This post first appeared in the Roswell Daily Record…
This is one of my favorite columns of the year to write – my annual roundup of new and new-to-me cookbooks with a science fiction, fantasy or gaming connection!
I must always have a new Disney-themed cookbook and this year there were many to choose from but I’ll start with The Unofficial Disney Parks Holidays Cookbook: From Strawberry Red Velvet Whoopie Pies to Christmas Wreath Doughnuts, 100 Magical Dishes Inspired by Disney’s Celebrations and Events (Unofficial Cookbook Gift Series) by Ashley Kraft. A sampling of delights you can make using this cookbook are: -Valentine Swirl Dole Whip from The Tropical Hideaway for Valentine’s Day, Frozen Apple Cider from ABC Commissary at Halloween, The Patriots Platter at Liberty Tree Tavern for a classic Thanksgiving meal and The Lock Shock and Barrel Sundae from Auntie Gravity’s at Christmas. Something for every time of the year, broken down by theme park.
Along the same vein of animation and Disneyesque magic would be Pixar: The Official Cookbook by Tara Theoharis and S. T. Bende. The book contains 75 recipes, full color photos and dishes for all skill levels. As the book’s blurb promises: Launch your kitchen “to infinity and beyond,” with this inspiring, high-quality cookbook featuring more than 75 delicious recipes inspired by beloved Pixar films! This comprehensive, family-friendly cookbook features nearly every Pixar short and film in chronological order and includes a creative collection of colorful appetizers, mains, and desserts that fans will adore, from Ratatouille from Ratatouille to Trenette al Pesto from Luca!
Christmas is a magical time of the year for many and holiday movies play a part in the ‘feels’ of the season so I was delighted to find The Christmas Movie Cookbook: Recipes from Your Favorite Holiday Films by Julia Rutland. The book includes 65 recipes from a wide range of seasonal films, including Old Fashioned Meatloaf from A Christmas Story, Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheddar Cheese Soup from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Christmas Pudding from A Christmas Carol, Breakfast Strata from The Family Stone and Really Rich Hot Chocolate from Polar Express. The book includes details of the scenes from each movie which inspired the dish. Reviewers praised the book, many stating it was a great gift item, and appreciated that the recipes used many common ingredients likely to be in most kitchens.
The Brothers Grimm Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by Fairy Tales by Robert Tuesley Anderson has 50 recipes inspired by the 1890’s short stories the Brothers wrote. The reader can also delve into scholarly essays on specific foods in the fairy tales as they prepare and feast on dishes ranging from “Clever Hans’s Sticky Bacon and Onion Pan Fry to celebrating the holidays with Hansel and Gretel’s Gingerbread House…”
One might think a superhero as busy as Spiderman wouldn’t have time to cook but here’s Marvel: Spider-Man: The Official Cookbook: Your Friendly Neighborhood Guide to Cuisine from NYC, the Spider-Verse & Beyond by Jermaine McLaughlin, Paul Eschbach and Von Diaz. The authors took the approach that the superhero would want to share all his favorite food items from New York City with his fans and friends. The book provides 60+ recipes for all types of dishes, including some from Spiderman’s friends and fellow heroes. The blurb lists a sampler of dishes: “from Aunt May’s Wheatcakes to Miles Morales’s Arañitas to Wong’s Chai Tea Latte, Spidey turns each meal into a culinary adventure.” Recipes from each of NYC’s boroughs were included, along with short anecdotes about each dish.
A cookbook concentrating entirely on treats would be the Unofficial Cookbook for Fans of Willy Wonka: Mouthwatering Chocolates, Desserts, and Candy Creations—75 Scrumptious Recipes! by Dahlia Clearwater. The 75 dishes included were inspired by the 1971 movie and range from “Lightning in a Chocolate Bar, Exploding Cinnamon Candy, Cayenne Crinkles with a Kick, Super Juicy Blueberry Pie, A Gobstopping Rainbow Cake to Pure Imagination Hot Chocolate.” You don’t need a golden ticket or an Oompa Loompa friend to sample these delights.
From the world of gaming comes Halo: The Official Cookbook by Victoria Rosenthal, with over 70 recipes from portable snacks to eat while on the transport to feasts for the entire squadron. Not a great deal of detail was provided in the book’s listing but reviewers seemed satisfied overall and appreciated the way the recipes and the text incorporated references to the game. The book is broken up into sections such as World Cuisine, USNC High Fleet Dining, Fronk’s (the Fronk’s Fishtacular Tacos sound really good) and Vending Machines (the Spadehorn Bits recipe came in for an appreciative mention or two by reviewers and there are also Moa Wings, “The Purple Concoction” and more).
The Unofficial Star Wars–Inspired Book of Cocktails: Drinks from a Bar Far, Far Away by Rhiannon Lee looks like a fun entry for this year’s nod to Star Wars. The book’s blurb light heartedly promises: “… no need to worry if you are a cocktail Wookie, as this sacred text contains helpful bartending tips and Jedi tricks to suit those of all levels! Channel the force and let The Unofficial Star Wars–Inspired Book of Cocktails be the Yoda to your Luke Skywalker with fifty drinks from Chalmun’s Cantina in Mos Eisley on planet Tatooine.” Recipes include Baby Yo-daiquri, Blue Bantha Milkshake, Wookies and Cream, Emperor Palpatini and Darth Mauled Cider. Reviewers were enthused overall and thought this was a good gift for any Star Wars fan old enough to belly up to the bar on Mos Eisley (so 21 and over).
Finishing off with one of my favorite Fantasy franchises there’s Lord Of The Rings CookBook: A Culinary Journey Through Middle Earth by Michaela E Ervin. Based on the table of contents sample, there are a number of recipes which would please a Hobbit or an Elf such as Niphredil shortbread cookies, spice plum jelly, Bilbo’s seed cake and Crickhollow Apple Loaf. The book seems rather straightforward, with no extras aside from basic photos of the finished dishes. You could always pair this with Drinking with Wizards, Warriors and Dragons: 85 unofficial drink recipes inspired by The Lord of the Rings, A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Stormlight Archive and other fantasy favorites by Thea James and Pamela Wiznitze. Drinks include everything from whisky-forward Essun’s Wrath to the gin centric Nynaeve’s Secret. The book has illustrations by fantasy artist Tim Foley and for further value added: “Each recipe is introduced with an overview of the source of its inspiration, providing readers with insights into the origins of each drink, along with insights into what makes each book an exceptionally worthy read.”
Happy reading, cooking, baking and dining this holiday season!
