The Foodie's Movie Review (Ep. 1)
Hi, everyone, and welcome to my first Foodie's Movie Review blog post! Part movie review, part food recipe, this new blog series will be my answer to the age old question: What does that movie taste like?
So, without further ado, let's get to the first movie recipe-review!
Yes, I had to start with a classic! Who doesn't love this movie? If you don't, I suggest you get some therapy asap and eat some cookies! The fact of the matter is this movie is a beloved classic for so many good reasons: the music is beautiful and fun, the costumes and sets are gorgeously colorful, and the story touches all who were once insecure teens (or even adults!) Plus, all the actors are wonderful and charming. Watching Judy Garland in this film feels like watching a little bit of heaven as it pours light directly into your very soul.
That said... What would this film taste like if it were served as a dish?
I hereby present to you Oz's Shepherd's Pie of a Different Color!
When I think of The Wizard of Oz, I think of comfort food. It's happy and warm, but also has a hint of melancholy, just enough to make you feel like you want to wish on a rainbow for better days. Shepherd's pie does that for me as well. It's happy, warm, and makes me want to say "There's no place like home."
However, the film also has a scary witch and flying monkeys, so it's not all goodness and light. Not to mention, all the color! So, for this movie recipe, I'm thinking multicolored ground meat, as well as mashed potatoes with a swirled, pastel flair! All you need is some food coloring dye, which you can find at most grocery stores. Mix it into the ground meat (and mashed potatoes) in separate bowls, and you've got a new Easter style classic!
Recipe:
1. 6 russet potatoes (or use an instant mashed potato mix, if you prefer.)
2. A stick of butter (or margarine) & about 1/4 cup of Olive oil
3. About 1/2 cup of milk
4. Salt (to taste)
5. 2 cloves of garlic (or dried garlic)
6. Pepper (to taste)
7. 1 pound of ground meat of your choice (I use Gardein vegetarian "beef" ground)
8. Vegetables of your choice (I usually use typical frozen mixed veggies, but you can use whatever you like: mushrooms, broccoli, corn, zucchini! Go for it!)
9. Sliced (or shredded) Cheddar cheese (This is optional. You don't need cheese, but I love cheese, so... Yeah. Lol)
10. Various food coloring (blue, yellow, red, pink, green)
First, sautee the ground meat in olive oil with minced or dried garlic and a pinch of salt & pepper (or however you like it.) Then, set it aside in a covered bowl.
Next, sautee (or microwave) the veggies with butter, dried garlic, and salt. When it's tender, pour that stuff into the ground meat mixture and cover.
Time to make the mashies! Either do it the hard way (boiling potatoes and mash those suckers with milk and butter), or do it the easier way and use an instant mix. Either way, put it into a big bowl.
Now the coloring! Pour a small bit of the ground meat/veggie mix into smaller bowls and add a hint of color. Of course, it'll be trial by error to get a color you like, but that's part of the fun! Do the same with the mashed potatoes, but make sure to save some of the original mash for some kind of normalcy. Ha!
Then, layer into huge baking pan with depth! Start with the ground meat/veggie mix. (Make sure it's a bit wet with butter/oil, or it won't come out yummy enough.) Be creative with those colors, adding it however you think is pretty!
Next, smear on the layers of mashed potato. It can be one color after another, or swirled around in a playful way. Have fun! Next, add the cheese (optional.)
Bake at about 350 for roughly 30 minutes. (Keep a watch on it, looking for that delicious golden brown on the cheese.)
Now, you'll have a colorful, weird, and wonderful Wizard of Oz Shepherd's Pie! Eat while watching the movie or for a holiday dinner! And when people ask what it is, tell 'em it's a "Pie of a Different Color!" 😄
(If you make this dish, please let me know, and of course, post pics!)
