Cottleston Pie is a bona fide Winnie the Pooh invention. Until A.A. Milne wrote a poem about it in Winnie the Pooh, it never existed. The playful little poem explains that every creature is unique and acts according to its nature, essentially saying that we’re all what we’re made to be. Simple enough, right?
I’m a huge fan of the original Winnie the Pooh books. I love the humble wisdom at the heart of each story and the timelessness of the characters.
I’m a complete novice when it comes to mixing drinks, but the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is SO cool, I knew I couldn’t finish my Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy menu without it. It’s said to contain Santraginean sea water, Arcturan Mega-gin, Qualactin Hypermint extract, and a host of other wild ingredients. Of course, most of these ingredients aren’t exactly “easily sourceable,” so there are many interpretations of this iconic Hitchhiker beverage, ranging from the very simple to the ultra-accurate. I chose this gin-based rendition developed by Mitch Hutts of Critical Hit Cocktails, because I think it has the best of both worlds. It’s complex and unique enough to be considered its own drink, but it’s not married to authenticity at the expense of flavor. It’s easy to make—even for a newbie like me—and I really love the flavor. It’s refreshing and easy to drink, but not too sweet. And check out that awesome neon color! The “gear lemon” garnish is my own personal touch (I learned the technique here).
In Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the Heart of Gold is a state-of-the-art starship that operates on an infinite improbability drive (powered by a “nice hot cup of tea”). However, using the improbability drive can have some unusual side effects. Luckily, these cute, dainty cakes are just the thing to set you right after being turned into a sofa…or a ball of yarn…or a penguin.
Oddly enough, the petunia bowl is practically a character in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It’s one of the book’s most iconic story elements, second only to the towel. And no wonder! Who can forget that fateful bowl of petunias plummeting through space, consumed by only one thought: “Oh no, not again”?
It’s an exciting day here at Alison’s Wonderland Recipes! MuggleNet has decided to feature my “Leeky” Cauldron Soup recipe, and they even did a Featured News writeup about it. Thanks, MuggleNet! 🙂
Fun Fact: I actually don’t like fish, but this lovely recipe is the exception to the rule—I’m crazy about it!
I also think the Babel fish is one of the coolest creatures in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. What’s more clever than a little fish that translates alien languages for you? Therefore, it seemed only right to include a tribute to the Babel fish in our Hitchhiker menu.
Happy May Day, everybody! It is with great pleasure that I introduce our new Book of the Month (and first sci-fi pick): The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy! This is easily one of my favorite books. It’s quirky, original, yet sometimes profound. And since May 25th is Towel Day, I knew this month was the perfect time to feature a Hitchhiker’s Guide menu. Let’s get started!
Man oh man, I had so much fun developing this recipe! Harry Potter features so many fantastic foods, but butterbeer is by far one of my favorites. It’s incredibly versatile–I’ve seen butterbeer cupcakes, cookies, and ice cream all over Pinterest. My original plan was to make butterbeer cupcakes, like those made by The Curvy Carrot, but since I recently made cupcakes for Alice in Wonderland, I decided to try a different route. The goal: something classically British that still captured the essence of butterbeer. And what’s more classically British than trifle? 😉
So often I feel like we overlook side dishes as an opportunity for creativity. I’ll admit, I’m the queen of zapping frozen peas in the microwave and calling it done. But since this dish was going to represent all the magical goodness that is Harry Potter, I felt honor-bound to push my boundaries and turn a simple soup into something special. Luckily, I think I succeeded!