Personally, I’ve always felt like dwarves from fantasy books don’t get enough press. They’re fearless, rowdy, and unabashedly hairy. What’s not to love? But when it comes to culinary appreciation, you can’t beat a hobbit. I mean, we’re talking about a race of people who schedule their entire day around six meals. Talk about folks after my own heart! Thus, it is with great excitement that I introduce The Hobbit as our new Book of the Month!
I love me a good cookie, and I’ve had my eye on these spirally angels from The Curvy Carrot for quite some time. To me, they look just like the cyclone that picked up Dorothy, and the sprinkles around the edges add a little extra fun. The best part? They’re black, white, AND Technicolor…not to mention wickedly delicious. What a great way to wrap up this month’s menu!
I recently realized I’ve been inadvertently taking a picnic/backyard bbq approach to this Wonderful Wizard of Oz menu. Maybe it’s Dorothy’s wicker basket…or this dreary February weather making me wish for summer…or simply my ever-present desire to have a barbeque.
Heck, let’s be honest. It’s most likely the last of the three. 😉
I made a different version of these witch hat calzones for a Halloween party once, and they were a big hit! My favorite pesto recipe adds a little Technicolor flair, plus a fun flavor element, making these calzones the perfect entrée for this month’s menu. The recipe is remarkably kid-friendly, so if you have any little budding chefs in the household, I’d definitely enlist their help with this one!
The Mister and I recently moved to a new apartment, so we’ve spent the past few weeks sprucing it up and adding personal touches (lightsaber candlesticks here, a Hobbit map wall hanging there, etc.). Needless to say, “no place like home” has definitely been on my mind. It didn’t take long for me to decide that The Wonderful Wizard of Oz would be the perfect candidate for February’s book of the month! As a special shout-out to the film, all the recipes for this book will be in either black and white or Technicolor!
Time for the most important part of the meal: dessert! Cupcakes are the perfect teatime dessert, and the best thing about these are their versatility. Any cake flavor will do! I opted for sour cherry cupcakes, taking my cue from the Queen of Hearts’ tarts. Since actual sour cherries are out of season at the moment, I soaked some dark sweet cherries in a mix of lemon juice, cherry juice, and a bit of sugar. After soaking the cherries, I drizzled the leftover juice on top of the white rose cupcakes, making for perfect “painted roses”!
Hmm…what’s a good beef pasty accompaniment that’s still refined enough for a tea party? Stuffed button mushrooms, done up fancy! To make the oh-so-light-and-creamy filling, I used a ricotta cheese and egg base, then daintified it from there.
What’s that? “Daintified” isn’t a word, you say? Well, it probably should be. 😉
Entrée time! Since I’m doing this particular book in tea party format, I loathe the idea of making anything too heavy. Still, I must admit I’m a carnivore at heart and don’t feel that a meal is complete without some good ol’ meat. Luckily, my mom’s delicious beef pasties are the best of both worlds: deliciously light and fluffy, yet soooo satisfying!
It seemed only fitting that my first Book of the Month should be Alice in Wonderland. Since it makes such a great tea party theme, each of my recipes for this book will be of the finger food variety. And with Valentine’s Day just around the bend, a dozen tarts or pasties make a great gift!
Let’s start the meal off with a mouth-watering appetizer, shall we?