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Monday, July 31, 2023

Happy Haunts Materialize At Disney World

Haunted Mansion
Disney

It seems a few of the Haunted Mansion's resident ghosts have decided to come out for a swinging wake to celebrate the theatrical release of Disney's Haunted Mansion movie. These happy haunts usually only appear during the Boo to You Parade at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

Sunday, July 30, 2023

Quote of the Week

Barbie Quote
Warner Brothers

That's life. It's all change.

Gloria, Barbie

Saturday, July 29, 2023

Photo of the Week

Disneyland Paris

The Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris is much more ghoulish than the Haunted Mansion. Even the swinging wake is marred by the evil Phantom who stalks the young bride.

Friday, July 28, 2023

Grim Grinning Ghosts Come Out To Socialize!

Disney's Haunted Mansion
Disney

Disney's new Haunted Mansion movie has finally arrived! Are you ready to see a few grim grinning ghosts?


Haunted Mansion is in theaters now.

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Cherry Cookie Recipe From Disney

Riviera Signature Cookie Recipe
Disney

Do you like cherries and cookies? (Who doesn't, right?) Then these Signature Cookies from Disney's Riviera Resort are for you. And now, you can even make them at home with this delicious recipe from Disney

Riviera Signature Cookie from Primo Piatto
Makes 18-24 cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp coarse salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 1/4 cup oats, ground
3/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, ground
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups brown sugar, packed
1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp molasses
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1 1/4 cup pistachios, finely chopped
1 1/4 cup dried cherries, finely chopped
1 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Sea salt flakes, to taste

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper; set aside.

Sift flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Stir in ground oats and ground chocolate chips; set aside.

Cream butter, both sugars, and molasses in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat on low speed until fully incorporated. Add vanilla and beat, scraping the bowl as needed, for 1 minute.

Add 1/3 of flour mixture and beat on low speed until just mixed. Continue with remaining flour. Add walnuts, pistachios, dried cherries, and mini chocolate chips and mix on low speed until fully incorporated into dough.

Place six (1/4 cup) balls of dough on baking sheet. Flatten slightly and top with desired amount of sea salt flakes.

Bake for 12 minutes. Cool for 2 minutes before moving to wire racks. Repeat with remaining dough.

Cook’s Note: For a thinner, crispier cookie, preheat oven to 375°F and bake for 7 minutes. Reduce heat to 350° and bake 3 additional minutes.

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival 2023

Canada
All images: Disney

The EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival kicks off tomorrow. This fun and tasty festival is an exceedingly long one this year, running everyday until November 18. And there are so many delicious delights to try, if will be hard to know where to start. And be on the lookout for dishes from Emile's Fromage Montage. Purchase five of Emile's favorite cheesy dishes, collectings stamps as you go. Then head to Shimmering Sips for a special prize. 

Here are the menus from this year's Global Marketplaces.

Canada 
  • Canadian Cheddar and Bacon Soup served with a pretzel roll 🧀
  • Canadian Filet Mignon served with mushrooms, Boursin Black Truffle & Sea Salt mashed potatoes and a Boursin Black Truffle & Sea Salt whipped butter
  • Collective Arts Brewing Audio/Visual Lager
  • Château des Charmes Cabernet Sauvignon
Ireland

Ireland
 
  • Fisherman’s Seafood Pie 
  • Roasted Irish Sausage with colcannon potatoes and onion gravy 
  • Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake with Irish cream liqueur custard 
  • Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale
  • Bunratty Mead Honey Wine 
  • Guinness Baileys Coffee Shake 
France

France
  • Beignet aux Trois Fromages: Warm beignet filled with three cheese blend 
  • Croissant aux Escargots: Escargot croissant with garlic and parsley 
  • Boeuf Bourguignon, Pommes Dauphine: Braised short ribs in cabernet with puffed potatoes 
  • Crème Brûlée Vanille à la Confiture de Fraises: Vanilla crème brûlée with house-made strawberry jam 
  • Strawberry Rose Mimosa: Pol Remy Sparkling Wine, orange juice, and Monin Strawberry Rose 
  • Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 🧁
  • Chardonnay 🧁
  • Parisian Cosmo Slush: Vodka, Grey Goose Le Citron Vodka, Grand Marnier, and cranberry juice 🧁
Brazil

Brazil
 
  • Feijoada: Black beans with pork belly, Brazil nut pesto, and BEN’S ORIGINAL Long Grain White Rice 
  • Pão de Queijo: Brazilian cheese bread (Emile’s Fromage Montage)
  • Xingu Brazilian Black Lager
  • Frozen Caipirinha with cachaça
Belgium

Belgium 
  • Beer-braised Beef served with gouda mashed potatoes 
  • Belgian Waffle with warm chocolate ganache 
  • Belgian Waffle with berry compote and whipped cream 
  • Belgian Chilled Coffee 🧋
  • Brasserie D’Achouffe Houblon Chouffe IPA 🧁
  • Delirium Red Fruit Belgian Ale
  • Brewery Van Steenberge Gulden Draak Tripel Ale 🧁
  • Belgian Chilled Coffee featuring ChocoLat Deluxe Salted Caramel Chocolate Liqueur 
  • Beer Flight 
Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina (Morocco)

Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina (Morocco)
  • Grilled Kebabs with carrot-chickpea salad and garlic aïoli
  • Chermoula Chicken 
  • Moroccan-spiced Lamb 
  • Falafel Pita with Tahini Sauce 🥕
  • Stone-baked Moroccan Bread with hummus, chermoula, and Zhoug dips 🥕
  • Pistachio Cake with cinnamon pastry cream and candied walnuts 
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Fig Hard Cider
  • Keel Farms Raspberry Citrus Hard Cider 🧁
  • Blake’s Hard Cider Co. Peach Party Peach & Blackberry Hard Cider 🧁
  • Fig Cocktail with fig vodka, sparkling wine, and cranberry juice
  • Hard Cider Flight 
  • CORKCICLE Stemless Flute 
Greece

Greece
  • Spanakopita 
  • Griddled Cheese with pistachios and honey  🧀
  • Lamb Gyro with shaved lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and tzatziki on warm flatbread 
  • Plant-based IMPOSSIBLE Moussaka 🧁🥕
  • Mylonas Winery Assyrtiko White Wine 
  • Skouras ‘Zoe’ Rosé 
  • Kir-Yianni Naoussa Xinomavro Dry Red 
  • Wine Flight 
Japan

Japan
  • Teriyaki Chicken Bun: Steamed bun filled with chicken, vegetables, and teriyaki sauce 
  • Fire Taiko Roll: Sushi roll with spicy tuna, cucumber, and pickled daikon radish served with spicy sauce 🧁
  • Beef Wa-Gyu Don: Traditional Japanese rice bowl with American wagyu beef over steamed white rice 🧁
  • Sake Passion Cocktail 🧁
  • Moon on the Water Sake 🧁
  • Brew Hub Momo Amber Ale 🧁
Flavors of America

Flavors of America 
  • Italian Hot Beef Sandwich with shaved beef, spicy giardiniera, and au jus on a French roll 🧁
  • Cioppino: Seafood Stew with saffron-infused tomato-fennel broth and crostini 🧁
  • Chilaquiles: Corn tortilla chips tossed in salsa verde with ranchero chicken, queso fresco, cilantro-lime crema, and a soft-poached egg 🧁
  • Freshly Baked Carrot Cake with walnuts and cream cheese icing 
  • Rogue Dreamland American Lager
  • Goose Island Beer Co. Neon Beer Hug
  • Left Hand Brewing Sawtooth Amber Ale
  • Beer Flight 
Funnel Cake

Funnel Cake
  • Candied Bacon Funnel Cake: Funnel Cake topped with Vanilla Ice Cream, Candied Bacon, and Maple Syrup Drizzle 🧁
Italy

Italy
  • Focaccia Ripiena: Freshly-baked focaccia, beef meatballs, tomato sauce, and burrata cheese 🧁
  • Cavatelli with sweet sausage ragoût and crispy Applewood-smoked bacon 🧁
  • Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake with vanilla cream and strawberry compote 🧁
  • Prosecco 
  • Moscato 
  • Chianti 
  • Italian Sangria (Red or White)
  • Italian Margarita with tequila and limoncello 
  • Peroni Pilsner 
Spain

Spain
 
  • Charcuterie in a Cup with a selection of imported Spanish meats, cheeses, olives, and an herbed serrano vinaigrette 🧀
  • Paella with saffron rice, chorizo, and shrimp 
  • Seafood Salad with shrimp, bay scallops, mussels, extra virgin olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, and smoked paprika 
  • Viña Borgia Macabeo White Sangria 🧁
  • Viña Borgia Rosé Sangria 🧁
  • Viña Borgia Garnacha Red Sangria 🧁
  • Sangria Flight 🧁
Germany

Germany
 
  • Schinkennudeln: Pasta gratin with ham, onions, and cheese 🧀
  • Bratwurst on a Pretzel Roll with mustard
  • Apple Strudel with vanilla sauce
  • Gaffel Kölsch
  • Weihenstephaner Festbier
  • Schöfferhofer Prickly Pear Hefeweizen
  • Selbach-Oster Riesling
  • Dr. Lo Alcohol-Removed Riesling 🧁
  • Beer Flight 
The Alps

The Alps 
  • Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese with shaved ham, baby potatoes, cornichons, and baguette 🧀
  • Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese with baby potatoes, cornichons, and baguette 🧀
  • Dark Chocolate Fondue with berries, pound cake, and meringues 🧁
  • Stiegl Brewery Key Lime Radler
  • Huber Vision Grüner Veltliner
  • Frozen Rosé
Refreshment Outpost

Refreshment Outpost
  • Spicy Githeri with white beans, pigeon peas, curried BEN’S ORIGINAL Long Grain & Wild Rice, and kachumbari slaw 🥕
  • Gulf Stream Brewing Co. Cloud 9 Watermelon Hibiscus Lager 🧁
  • Ciderboys Mango Tango Hard Cider 🧁
  • North Coast Brewing Co. PranQster Golden Ale 🧁
Kenya

Kenya
 
  • Kenyan Coffee Barbecued Beef with sweet potato-corn mealie pap and kachumbari slaw 
  • Peri-Peri Skewered Shrimp with citrus-flavored couscous 
  • 81Bay Brewing Co. Congo Pilsner
India

India
  • Curry-spiced Crispy Cheese with mango-curry ketchup 🧀
  • Potato and Pea Samosa with coriander-lime cream 🥕
  • Chicken Tikka Masala with fennel-spiced yogurt and naan bread 
  • Mango Lassi🧋
  • Taj Mahal Premium Lager
  • SULA Brut Tropicale Sparkling Wine
  • SULA Chenin Blanc
  • Mango Lassi with Sōmrus Chai Cream Liqueur 
  • CORKCICLE Stemless Flute
China

China
  • Pan-fried Chicken Dumplings with house-made sweet-and-spicy sauce 
  • Crispy Duck Bao Bun with hoisin sauce 🧁
  • Dandan Noodles: Spicy pork with Sichuan sauce, peanut butter, and sesame 
  • Passion Fruit Bubble Tea 🧋
  • Fiery Dream: Citrus vodka, triple sec, guava nectar, and spicy hot honey syrup 
  • ByeJoe Punch: Chinese BaiJiu spirit, piña colada mix, lychee syrup, and sparkling water 
  • Fireworks: Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila, citrus vodka, orange juice, and mango syrup 
  • Brew Hub Lychee Foo Draft Beer
Mexico

Mexico
  • Tostada de Carnitas: Braised pork on a fried corn tortilla with black beans, avocado mousse, queso fresco, and chives 🧁
  • Taco de Costilla: Slow-braised beef short rib on a corn tortilla with salsa de chile morita, avocado mousse, and spring onions 🧁
  • Pastel Imposible: Layers of traditional Mexican flan and tres leches with guava and cajeta 🧁
  • Mexican Craft Beer 
  • Trouble in Paradise Margarita: Ilegal Mezcal, Combier Watermelon Liqueur, Rosé Wine, Lime Juice, and Agave with a Chili-Lime Powder Rim 🧁
  • Fly Away Margarita: Nocheluna Sotol, Pineapple-Ginger Juice, Chile Ancho Verde Liqueur, and Ambhar Blanco Tequila with a Sweet Dried Chili Salt Rim 🧁
The Noodle Exchange

The Noodle Exchange (Opening August 15)
  • Shaved Beef Ramen with shiitake mushrooms, pickled carrots and daikon radish, shaved peppers, and a soy egg in citrus-sesame broth 
  • IMPOSSIBLE Pork Ramen with shiitake mushrooms, pickled carrots and daikon radish, baby bok choy, and a soy egg in savory chicken broth 
  • Thai Shrimp with rice noodles, shiitake mushrooms, and basil in coconut-curry broth
  • Tofu Ramen with shiitake mushrooms, pickled carrots and daikon radish, shaved peppers, and baby bok choy in citrus-sesame broth 🥕
  • Parish Brewing Strawberry Mochi Berliner Weisse 🧁
  • Pacific Rim Solstice Vineyard Old Vine Riesling 🧁
Brew-Wing Lab at the Odyssey

Brew-Wing Lab at the Odyssey
  • Peanut Butter and Jelly Sticky Wings 
  • Garlic-Parmesan Wings 
  • Orange-Cardamom Wings 🧁
  • Traditional Buffalo Wings with celery and ranch 
  • IMPOSSIBLE Buffalo Chicken Tenders with plant-based blue cheese, plant-based ranch, and celery 🧁🥕
  • Unnecessarily Spicy, Yet Extremely Tasty Scotch Bonnet Pepper-Curry Wings with cool cucumber yogurt 🧁
  • Buffalo Brussels Sprouts with plant-based blue cheese and plant-based ranch 🥕
  • Frozen Fusion: Twinings Pomegranate and Raspberry Herbal Tea fused with orange ice cream molecules 🧋🧁
  • Pickle Milkshake 🧋🧁
  • Sun King Brewing Caipirinha Lager 🧁
  • Brew Hub French Connection IPA 🧁
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Old Fashion Porter 🧁
  • Beer Flight 
  • Blake’s Hard Cider Co. Tropicolada Hard Cider 🧁
  • Bold Rock Peach Berry Hard Cider 🧁
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Raspberry Lemonade Hard Cider 🧁
  • Cider Flight 
Flavors from Fire

Flavors from Fire
 
  • The IMPOSSIBLE Burger Slider with wasabi cream and spicy Asian slaw on a sesame seed bun 🥕
  • Smoked Corned Beef with house-made potato chips, cheese curds, pickled onions, and beer-cheese fondue 🧀
  • Chimichurri Marinated Skirt Steak Taco with crushed avocado, grilled corn salsa, pickled red onions, queso fresco, and cilantro-lime cream 🧁
  • Spiced Chocolate Tart with BBQ potato chip crust, salted whisky-caramel, and smoked sea salt 🧁
  • Saugatuck Brewing Company Bonfire Beer
  • Four Virtues Bourbon Barrel Zinfandel
  • Swine Brine featuring Jim Beam Bourbon
The Fry Basket

The Fry Basket
 
  • Adobo Yuca Fries with garlic-cilantro aïoli 🥕
  • Fry Flight: Sea Salt and Malt Vinegar Fries 🥕, BBQ Bacon Fries with smoked aïoli, Sweet Potato Casserole Fries with candied pecans, toasted marshmallow cream, and maple bourbon glaze
  • Pickle Fries with dill ranch 🧁
  • Salty Dog Cocktail: Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka with grapefruit juice, ginger, simple syrup, and lime with a salted rim 
  • Stone Brewing Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager 🧁
Coastal Eats

Coastal Eats
  • Lump Crab Cake with Cajun-spiced vinegar slaw 
  • Oysters Rockefeller
  • Wildly Brut Cuvée 🧁
  • Cape Codder: Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka with cranberry, pomegranate, and lime 
  • CORKCICLE Stemless Flute 
Char & Chop

Char & Chop (Opening Later This Fall)
🧁
  • Roasted Porchetta with lemon-parsley salsa verde and shaved fennel salad 🧁
  • Grilled IMPOSSIBLE Spicy Sausage with herbed polenta, puttanesca sauce, and ricotta 🧁 
  • Meat Assorti: Trio of shaved meats with baby arugula, pickled mustard seeds, truffle oil, and grilled ciabatta 🧁
  • Krombacher Pilsner 🧁
  • North Coast Laguna Baja Vienna Lager 🧁
  • Motorworks Brewing Midnight Espresso Coffee Porter 🧁
  • GoGi ‘Birdie’ Pinot Noir
  • Bloody Mary with Seaside Grown Bloody Mary Mix and Kurvball Barbecue Whiskey 
  • Beer Flight 
Wine & Wedge

Wine & Wedge (Opening Later This Fall)
🧁
  • Assorted Artisanal Cheeses and Accompaniments 🧁🧀
  • Boursin Fig & Balsamic Soufflé with fig tapenade 🧁🧀
  • Southern Pimento Cheese with bread-and-butter pickled vegetables and grilled bread 🧁🧀
  • Artist Palette of Wine and Cheese: Assorted Artisanal Cheeses and Accoutrements paired with Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese, Hartley Apple Brandy, and Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port 🧁
  • Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese 🧁
  • Hartley Apple Brandy 🧁
  • Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port 🧁
  • Flight 
Hawaii

Hawaii (Opening August 15) 
  • Kālua Pork Slider with Sweet-and-Sour DOLE Pineapple Chutney and spicy mayonnaise 
  • SPAM Sushi with sushi rice, Teriyaki-glazed SPAM, spicy mayonnaise, eel sauce, and nori 
  • Passion Fruit Cheesecake with toasted macadamia nuts 🧀
  • Kona Brewing Co. Hanalei Island IPA
  • Florida Orange Groves Sparkling Pineapple Wine
  • AULANI Sunrise: Vodka, DOLE Pineapple Juice, and grenadine
Bubbles & Brine

Bubbles & Brine (Opening Later This Fall) 🧁
  • Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with prosecco cocktail sauce and grilled lemon 🧁
  • Jonah Crab Claw Cocktail with stone-ground mustard sauce 🧁
  • Moët & Chandon Impérial
  • Veuve Clicquot Rosé
  • Dom Pérignon
Shimmering Sips

Shimmering Sips hosted by CORKCICLE
  • Guava Cake with whipped cream and coconut 🥕
  • Tropical Mimosa with sparkling wine and Minute Maid Passion Fruit, orange, and guava juices 
  • Berry Mimosa with berry fizz sparkling wine and white cranberry juice 🧁
  • Blood Orange Mimosa with sparkling wine and blood orange juice 
  • Beer Mimosa: Boulevard Brewing Co. Berry Noir Sour Ale and sparkling wine 
  • Mimosa Flight 
  • CORKCICLE Stemless Flute 
Swirled Showcase (Opening Later This Fall) 🧁
  • Mickey-shaped Liquid Nitro Cake 
  • Soft-serve in a Waffle Cone: Vanilla, Apple-Cinnamon, Salted Caramel
  • Cream Soda Float with vanilla soft-serve 
  • Fanta Grape Float with vanilla soft-serve 
  • Frozen Apple Pie 🧋
  • Cinnamon Apple Cider 🧋
  • 3 Daughters Toasted Coconut Porter
  • 3 Daughters Toasted Coconut Porter Float with vanilla soft-serve
  • Berry Fizz Fragolino Red Sparkling Wine Float with vanilla soft-serve
Australia

Australia
 
  • Sweet-and-Spicy Bush Berry Shrimp with pepper, onion, snap peas, and sweet chili sauce 
  • Roasted Lamb Chop with mint pesto and potato crunchies
  • Lamington: Yellow cake with raspberry filling with chocolate and coconut 
  • Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ Viognier 
  • Château Tanunda Grand Barossa Shiraz
Refreshment Port

Refreshment Port 
  • Braised Beef Poutine: French fries with braised beef, Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs cheese sauce, cheese curds, crumbled Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs, and gherkin relish
  • Boulevard Brewing Co. Quirk Pineapple Orange Whip Hard Seltzer
  • Florida Orange Groves Winery Sparkling Peach
  • CORKCICLE Stemless Flute 
Connections Cafe and Connections Eatery

Connections Cafe 
  • Remy Liege Waffle: Cream cheese Liege waffle with cream cheese icing, graham cracker crumbs, and a Remy chocolate garnish 
Connections Eatery 
  • Remy Liege Waffle: Cream cheese Liege waffle with cream cheese icing, graham cracker crumbs, and a Remy chocolate garnish 
  • Yucatan Sunset Margarita: Teremana Blanco Tequila, passion fruit syrup, Bols Triple Sec 30 proof Liqueur with lime and orange juices
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company
  • The American Adventure – Nutty Caramel Mocha Cold Brew: A sweet blend of caramel mudslide cold brew, caramel syrup, peanut butter syrup, and chocolate syrup topped with whipped cream and caramel sauce (Spirited version available with Carolans Peanut Butter Irish Cream Liqueur) 🧁
  • Near Canada – Frozen Roseberry: A refreshing blend of frozen lemon and strawberry-rose syrup (Spirited version available with Grey Goose Vodka) 🧁 
  • World Discovery (Near Mission: SPACE) – Amaretto Iced Tea: A sweet and nutty blend of black iced tea and amaretto syrup (Spirited version available with Citrónge Orange Liqueur) 🧁
  • World Showcase (Near Disney Traders) – Java Horchata: A sweet blend of espresso and horchata topped with whipped cream and cinnamon (Spirited version available with Grey Goose Vodka and Kahlúa Liqueur) 🧁








🧁 - New
🥕 - Plant Based
🧀 - Emile's Fromage Montage
🧋 - Non-alcoholic

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Escape The Haunted Mansion

Disney's Haunted Mansion
Disney

The race to escape the Haunted Mansion begins this Friday. It looks so fantastically spooky and silly that I can't wait to see it. Do you dare to enter this Haunted Mansion? 


Disney's Haunted Mansion arrives in theaters on July 28th.

Monday, July 24, 2023

This New The Marvels Trailer Is Marvelous

The Marvels
Marvel

A new trailer for Marvel's The Marvels has arrived and it looks marvelous. Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan teaming up with Nick Fury to stop a new villain? What could be better?


Here's the official synopsis from Marvel: 

Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan, Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol's estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau. Together, this unlikely trio must team-up and learn to work in concert to save the universe as "The Marvels."

Marvel Studios' "The Marvels" stars Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Zawe Ashton, Gary Lewis, Park Seo-joon, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Saagar Shaikh, and Samuel L. Jackson.

The Marvels arrives in theaters on November 10th.

Sunday, July 23, 2023

Quote of the Week

Call the Midwife Quote
BBC


I do not believe in weeds.
A weed is simply a flower
that someone decides is in the wrong place.

- Sister Monica Joan, Call the Midwife

Saturday, July 22, 2023

Friday, July 21, 2023

He's Just Ken

Barbie
Warner Brothers

I saw the Barbie movie yesterday and I absolutely loved it! It was funny, and serious, and true, and musical, and I can't wait to watch it again. Greta Gerwig definitely knew what she was doing with this movie. And Ken's song about being "Just Ken" is hilarious! Here's a brief clip of the song from Warner Brothers. 


Barbie arrives in theaters today, July 21st.

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Barbie

Warner Brothers

The kiddo and I are headed to the movies to see Barbie today. It looks absolutely hilarious!


Here's the official synopsis from Warner Brothers:

To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place.  Unless you have a full-on existential crisis.  Or you’re a Ken.

Barbie arrives in theaters tomorrow, July 21st.

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Haunted Mansion Trailer

Disney's Haunted Mansion
Disney

Disney's Haunted Mansion looks better and better. The latest trailer looks both spooky and hilarious. I can't wait!


Haunted Mansion arrives in theaters on July 28th.

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Pineapple Cupcake Recipe From Disney

Pineapple Cupcakes
Disney

I love Dole Whip, but it's not the easiest thing to make at home. When you're craving Dole Whip and just can't make it to the park, why not try these Pineapple Cupcakes from the Contempo Cafè at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. They're easy to make and look delightful. 

Pineapple Cupcakes Inspired by Dole Whip
Makes 12 Cupcakes

Pineapple Mousse
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup whole milk
3 Tbsp pineapple-flavored powdered gelatin

Whip heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment until soft peaks form. Set aside.

Heat milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until very hot, but not boiling. Whisk in gelatin and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and cool for 10 minutes.

Fold gelatin mixture into whipped cream until fully incorporated. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, up to 2 days.

Pineapple Buttercream
1 Tbsp pineapple juice
3 Tbsp pineapple-flavored powdered gelatin
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbsp whole milk

Combine pineapple juice and gelatin in small bowl, stirring until gelatin is dissolved. Set aside.

Cream shortening and softened butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until fluffy. Add gelatin mixture and beat on medium speed until fully incorporated. 

Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and beat on low speed until fully mixed. Increase to medium speed and beat, scraping side of bowl as needed, until frosting is stiff.

Add milk, one teaspoon at a time, until buttercream is light and fluffy. Divide buttercream in half and store in two airtight containers until ready to use.

Cupcakes
12 vanilla cupcakes, from a favorite recipe or box mix
Yellow food coloring
Orange food coloring
12 maraschino cherries

Using a 1-inch cookie cutter or apple corer, cut hole about 2/3 of the way down the center of each cupcake. Fill with reserved pineapple mousse. Using an offset spatula, remove any excess mousse from the top of the cupcake.

Add a few drops of yellow and orange food coloring to one of the reserved pineapple buttercream containers until desired shade of yellow is achieved.

Place white buttercream in a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Spoon yellow buttercream in a second piping bag fitted with a star tip of the same size.

Pipe buttercream on cupcakes, alternating between yellow and white to create a soft-serve swirl look. Top with maraschino cherry.

Monday, July 17, 2023

Ghost Hunters Assemble

Disney's Haunted Mansion
Disney

Disney has assembled quite the team of ghost hunters for the Haunted Mansion. But will they be a match for the Hat Box Ghost? Only time will tell...


Disney's Haunted Mansion materializes in theaters on July 28th.

Sunday, July 16, 2023

Quote of the Week

Poirot Quote
ITV

When one is unique, one knows it. 

Saturday, July 15, 2023

Photo of the Week

Popcorn Bucket

Somehow, popcorn tastes better when it comes in a special bucket. This Indiana Jones bucket is my new favorite.

Friday, July 14, 2023

He's Been Dying to Have You...

Disney's Haunted Mansion
Disney

The Hat Box Ghost in Disney's Haunted Mansion terrorizes the living AND the dead. And he wants to add to his collection of ghosts.


Haunted Mansion arrives in theaters on July 28th.