While we’re all stuck at home for the next several weeks, it may be nice to take a break from our Netflix, Hulu and Disney+ watching and bake up some magic. Our minds could probably use some stimulation about now!
Since the theme parks are currently closed and we can’t get our fix of some of their tasty treats and dishes, why not try and cook them at home? I’ve included some actual food dishes and some treat dishes for you to try. Some are easy and some may take some skill. Either way I hope you have a ton of fun!
Jiko’s Macaroni and Cheese – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Makes 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups whole milk
8 ounces shredded Italian four-cheese blend (such as mozzerella, asiago, fontina, and provolone)
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound elbow macaroni, cooked and kept warm
Preparation
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, stirring until combined. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes, or until golden (do not let brown).
- Add milk to butter mixture, whisking until completely smooth and no lumps remain.
- Simmer mixture, stirring frequently, until sauce coats the back of a spoon, 5 to 8 minutes.
- Add cheese to saucepan in batches, stirring until completely melted. Add salt and pepper, stirring to combine.
Place cooked macaroni in a large bowl. Add cheese sauce, stirring to combine. Serve immediately.
Walt’s Own Chili Recipe – From Walt Disney’s Personal Recipes
Ingredients
Chili
2 lbs. coarse ground beef
2 onions, sliced
2 cloves garlic
1⁄2 cup oil
1 cup chopped celery
1 tsp. chili powder (depending on taste)
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 large can solid pack tomatoes
2 lbs. dry pink beans
Salt
For Extra Zest
Add a punch of the following spices:
1 little yellow Mexican chili pepper
Coriander seeds
Turmeric
Chili seeds
Cumin seeds
Fennel seeds
Cloves
Cinnamon
Dry ginger
Preparation
Soak beans overnight in cold water. Drain, add water to cover (2 inches over beans), and simmer with onions until tender (about 4 hours). Meanwhile, prepare sauce by browning meat and minced garlic in oil. Add remaining ingredients, and simmer for 1 hour. When beans are tender, add sauce to beans and simmer for 1⁄2 hour. Serves 6 to 8.
EPCOT’S Watermelon Salad – EPCOT Theme Park
Balsamic Vinaigrette
1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons finely diced shallots
2 tablespoons roasted garlic
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Pickled Onions
1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons grenadine syrup
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 pound red onions, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick rings
Watermelon Salad
4 cups cubed seedless watermelon
3 cups baby arugula
1/4 cup white balsamic vinaigrette
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/4 cup pickled onion
1/4 cup balsamic glaze
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Balsamic Vinaigrette
Blend white balsamic vinegar, shallots, garlic, honey, and lemon juice in a blender until well combined. With blender running, slowly drizzle in olive oil. Blend until thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Pickled Onions
If using frozen raspberries, thaw. Purée raspberries in a food processor. Pour purée through a fine-mesh sieve. Discard seeds; set puree aside. Combine raspberry purée, water, sugar, grenadine, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring to dissolve salt and sugar. Add onions; stir to coat, then remove from heat. Set aside 20 minutes.
Watermelon Salad
Divide watermelon among plates. Toss arugula with white balsamic vinaigrette in a medium bowl and lightly season with salt and pepper. Top each portion of watermelon with arugula. Top each serving with 2 to 3 pickled onion rings, then sprinkle with feta. Drizzle with balsamic glaze.
S’mores Bake – Big Thunder Ranch BBQ
Ingredients
1 (10.5-ounce) box fudge brownie mix
1 (1-pound) bag large marshmallows
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons hot fudge sauce, warmed
8 graham crackers
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 9×13 cake pan with cooking spray. Prepare brownie batter per package directions and pour into prepared cake pan. Bake 20 to 22 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs clinging to it.
2. Turn oven to broil.
3. Place marshmallows over brownies. Leaving oven door ajar, place marshmallow-topped brownies under broiler 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until marshmallows are golden brown, watching very closely to avoid burning.
4. Drizzle hot fudge sauce over top of toasted marshmallows.
5. Take half of the graham crackers and break them into planks; crush other half of graham crackers into crumbs.
6. Sprinkle crushed graham crackers over top of toasted marshmallows, and place graham cracker planks randomly into toasted marshmallows. Serve immediately.
As to recipes © Disney
