(Editor’s note: This article was written by Shandi; personal chef to one big nerd, and three little nerdlings.)
With Thanksgiving right around the corner here are some last minute recipe ideas to satisfy your hunger and your inner nerd.
Appetizer
Crab Stuffed Baked Cyclon Raiders (Battlestar Galactica)
Ingredients:
1 large green onion, white and green part minced and chopped
2 tablespoons roasted red peppers (or jarred minced pimentos)
1/2 lb crabmeat (Fresh or vacuum packed packaged and press it dry through a mesh strainer)
2/3 cup breadcrumbs
1 egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
1/3 cup mayonnaise
4 tablespoons fresh parsley (minced very finely)
paprika, for lightly sprinkling
Crescent Rolls
Directions:
Mix ingredients and roll into crescent rolls. Use a tiny red pepper for the eye of the Cyclon Raider. Bake according to crescent roll packaging.
source: http://www.ghoulfriday.com/excuse_me_while_i_geek_out_battlestar_galactica
Drink – Alcoholic
Captain Jack Harness Emergency Protocol 417 (Doctor Who)
Ingredients:
2 parts Gin
2 parts Vodka
1/2 part Dry vermouth
1 Lemon twist
Directions:
Stir gin to chill and strain into a martini glass. With fresh ice, shake vodka and vermouth vigorously. Strain into same glass as gin. Take a lemon twist, rim the glass, and garnish. Sip and muse on the impossible.
source: http://www.thedrunkenmoogle.com/tagged/CLICK+FOR+MORE+DRINKS
Drink – Non-Alcoholic
Butterbeer (Harry Potter)
Ingredients:
1 cup (8 oz) club soda or cream soda
1/2 cup (4 oz) butterscotch syrup (ice cream topping)
1/2 tablespoon butter
Directions:
Measure butterscotch and butter into a 2 cup (16 oz) glass. Microwave on high for 1 to 1-1/2 minutes, or until syrup is bubbly and butter is completely incorporated.
Stir and cool for 30 seconds, then slowly mix in club soda. Mixture will fizz quite a bit.
Serve in two coffee mugs or small glasses; a perfectly warm Hogwarts treat for two!
source: http://www.mugglenet.com/misc/rosmertas/butterbeer.shtml
Salad
Jar Jar Salad (Star Wars)
- (You now have the chance to destroy Jar Jar Binks, you’re welcome.)
Ingredients:
1 large jicama. Though you might want to get an extra as a backup!
2 large carrots
1 cup red onion
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 large tomato
2 ripe limes
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
Pinch of ground cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons cilantro
Directions:
Create Jar Jar by following the instructions on the link below.
Julien the remaining vegetables. For the dressing: Squeeze the limes into a separate, small bowl and whisk in the vinegar, honey, olive oil and cayenne pepper. Salt and pepper to taste.
Pour the lime mixture over the chopped veggies, add the chopped cilantro and toss. Carefully place Jar Jar in the middle, then let sit for 30 minutes.
source: http://www.onlyknives.com/jar-jar-binks-salad-a-food-carving-how-to-guide/
Or if you’re really ambitious, try to recreate this Alien Salad: http://www.framebox.de/creations/3d/salad/index.htm
Main Course
Baked York Ham (The Chronicles of Narnia)
Ingredients
1 12-14 lb York Ham (substitute for country ham such as Smithfield if necessary)
1.5 cups of ale
1 Tablespoon Whole Cloves
2 Tablespoons English Mustard
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Honey
Directions:
Place the ham in a large pot and cover completely with cool water. Drain and refill every 8 hours for 48 hours
Preheat the oven to 425. Line a large roasting pan with foil extending 12 inches over each side. Remove the ham from the water and put in the middle of the pan. Cover the ham with ale. Then completely cover with foil, creating a tent. The foil should be tightly sealed with room for air to circulate. Bake for 3.5-4 hours.
30 min before end of cooking time, remove from the oven. Uncover the ham and remove the skin leaving behind as much fat as you can. Score the fat in a diamond pattern with a sharp knife. Stud the center of each diamond with a clove.
Combine English Mustard, brown sugar and honey in a bowl to make a glaze. Brush the glaze over the ham. Return to oven, reduce heat to 350 and cook for 30 min.
When the ham is done, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 15 min. Slice and serve.
source: The Unofficial Narnia Cookbook
Side Dish
Lembas Bread (Hobbit / Lord of the Rings)
Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 cup honey (preferably orange)
1 tablespoon orange zest
2 teaspoons orange flower water (optional)
3 ounces blanched almonds
1/4 cup melted butter
2 1/4 cups semolina flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions:
Mix eggs, honey, orange peel, orange flower water, and almonds in blender on high for 3 minutes.
Add 1 cup flour; blend for one minute.
Scrape in bowl and add remaining flour and salt.
Whisk until well blended.
Drop spoonfuls on hot pizzelle or krumkake iron and bake for 15 seconds or until lightly browned.
source: http://www.food.com/recipe/lembas-81995
Vegetable
Spiced Squash (Game of Thrones)
Ingredients:
1 large acorn squash
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
In a small saucepan, heat the maple syrup over medium heat, stirring in the spices. Stir constantly over heat for 3 minutes, do not boil. Remove syrup from heat. Cut the acorn squash into slices about 1 inch thick, removing the seeds. Arrange in one layer in a baking dish. Spoon the syrup mixture over the squash, and cook in a 375 F oven till tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven, drizzle more heated syrup over the top, and serve.
source: http://www.innatthecrossroads.com/2011/11/21/spiced-squash/
Dessert
Pumpkin Pi (Mathematics)
Ingredients:
2 pie crusts
-
2 cups cooked, canned, or mashed pumpkin
-
2 slightly beaten eggs
-
3/4 cup brown sugar
-
1 teaspoon cinnamon
-
1/2 teaspoon ginger
-
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg or allspice
-
1/2 teaspoon cloves
-
1 pint of melted vanilla ice cream (optional)
Recipe
Line a pie pan with pie dough. Bake at 425ºF, until lightly brown (also known as “blind baking”). Be sure to prick some holes in the base to allow steam to escape.
At this point, set aside a little of the pie dough to cut and shape the Pi symbol. Place it in the oven to bake as well. Follow the image for your template, or even cut a template out using light cardboard.
Combine and mix the pumpkin with the eggs. Mix both ingredients well.
Add the brown sugar in and mix again so that the brown sugar is well folded into the mixture.
Combine the spices to the pint of melted ice cream.
Pour the ice cream mixture into the pumpkin mix. Mix until well blended so that the white streaks from the ice cream disappear. Pour the mixture into the pie shell.
Bake at 425ºF for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350ºF/180ºC and bake about 45 minutes longer or until inserted knife comes out clean.
Allow to cool slightly. Add the Pi symbol.
Serve with whipped cream.
source: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Pi-Day-Pie
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And just in time for Christmas, here are some great gift ideas for the Nerd Chef in your life…
Nerd Cookbooks:
The Unofficial Narnia Cookbook
A Feast of Ice and Fire: The Official Game of Thrones Companion Cookbook
The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook