pan and melt butter in the pan.
  3. Cook and stir drained mushrooms and green pepper in butter or margarine over medium heat for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
  4. Blend in flour, salt, and pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbly. Remove from heat.
  5. Stir in instant bouillon, milk, water, and reserved mushroom liquid. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir for 1 minute.
  6. Stir in chicken and pimiento. Heat through.
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/

Sabastian King Crab

Alaskan King Crab is the second royal recipe thrown out by Genie. It features a cameo appearance by Sebastian from the Little Mermaid

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

We had a previous (bad) experience with crab when we were making food from the Little Mermaid. So we decided to go the easy route this time and just get frozen king crab legs.

Sebastian King Crab
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
25 min
Total Time
35 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
25 min
Total Time
35 min
Ingredients
  1. lbs king crab legs
  2. 1⁄2 cup butter (salted or unsalted)
  3. 1⁄2 head garlic, about 5 garlic cloves, minced pressed
  4. 1⁄2 lemon, juice of
  5. 1⁄2lime, juice of
  6. 1⁄8 cup extra virgin olive oil
  7. sea salt (optional)
  8. dried parsley (optional)
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
  2. On med low heat, melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the garlic and LIGHTLY saute.
  3. Squeeze in the juice of the citrus of choice.
  4. Turn the heat to low and let those flavors mesh until the oven is nice and hot.
  5. Toss in as much salt (to taste) and a couple pinches of parsley.
  6. Then whisk in that olive oil with a fork. Remove from heat.
  7. Arrange your tasty crustaceans in a 9x13 baking dish, brushing each leg with the sauce.
  8. Pour any remaining sauce over the legs.
  9. Now toss the pan into the oven on the center rack.
  10. Bake your crabs for about 25 minutes or so (depending on how thick the legs you have are), brushing the sauce from the bottom of the pan onto the legs every 5-7 minutes.
  11. Remove from oven.
  12. Sprinkle with a few pinches o' parsley for garnish.
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/

Et Tu Brute Caesar Salad

I never go the joke that went along with this recipe until recently. The hand comes out of the book.

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

And Genie says “Et Tu Brute?” referring to Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. 

Caesar Salad is actually really easy. I don’t have a specific recipe, but a caesar salad consists of romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, croutons, boiled egg, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and black pepper. You can add or subtract ingredients as you like. 

IMG_20151004_192016

Prince Ali Kabobs

There is some more food shown in the Prince Ali song (one of my favorites).

At the end it shows some lovely kabobs. They looked delicious.

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

I love kabobs. I found a recipe for a Persian style kabob.

Prince Ali Kabobs
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Prep Time
25 min
Cook Time
25 min
Total Time
8 hr 50 min
Prep Time
25 min
Cook Time
25 min
Total Time
8 hr 50 min
For the meat
  1. 1 teaspoon ground saffron dissolved in 2 tablespoons hot water
  2. 1 cup fresh lime juice
  3. 2 tablespoons olive oil
  4. 2 large onions, peeled and thinly sliced
  5. 2 cloves garlic, peeled, and crushed
  6. 2 tablespoons zest of orange
  7. 2 tablespoons yogurt
  8. 2 teaspoons salt
  9. 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  10. 1.5 lbs chicken (diced into 1.5 in pieces)
  11. 1.5 lbs lamb or beef (diced into 1.5 in pieces)(if using beef find the tenderest cut possible)
  12. 5 medium tomatoes, halved
  13. 3 Green bell peppers
  14. 6 flat, swordlike skewers
For the baste
  1. Juice of 1 lime
  2. 1/4 cup butter, melted
  3. 1/2 teaspoon salt
  4. 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the meat
  1. In a large bowl, combine half the saffron water and the lime juice, olive oil, onions, garlic, orange zest, yogurt, salt, and pepper.
  2. Beat well with a fork.
  3. Add the pieces of meat and toss well with marinade. Cover and marinate for at least 8 hours and up to 2 days in the refrigerator.
  4. Turn the meat twice during this period.
  5. Start a bed of charcoal 30 minutes before you want to cook and let it burn until the coals glow evenly. Or preheat an oven to 450F
  6. Skewer the meats and veggies in an alternating pattern (use the tomatoes, chopped bell peppers and the onions that were in the marinade)
For the baste
  1. Add the juice of 1 lime and the remaining saffron water to the melted butter. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Mix well and set aside.
  2. Paint the tomato and chicken with the basting mixture.
  3. Grill the meat and tomatoes 8 to 15 minutes, until done. Turn frequently and baste occasionally.
  4. If using the oven, place skewers on a cookie sheet.
  5. Cook for 10 minutes, turn the skewers over and cook for 10-15 minutes more.
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/
 

Persian Rolls

Right after the kabobs, bakers with rolls pop up.

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

There are actually rolls shown a few times throughout the movie, I’m just lumping it all into one recipe. This is based on a Persian flat bread. They are the best rolls I have ever made. They were insanely delicious.

Persian Rolls
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Prep Time
40 min
Cook Time
18 min
Total Time
4 hr 58 min
Prep Time
40 min
Cook Time
18 min
Total Time
4 hr 58 min
Ingredients
  1. 7 g fast action dried yeast
  2. 700 g strong white bread flour
  3. 2 heaped tbsp Maldon sea salt, crushed
  4. 75 ml olive oil
  5. 50 g salted butter
Instructions
  1. Dissolve the yeast in 50ml warm water, stir vigorously and then leave it to sit for a few minutes until fully dissolved.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt and then make a well in the centre.
  3. Pour in 450ml water, 50ml olive oil and the yeast and water mixture.
  4. Combine using your hands until a smooth dough is formed.
  5. If the dough is a bit too sticky, just add a little extra flour and if it is dry, add a splash of water.
  6. On a clean floured surface, need the dough for 5 minutes to activate the yeast and stretch the gluten in the dough.
  7. Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes before kneading it again for 2 minutes.
  8. Repeat this process another 3 times and on the second kneading, incorporate the remaining 25ml olive oil.
  9. Once the bread has been kneaded 3 times, return the dough into the mixing bowl, covering it with a dry tea towel and allowing it to rest somewhere warm for 3 hours.
  10. Once the resting period is over, the dough will have tripled in size.
  11. Elongate the dough ball gently by stretching it from both ends and then using a knife, cut the dough into half.
  12. Form the dough into a roll shape.
  13. Repeat this with the other half of the dough and place each one onto an oven tray lined with baking paper and using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, make 2 long lengthways incision in the centre of the dough, just 2-3 inches away from each end.
  14. Finally cover each oven tray with clean tea towels and allow them to rise for a further 30 minutes.
  15. Preheat the oven to 220C fan/gas 6.
  16. Once the loaves have risen again, brush with melted butter.
  17. Bake each loaf in the oven for 16-18 minutes, until golden brown.
  18. The best way to check if they are cooked through is to tap the bottom of the loaf, if it sounds hollow it is cooked.
  19. Allow the bread to cool down for at least 30 minutes before serving.
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/


Will it Make you Strong as 10 Regular Men Definitely?

All the food was really good. Aladdin as a whole had some amazing food. It is one of my favorite movies as a whole. 

IMG_20151004_193409

It also really made me miss Robin Williams.

Verdict:

Cheesecake – 9.5/10

Ful – 6.5/10

Chicken ala King – 8/10

Alaskan King Crab – 8.5/10

Caesar Salad – 7/10

Kabobs – 7.5/10 (would be higher if I chose better beef, I chose cheap stuff that was tough)

Persian Rolls – 10/10

2

Aladdin [Part 1/2] – French Fries, Taftoon French Bread, Crackers, Persian Chicken, Baklava

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Quick links: French Fries | Taftoon French Bread | Crackers | Persian Chicken | Baklava | Verdict

 

Open up the cave of wonders and check out these diamond in the rough recipes! We’re splitting the movie again so over the next 2 weeks, you’ll get a double dose of Aladdin, which is in my Top 5 Disney movies. Get ready for some great Arabic recipes! Also, these two posts are in memory of the great Robin Williams. He was one of my very favorite actors and comedians. His presence has been missed.
Actor Robin WIlliams from the film "World's Greatest Dad" poses for a portrait in Los Angeles on Friday, Aug. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

(AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

 

French Fries in Agrabah? 

The shop keeper at the beginning of the movie (who might secretly actually be the genie. Look it up) tries to sell us a all-in-one coffee maker and french fry maker. 

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

I tried my hand at making some french fries. They turned out really good. My only wish was that they came out a bit crispier.

Agrabah Fries
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Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
2 hr 50 min
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
2 hr 50 min
Ingredients
  1. 5 pounds russet potatoes
  2. Vegetable or peanut oil, for frying
  3. Sea salt
  4. Celery Salt
Instructions
  1. Peel and rinse the potatoes. Then cut them into sticks by cutting the potato in 4 or 5 vertical pieces, and then cutting each piece into sticks.
  2. Place them in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Allow them to soak, 2 to 3 hours. (You can also stick them in the fridge and let them soak overnight.)
  3. When you're ready to make the fries, drain off the water and lay the potatoes on 2 baking sheets lined with paper towels. Blot with paper towels to dry them.
  4. Heat a few inches of oil in a heavy pot to 300 degrees F. In 3 or 4 batches, cook the potatoes until soft, 4 to 5 minutes per batch. They should not be brown at this point! You just want to start the cooking process. Remove each batch and drain on new/dry paper towels.
  5. Once all the potatoes have been fried at 300 degrees F, turn up the heat until the oil reaches 400 degrees F. When the oil's hot, start frying the potatoes in batches again, cooking until the fries are golden and crisp. Remove the potatoes from the oil and drain on paper towels.
  6. Sprinkle with sea salt and celery salt.
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/
 

That Delicious Looking Bread Aladdin Give Away

This might be one of the pivotal Disney food moments. The bread that Abu bites into always looked soooo delicious. 

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

Then Aladdin, the good guy he is, gave away his half and Abu reluctantly followed. 

I looked all over for an Arabic bread that resembled the one shown, but I couldn’t find any middle eastern bread recipes that were loafs like that. The closest I found was Taftoon (or taftan). The bread shown resembled french bread mostly, so I came up with a combination recipe that actually tasted really good. Kinda like a sweeter french bread.

 

Abu's Bread
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Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
30 min
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
30 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 cups warm water
  2. 3/4 cup milk
  3. 1 tablespoon yeast
  4. 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  5. 1 tablespoon sugar
  6. 1 tbs greek yogurt
  7. pinch saffron
  8. ¼ tsp cardamom powder
  9. 2 tbs ghee (regular butter can be substituted)
  10. 2 teaspoons salt
  11. 5 -5 1⁄2 cups bread flour
  12. Cornmeal
Instructions
  1. Dissolve yeast in warm water and sugar in large bowl. Let sit for 10 minutes to allow yeast to proof or foam
  2. Add salt, milk oil, yogurt, saffron, cardamom, and 3 cups flour; beat for 2 minutes.
  3. Stir in 2 cups flour to make a stiff dough. Add more milk or flour if needed.
  4. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
  5. Place in oiled bowl, turn dough to coat all sides, cover and let rise until doubled.
  6. Punch down and divide in half.
  7. Shape dough into two long slender loaves.
  8. Grease and sprinkle with cornmeal either a french bread pan or large cookie sheet.
  9. Place loaves in pan and cut diagonal gashes on top of each loaf.
  10. Cover and let rise until doubled.
  11. Brush with a mixture of 2 tbs Ghee (or butter) and 1 tbs milk
  12. Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes.
Notes
  1. To make ghee - http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/indian-clarified-butter-ghee-233032.
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/
 

Polly wants a Cracker

Iago hates the Sultan’s crackers.

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

He calls them moldy and disgusting. 

I made some tasty crackers based on middle eastern lavash cracker bread. But I won’t be able to experience the disgusting crackers until I keep them in my pocket for a while until they start molding.

 

Lavash Crackers
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Prep Time
25 min
Cook Time
7 min
Total Time
1 hr 55 min
Prep Time
25 min
Cook Time
7 min
Total Time
1 hr 55 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 cup lukewarm water
  2. 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
  3. 1 (.25 ounce) envelope active dry yeast
  4. 1 teaspoon salt
  5. 3 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, stir together the water, whole wheat flour, and yeast until moistened.
  2. Mix in the salt and 1 cup of all-purpose flour.
  3. Gradually mix in the rest of the flour using a mixer with a dough hook attachment or wooden spoon.
  4. When the dough comes together, knead in your mixer or on a floured surface for 8 to 10 minutes to make an elastic ball.
  5. Add more flour or water if needed to keep dough from getting sticky or too stiff.
  6. Pour a little bit of oil in the bowl and turn the dough to coat.
  7. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  8. Punch down the dough and divide into balls about the size of a grape.
  9. Rolling the dough into a long log helps to divide it evenly.
  10. Roll each piece into a ball and cover with a damp kitchen towel for 30 minutes to rest.
  11. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Place a baking sheet on the center rack of the oven so it can preheat at the same time. Do not grease.
  12. Roll each ball into a circle about 8 inches across. The dough should be paper thin, almost translucent. If they are too thick, they will bubble up like pita breads.
  13. Pull out the oven shelf and place as many crackers on your baking sheet as you can fit, 2 or 3. Close the oven and bake for about 3 minutes. The crackers should be lightly browned on the top with small bubbles.
  14. You may have to adjust your thickness for the next batch.
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/

Maitre’d Chicken

During the Friend Like Me song, the genie presents Al with a beautiful roasted chicken (or maybe turkey)

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

And then in normal genie fashion, transforms himself INTO the chicken.

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

I came up with a good Persian chicken dish. It was super moist, but lacked flavor sadly.

Genie Chicken
http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/9308-persian-fried-chicken?pagewanted=all
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Prep Time
20 min
Total Time
3 hr
Prep Time
20 min
Total Time
3 hr
Ingredients
  1. ½ teaspoon saffron
  2. 2 cups plain whole-milk yogurt
  3. 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
  4. 1 whole chicken
  5. 1tbs flour
  6. 3 teaspoons paprika (divided)
  7. 1 tablespoon dried mint (divided)
  8. salt and black pepper to taste
  9. 1/3 cup melted butter
Instructions
  1. In a small bowl, combine saffron with 1 tablespoon water and let soak 10 minutes.
  2. Place in food processor with yogurt and garlic and purée until smooth and yellow.
  3. Place chicken in glass or ceramic bowl; pour yogurt mixture on top, turn to coat; cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.
  4. Heat oven to 350F
  5. Remove chicken from bowl and place into a 9x13 pan lined with foil (or whatever size fits your chicken).
  6. Discard the extra yogurt mixture
  7. Sprinkle 2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tbs mint, salt and pepper over chicken
  8. Put in oven and partially cover with aluminum foil
  9. Mix the rest of the paprika and mint, plus some salt and pepper into the melted butter
  10. Brush the chicken periodically (every 20 mins or so) with butter mixture.
  11. Let cool for a few minutes after cooking
Notes
  1. 20 minutes of cook time per pound of chicken
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/

How ’bout a little more baklava?

The last recipe we’re doing is midway through Friend Like Me where the genie says “How bout a little more baklava” and then fills up the screen with baklava.

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

I didn’t make quite that much Baklava, especially because this was my first time trying to make baklava. I made it the Arabic way as opposed to the Greek way, using rose water syrup instead of honey to sweeten the baklava. If you need a recipe for rose water look here and for rose water syrup, look here.

Baklava
Serves 18
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Prep Time
25 min
Cook Time
50 min
Total Time
1 hr 15 min
Prep Time
25 min
Cook Time
50 min
Total Time
1 hr 15 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 (16 ounce) package phyllo dough
  2. 1 pound chopped nuts (pistachios, almonds, pecans)
  3. 1 cup butter
  4. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  5. 1 cup water
  6. 1 cup white sugar
  7. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  8. 1/2 cup rose water syrup
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F(175 degrees C). Butter the bottoms and sides of a 9x13 inch pan.
  2. Chop nuts and toss with cinnamon. Set aside. Unroll phyllo dough. Cut whole stack in half to fit pan. Cover phyllo with a dampened cloth to keep from drying out as you work. Place two sheets of dough in pan, butter thoroughly. Repeat until you have 8 sheets layered. Sprinkle 2 - 3 tablespoons of nut mixture on top. Top with two sheets of dough, butter, nuts, layering as you go. The top layer should be about 6 - 8 sheets deep.
  3. Using a sharp knife cut into diamond or square shapes all the way to the bottom of the pan. You may cut into 4 long rows the make diagonal cuts. Bake for about 50 minutes until baklava is golden and crisp.
  4. Make sauce while baklava is baking. Boil sugar and water until sugar is melted. Add vanilla and rose water syrup. Simmer for about 20 minutes.
  5. Remove baklava from oven and immediately spoon sauce over it. Let cool. Serve in cupcake papers. This freezes well. Leave it uncovered as it gets soggy if it is wrapped up.
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/

Will it take you to a Whole New World?

Oh man, it was such a good cook this week. The Baklava was AMAZING. Everyone that tried it loved it. Sadly, the worst dish was the chicken. But it was still really good. The chicken was super moist, just not super flavorful. The bread was ALMOST as good as Abu made it look. And the french fries, mmm, I usually don’t love french fries, but those turned out great.

Verdict:

French Fries – 8.5/10

Bread – 9/10

Crackers – 8.5/10

Chicken – 7/10

Baklava – 9.8/10

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The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh – Honey, Hero Cake, Hero Shortbread Cookies with Jam, Succotash, Wheat Bread, [BONUS] Squash Alfredo Penne

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Quick links: Honey! | Hero Cake | Hero Cookies | Wheat Bread | Succotash | Squash Alfredo | Verdict

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

We’re upgrading to a custom domain! Starting this week, the blog will now live here: https://disneymeals.me! I’ll have a link from the old site to the new site next week too if you forget. Also, with that change, over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to be giving the site a visual facelift. So keep on checking back for the shiny new upgrades. Now onto the post

 

 
I’m so rumbly in my tumbly. Time to munch an early luncheon. Haha. I had forgotten how clever and witty Winnie the Pooh was. I was smiling the whole time and it really brightened my wife’s mood. Of course, when you think of Pooh bear, you automatically think of honey. I love honey. So this week was amazing for me.

 

Honey!!!!!

Pooh loves his honey. Here’s some honey!

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

HONEY!
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Ingredients
  1. 1 Honey of Honey
  2. 3 Honeys with Honey
  3. Honey to taste
Instructions
  1. Stick your hand in honey pot or bee hive
  2. EAT EAT EAT!
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/

Pooh’s Hero Cake

At the end of the flood, Pooh erroneously gets made into a hero for eating honey out of a pot while he floated down the river. Graciously, Pooh let little Piglet  join in later in the movie. Even though Piglet was the real hero.  It amazes me how loving and unassuming all the characters are.

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

 

My wife wanted to try this soda cake recipe. Since we don’t really know what kind of cake Christopher Robin and friends are eating (other than it was pink with chocolate frosting), we decided to make it.

Pooh's Hero Cake
Serves 8
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Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
25 min
Total Time
30 min
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
25 min
Total Time
30 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 Box White Cake Mix
  2. 1 Can Strawberry Soda (12 oz)
  3. 1.5 containers Chocolate Frosting
Instructions
  1. Place cake mix in the bowl. Don't add any of the ingredients mentioned on the box.
  2. Mix in strawberry soda
  3. Put into baking pans and bake as instructed on box
  4. Let cool and then frost with chocolate frosting
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/

Piglet Hero Shortbread Cookies with Jam

Along with the Hero Cake, there were some cookies with jam centers.

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

Piglet Hero Cookies with Jam
Serves 12
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Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
14 min
Total Time
34 min
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
14 min
Total Time
34 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 cup butter, no substitutes
  2. 2⁄3 cup sugar
  3. 1⁄2 teaspoon almond extract or 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  4. 2 cups all-purpose flour
  5. 1⁄2 cup jam, for the centers
Instructions
  1. Cream butter and sugar
  2. Beat in extract
  3. Gradually blend in flour
  4. Cover and refrigerate for an hour
  5. Roll into one-inch balls and place one inch apart on un-greased cookie sheet
  6. With the end of a wooden spoon make a indention in the ball and fill with jam
  7. I have used Variety of jams and jellies Raspberry being the best! but Apricot is yummmie too, along with apple, blackberry, blueberry the possibilities are endless.
  8. Bake at 350 for 14 to 18 minute.
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/

 

Rabbit’s Wheat Bread

Pooh invades Rabbit’s house to get something to eat. Rabbit offers Pooh some bread with condensed milk or honey. Pooh responds “Honey please, but no bread” Oh silly bear.

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

But we made some wheat bread like rabbit and tried eating it with honey AND condensed milk

Rabbit's Wheat Bread
Serves 24
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Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
2 hr 45 min
Total Time
3 hr 15 min
Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
2 hr 45 min
Total Time
3 hr 15 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 3⁄4 cups hot water
  2. 1⁄3 cup olive oil, any oil is fine
  3. 1⁄3 cup honey
  4. 2 tablespoons molasses
  5. 1 tablespoon salt, Sea Salt is good
  6. 7 1⁄2 cups of 100% whole grain wheat flour
  7. 2 tablespoons dry active yeast
Instructions
  1. Place the first five ingredients in the bowl and mix.
  2. Add: 2 Cups 100% Whole Grain Wheat Flour. (to cool the water and end up with warm dough) Mix then add 2 Tbs of Dry Active Yeast. If your not sure about your yeast proof it in a little warm water first.
  3. Add: 4 Cups of 100% Whole Grain Wheat Flour.
  4. Mix until the consistency is some what even. Then continue to slowly add flour 1/2 Cup at a time until the dough quits sticking to the sides of the bowl. It should be tacky to the touch. The trick is to have enough consistency to stand up with the least amount of flour so the bread will be fluffy. It will most likely be 6 1/2 cups but in any case do not exceed 7 1/2 cups of wheat flour. You can trade one cup of wheat flour for one cup of all purpose white if you wish. Don't over mix or the bread will be tough.
  5. When your dough is finished, leave it in the mixer, cover the bowl and let it rise for about 30-45 minutes. The dough will be larger but it doesn't need to double.
  6. Grease two bread pans with Crisco. You can also flour the pans to reduce sticking.
  7. Mix the dough again just enough to knock it down at least close to the original size.
  8. Drop the dough on a floured surface so you can work the dough and shape it. Shape it with your hands to make a nice ball getting enough flour on it so it isn't sticky. Divide the ball in half and do it again. Shape the loaves by turning the dough under it's self over and over. When the dough is shaped the sides and ends will be sealed and all you will see is a nice oblong shaped loaf with smooth sides and top. Drop the loaves in your bread pans and let them rise until almost doubled. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 36 minutes. If you forgot to preheat 41 minutes. (gas oven).
  9. When done turn the bread out of the pan to a rack to cool. You can eat it right away (a great time for real butter) don't wrap it until completely cooled. (Condensation will make it soggy) Put in tinfoil to store on the counter. If you put it in the refrigerator it will turn into a brick. Enjoy.
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/

Gopher’s Ssssssssuccotash

Pooh gets fat and gets stuck in Rabbit’s hole. Gopher is hired to get him out. In the middle of the night he appears with a mighty fine lunch. Summer squash, Summer salad, succotash, and honey.

(Credit: Disney)

(Credit: Disney)

Since summer squash and summer salad are pretty straightforward, and we already covered honey, we made some succotash. I had never really known what it was. It actually is a pretty tasty side.

Gopher's Ssssssuccotash
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
45 min
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
45 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 cup butter, divided
  2. 2 cups fresh lima beans
  3. 1/2 teaspoon salt
  4. 4 fresh tomatoes, peeled and chopped
  5. 2 teaspoons white sugar
  6. 4 ears fresh corn kernels, cut from the cob
Instructions
  1. Melt 1/2 cup butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in lima beans and salt, and cook until tender, about 20 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, in a separate saucepan heat tomatoes, sugar and remaining 1/2 cup butter.
  3. Cook until tomatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
  4. Stir tomatoes into lima beans and add corn; cook 10 minutes more.
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/
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[BONUS] Squash Alfredo Penne

So since lots of veggies are shown in Winnie the Pooh (like the summer squash and some from rabbit’s garden), I decided to make a nice pasta dish that incorporated many of the dishes.

This is a 100% original Disney Meals Recipe.

Squash Alfredo Penne
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Prep Time
15 min
Prep Time
15 min
For the sauce
  1. 1 Acorn Squash
  2. 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
  3. 2/3 cup cream
  4. 1/3 cup milk
  5. 1/2 tsp basil
  6. Salt and pepper to taste
For the rest
  1. 1/2 box penne (cooked)
  2. 2 Fresh Tomatoes
  3. 1 Summer Squash
  4. 1 tsp thyme
  5. 1/2 tsp salt
  6. 1/2 tsp pepper
  7. 1 tbs olive oil
  8. 1 lbs chicken (diced)
  9. 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
  10. salt to taste
  11. 2-3 tbs butter
For the sauce
  1. Preheat oven to 350
  2. Cut Acorn squash in half
  3. Place squash halves in a baking dish
  4. Fill bottom of baking dish with about an inch of water
  5. Cook squash halves for an hour
  6. When the squash are done, scoop out of skin and place in blender or food processor with parmesan cheese, cream, milk and spices
  7. Blend and then transfer into pot and simmer on low
For the rest
  1. While the Acorn squash is roasting, cut the summer squash into thin discs and dice the tomatoes.
  2. Place them in a bowl with olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper
  3. Shake the bowl up so the spices get evenly dispersed.
  4. Melt 1 tbs butter in a pan
  5. Brown the diced chicken
  6. After the chicken is cooked, add the rest of the butter to melt
  7. Add the tomatoes and summer squash, and balsamic vinegar
  8. Cover and cook on medium low for 30-45 minutes.
  9. Add the chicken and veggies to cooked penne and add the acorn squash alfredo on top.
DisneyMeals https://disneymeals.me/


Will it Stop the Rumbly in your Tumbly?

I love Winnie the Pooh. The show was so great and the food was tasty. I could probably just eat all the honey just like him. The cake had a nice twist. The bread was nice and moist and tasted great with honey and not as good with condensed milk, but still good. The cookies were nibbly numbly. The succotash was something I didn’t expect. It made for a great side. I might make it more often.

Verdict:

Honey – 15/10
Hero Cake – 8/10
Hero Cookies – 9/10
Wheat bread – 8/10
Succotash – 7.5/10
Squash Penne – 8.5/10
 

 

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Robin Hood – Little John Stew, Blackberry Pie, Currant Pie, Gruel

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Robin Hood and Little John chilling in the kitchen, breakin’ eggs, stewin’ beef and eatin’ the day away. This is one of my wife’s favorite Disney movies. Mostly because she thinks Robin is a “fox”.
It is a really good, classic Disney movie with some good food to boot!