I know, I know—this should have been one of the first movie menus I created, and I don’t disagree! Despite a busy year, I made sure to squeeze it in. My favorite part of creating these menus is discovering unique ingredients or recipes I wouldn’t have known about otherwise. Let’s just say, Lingonberry Jam  will always have a spot in my fridge from now on! I aim to keep these menus simple yet, most importantly, fun! I hope you and your family enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed creating it. Happy Holidays! Don't want family time to be over once that the movie has ended? There's Q&A section at the bottom of this page; it can ignite a conversation with the kids once the movie ends. Movies affect us differently due to our individual biases and perspectives. The Q&A helped me understand my kids better, and vice versa. It provided an opportunity to share my viewpoint and hear theirs. Often, it turned into a valuable teaching moment. Make the most of this extra time with them while you have their attention. NOTE: The content below may contain spoilers A Christmas Story on Your Table BESURETODRINKYOUROVALTINE, Chinese Turkey and Mommy's Little Piggy dessert Movie Inspired Drink: BESURETODRINKYOUROVALTINE Let me get this straight: I fill out a membership form for the Little Orphan Annie Secret Circle and wait weeks to finally receive an official letter signed in ink, along with a gold-plated pin/decoder. I eagerly anticipate the evening when I finally receive the secret message, lock myself in the bathroom so I can decode it in peace, and it turns out to be just a crummy commercial! I would have been mad too! It’s no surprise that I'm including a tall glass of OVALTINE  on my menu, garnished with a pink bunny. While it symbolizes a big glass of disappointment, it doesn’t have to taste like one! NOTE: Pink PEEPs are not in season during this time. You'll never find it at the store. You'll have to order them online ahead of time. Movie Inspired Meal: Chinese Turkey with Red Cabbage I know what your thinking where is the turkey dinner? but if you remeber the neighbors dogs broke into the house and ate their turkey, ruinging the amazing dinner Ralphie's mom was working on all day. The best part of the scene besides the waiters singing "Deck the Halls" was how this family turned an unfortunate event into a memorable one and the first time they were introduced to Chinese Turkey, so I had to go with the duck. I also had the option of going with more traditional Chinese sides, which technically you can do but I wanted to try the sides the mom was cooking throughout the movie, which was mashed potatoes and red cabbage and I was not dissapointed. For the mashed potatoes I went with the box, so grab your favorite brand or make it from scratch whatever time allows. As for the red cabbage, this was my first time ever making this and at first I had to reach out to some friends because I had no idea what it was. I ended up making this about 2 days before I served the dinner. It heats up really fast and tasted just as good. I followed the recipe from " Taste better from scratch ", the only difference was that I added 2 TBPS of Lingonberry Jam to it at the end, which I purchased at the World Market. SIDE NOTE: I had never heard of Lingonberry Jam and I gotta say it's my new favorite Jam, and so far I've been putting it on everything. I ran into it while researching some recipes for red cabbage, some had this jam as an option to add at the end. TIP:  If you don't want to make the red cabbage from scratch you can always purchase it ready in a jar from ( Aunt Nellie’s ). I've never tried it so I can't say whether it's good or not but it was recommended by a friend. As for the duck, I choose the breast, it's just a prettier piece of meat for me and they are easy to find at the grocery store, usually in the freezer aisle next to the frozen burgers. I followed this air fryer chineese style recipe from @tiffyycooks. This was easy and it cooked the duck to perfection! TIP: Feel free to add a little of that Lingonberry jam on top of that duck, so good! and garnish with some orange zest. Movie Inspired Dessert: Mommy's Little Piggy I have many favorite scenes in this movie, but my absolute favorite is when Mom gets her little boy to eat his dinner by making him eat it like a pig. This scene never fails to make me laugh, so as a homage to that sweet moment between mom and her little boy, I created a mini dessert inspired by it. It's super easy to put together, but be mindful to work quickly since the ice cream melts. If it becomes hard to handle, simply place it back in the freezer to firm up again. First:  Use either a piece of brownie or chocolate cake as the "meatloaf." I opted for a brownie. Second:  Slap on a scoop of ice cream. I used a miniature spoon to stab into the ice cream and brownie, then added more ice cream on top of the handle of the spoon, just like Randy did when he was playing with his food and exclaimed, "Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double-beatloaf. I hate meatloaf!" Third:  Mix together lingonberry jam and some coconut shavings for the "red cabbage," and voilà! You’ve got Mommy's little piggy dessert. Enjoy! Q&A: A Christmas Story 1. What was the first bad word you said in front of your parents? Did you get in trouble? 2. What was the best Christmas gift you ever got? 3. Was there an unfortunate event that happened during the holidays that later became a funny tradition in your family? Share your moovie-night creations at #foodie_Moovies

I chose to create a movie-themed menu inspired by "Holes" because it holds a special place in my heart. Having read the book and thoroughly enjoyed its captivating narrative, I was drawn to the film's rich storytelling that weaves together multiple generations, illustrating how past events resonate in the present. I'm also a huge fan of Shia LaBeouf since his days on "Even Stevens. "Holes" is not just a story about friendship and adventure; it's a tale of fate and redemption that beautifully comes full circle, making it a perfect source of inspiration for my culinary creations. Don't want family time to be over once that the movie has ended? There's Q&A section  at the bottom of this page; it can ignite a conversation with the kids once the movie ends. Movies affect us differently due to our individual biases and perspectives. The Q&A helped me understand my kids better, and vice versa. It provided an opportunity to share my viewpoint and hear theirs. Often, it turned into a valuable teaching moment. Make the most of this extra time with them while you have their attention. NOTE: content below may contain spoilers HOLES : INSPIRED MOVIE MENU Stinky Boiled Eggs, Pork Sloppy Stanley's, Onion Holes, and Kissin' Kate Peach Parfait. Movie Inspired Appetizer: Stinky Boiled Eggs Stinky Boiled Eggs: Stanley's father is obsessed with inventing a foot powder for stinky feet. So what better to stink up the house then with boiled eggs. ALT: If the family isn't a fan of eggs feel free to steam some broccoli instead or try some stinky cheese, there's some good ones out there, remember its all about the stank! Movie Inspired Main Dish: Pork Sloppy Stanley's Stanley III got his name from his no-good dirty rotten pig stealing great great grandfather. So I though ground pork instead of ground beef was the obvious choice here. The recipe can be found on the back of a Hunt's Manwich can of sloppy Joe sauce. ALT: Pick up some beyond ground beef if you want to make this vegetarian. Movie Inspired Side Dish: Onion Holes Onion Holes: A character in the movie named Sam was an onion farmer plus I couldn't ignore the fact that onion rings have HOLES in them, and they're delicious! Grab your favorite brand of frozen onion rings it's easy peazy. ALT: Don't like onion rings? grab a bag of Funyuns! Movie Inspired Dessert: Kissin' Kate Peach Parfait Kissin' Kate was a huge part of this story as you will see. She was a school teacher who also sold her prize winning peaches in her town. She eventually becomes an outlaw and leaves her lipstick mark on the men that she kills. This desert is easy and fun, the kids loved getting their own jar with mommies kiss on it. Here is what you'll need: 4 mason jars 1 (14.4oz) box of graham crackers 1 (15.25oz) can of peaches 1 (2 lbs) tub of peach Yoplait yogurt Paper towels and string or rubber-band. Step 1: Cut canned peaches in cubes. Step 2: Mix both Cool Whip and Yogurt together, all of it. Step 3: Break up the graham crackers into small pieces. Step 4: Layer ingredients in Mason jars. Crackers, yogurt mix, peaches, then repeat. Step 5: Perf off a piece of paper towel. Step 6: Fold paper towel in half. Step 7: Place paper towel on top of jar and tie with string Step 8: Put on the reddest lipstick you own Step 9: Kiss the top of the jar HOLES Q&A 1. What would your name be if your last name was your first name spelled backwards? 2. If you were Stanley, would you have let the Warden see what was in the chest? Why? 3. Who was your favorite character and why? How are they similar or different to you? Share your moovie-night creations at #foodie_Moovies

My favorite trilogy of all time is hands down "Back to the Future." This iconic series has left a mark on pop culture since its debut in the 1980s. I can watch it over and over again, and every single time, it's just as funny, thrilling, and heartwarming as the first. It's timeless and enjoyed by generations before and after. I’ll also be creating a themed menu for Part II  and Part III . There were just so many references to food throughout all the films. How could I not? Don't want family time to be over once that the movie has ended? There's Q&A section at the bottom of this page; it can ignite a conversation with the kids once the movie ends. Movies affect us differently due to our individual biases and perspectives. The Q&A helped me understand my kids better, and vice versa. It provided an opportunity to share my viewpoint and hear theirs. Often, it turned into a valuable teaching moment. Make the most of this extra time with them while you have their attention. NOTE: content below may contain spoilers Back to the Future 1: Inspired Movie Menu Enchanted Sea-bites, 1.21 Giga-loaf, and Parole Cake Movie Inspired Appetizer: Enchanted Sea-Bites Marty's parent's love story all started with the Enchantment Under the Sea dance where they kissed for the first time. I decided to use this as the inspiration to our appetizer I figured since it's going to be a pretty heavy dinner I thought going with fruit would be best. During the school dance scene there's was a very big clam seashell in the background which is why I added the Madeleines. See below for the step-by-step NOTE: You can use Pirate Booty or Popcorn to add on top of the blueberries for some sea foam but I felt it didn't look as nice. Place 1 Madeleine in each plastic cup. For the seaweed, start peeling your apples and keep the skin long and wide enough as shown in picture above. 3. With your kitchen scissors (I used a 5-bladed scissor) cut 4-5 thin strips. Make sure you don't cut all the way to the bottom otherwise it will fall apart. 4. Cut out some of the strips and shorten others so they look inconsistent. 5. Stick each apple piece to each side of the Madeleine with the green part facing you. The inside of the apple will be moist so it will easily stick to the cup 6. Fill up the cup with about 1/4 cup of blueberries. 7. Use the extra apple skin strips you cut off and randomly stick them in-between the berries. NOTE: Please make sure to always soak your berries in baking soda and/or vinegar for 10-15min before eating. They have a lot of nasty stuff on them. 8. Lastly add whatever flavor fish crackers you'd like. I think maybe adding the ones that had different color fishes might have looked better. Movie Inspired Main Dish: 1.21 Giga-loaf Meatloaf? Yes meatloaf, this meal was not eaten once but twice in the movie. 1st meatloaf dinner was with Marty, his parents, brother and sister. His mother (Elaine) made what I'm assuming a special dinner because she thought they'd be celebrating Uncle Joey getting out of jail. The 2nd time was when Marty went back to the past and ended up having pretty much the same dinner with his mom and grandparents along with his uncles and aunt. The exact dinner was meatloaf, frozen bag of mixed veggies, mash potatoes (from the box), dinner rolls and ketchup. but as you know I had to spiff it up so I covered the top of the loaf with the mash potatoes then I used the veggies to create a "Y" shape to emulate the flux capacitor and lined the bottom of the loaf with green beans just to give it a cleaner look. Meatloaf in the 1950s became an iconic meal of that era not only because it was an affordable yet hearty option that could easily feed a family but it was a quick meal for the busy homemaker at that time. This dish is still a favorite because of its versatility using a variety of meats, fillings, and toppings that suited different tastes and dietary preferences. As you can imagine there were many different recipes out there but I decided to stick with the 1953 Hunts Tomato Sauce advertisement with meatloaf recipe. This was my first time making meatloaf but wont be my last. It was very easy to make with little mess and everyone enjoyed eating it. Recipe is below as the image above is hard to see: 1 1/2 ground beef 1 egg 1 cup of bread crumbs 1 medium-sized onion, chopped Salt & pepper to taste 1/2 can of hunt’s tomato Sauce Lightly mix ingredients and form a loaf. Place in Shallow pan in moderate oven (350 degrees). While it’s starting to bake, combine the following to make your gravy: 1/2 can of hunt’s tomato Sauce 2 tbsp of vinegar 2 tbsp of prepared mustard 2 tbsp of brown sugar or molasses 1 cup of water Pour over meat loaf in oven. Continue baking 1 1/2 hours longer or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. For the most part I followed the 1953 Hanes recipe. Except for the following: I used 1/2 lbs of pork and 1/2 lbs of beef Instead. Also instead of bread crumbs I used some stale ritz crackers that were in my pantry (1 cup per the recipe). As a matter of fact there were some fish crackers left over that I threw in as well. Just make sure to crush them with the rolling pin to get those fine crumbs. I made the meatloaf sauce/gravy per the recipe but didn't like it and thought the ketchup was much better. Use an actual meatloaf pan if you have one, it drains all the excess fat from the bake, otherwise definitely line you loaf pan with parchment paper. Grab 1-2 bags of the frozen mixed veggies This was how the meatloaf looked once it was done baking, it has a reddish tone because of the tomato sauce that is added to the recipe. I didn't add the gravy though. 4. Serve meatloaf with side of dinner rolls, ketchup, and glass of milk 5. Just wanted to give you guys an inside view of the layers. You can add as much mash potatoes as you'd like. It holds very well. Movie Inspired Dessert: Parole Cake There was no question that I was going to make the Uncle Joey cake for our dessert. It looks easier than it actually was. I'm a creative person but definitely not a professional cake decorator or even anything close to that and I wasn't going to be spending money on special tools that I would never use again. See below for my step-by-step. Once cake is done, carefully take out of pan to cool. Once cooled remove the thin layer of what I call "cake skin" from the top of the cake. It comes off easily and you can see it here in the photo where its created some small air bubbles. If you don't remove this it will get all over the frosting when you try to apply it. Place the cake back into the pan and start frosting your cake. Take your time and don't rush this process. When your done frosting the cake let it stand for 20 min so the frosting can harden. 3. Outline the jail door along with the letters with a tooth pick first. If you mess up dip your finger in warm water (wash first) and lightly dabb on the frosting and it will go away. 4. Use the black cake decorating container (use writing tip) and trace the door use the red frosting for the letters also with the writing tip. Last part is adding the bird, use the toothpick first to make sure it's the size you want. NOTE: I messed up here and should have used the red for the words but was so focused on making it fit I totally forgot, it happens. 5. I used sprinkles to color the inside of the door. I used star sprinkles for the beak and feet and blue sprinkles for the stripes on his jail bird shirt. Also, I used my eyeball candy for the eye and created an eyelid with the black frosting. NOTE: because the letters should have been red I cheated and added some red sprinkles to kinda outline them. This was way too much work and wouldn't reccomend it but because the words were originally red I had to add the red in there somehow. TIP: I love sprinkles and when they go on sale buy as much as you can they never go bad and always come in handy it's never a purchase I regret. It makes everything look so much cooler and kids will eat anything that has sprinkles on it, adults too. Q&A: Back to the Future 1 1. A Time Machine takes you back in time 30 years, what's the first thing you do? 2. Ask your parents or a married couple from your family how they met each other? 3. Would you change anything if you went back in time 30 years? Share your moovie-night creations at #foodie_Moovies

I'm thrilled to showcase the beloved animated classic that started the concept of Foodie Moovies: Kung Fu Panda! Reflecting on the journey, it's hard to believe that Foodie Moovies began with a film I had little interest in watching, accompanied by pizza and popcorn. Fast forward three years, and what started as a casual movie just to spend some time with my boys has blossomed into a cherished tradition that the entire family eagerly anticipates each month. If you're curious about the origins of Foodie Moovies and how it all came to be, I invite you to visit the About page, where you can dive deeper into the story behind this unique concept. I’m excited to present a special menu that is not tied to a specific movie but is versatile enough to complement any of the Kung Fu Panda films—be it the original, the sequel, or the third installment. So gather your loved ones, get comfortable, and prepare for a fantastic night filled with great food and even better company. Kung Fu Panda: INSPIRED MOVIE MENU Panda Rice Balls, Liquid Ch'i, Dragon Warrior Noodles and Mochi Dumplings Movie Inspired Appetizer: Panda Rice Balls Aren't these adorable! My kids loved them and they were very easy to make, however you will have to purchase a 3D baby rice mold set . I decided to purchase it because my kids love any and all rice balls so I will definitely be using it again. They look small but are actually a lot of rice. I only needed to make 2-3 pandas per kid and they almost didn't want to eat them because of how adorable they are! Check out the video at eatsamazing for step by step directions on how to make these. NOTE: Serve these with some snow peas or broccoli and a teriyaki sauce for dipping. Movie Inspired Drink: Liquid Ch'i In traditional Chinese culture, qi or ch'i is believed to be a vital force forming part of any living entity. Qi translates literally as "air" and figuratively as "material energy", "life force", or "energy flow". Qi is the central underlying principle in Chinese traditional medicine and in Chinese martial arts. Kung Fu Panda 3 is all about ch'i and in the movie it was represented by a very bright green Jade stone, carved to look like the characters likeness. I was trying to look for a drink that also had this beautiful bright green color. I came across a green apple soda (delicious by the way) made by the company Jones . This soda is so bright it looks hazardous! but that's also what makes it look so cool. You can find these at any grocery store and are usually in the refrigerator section. Movie Inspired Main Dish: Dragon Warrior Noodles Po's dad (Mr. Ping) owns a noodle shop, in the 2nd movie he rebranded to take advantage of his son's new found fame but regardless which movie the noodles are the same, beef broth and noodles. I researched and bought a lot of noodles and ramen broth to try and find one that I could recommend to taste as close as possible as the real thing but to be honest it was those 99cent ramen packs that my kids and I found tasted the best. Obviously going to a ramen shop is ideal and that's usually where you'll find the best tasting Ramen but for a super easy, super cheap option you can't go wrong with Maruchan . Movie Inspired Dessert: Mochi Dumplings I know what you're thinking, how could I create this menu without those dumplings that Po loved so much. I was torn between dumplings and ramen for the main course but I figured out how to keep them both, mochi! This delicious dessert at least the vanilla flavor looks a lot like dumpligs! trust me your kids will love them. My favorite are the Trader Joe's brand and just in case your thinking, "Isn't mochi Japaneese?" Actually, mochi itself is a traditional Japanese food, Mantou finds it's roots in China. Eventually, it made its way across the East China Sea and Japan made it their own. The mochi dough in manju is often flavored while the center is traditionally a sweet bean filling. The flavors and history of mochi go way back! Q&A with the kids 1. Why should you never judge a book by it's cover? 2. What does your chi look like? What kind of stone is it? what color is it? 3. What is your spirit animal? Why? #foodie_Moovies to share your moovie-night creations!

" Humans don't just survive; they discover; they create. ... I mean, just look at what they do with food! " - Remy Remy dreams of becoming a great chef, despite being a rat in a definitely rodent-phobic profession. He moves to Paris to follow his dream, and with the help of hapless garbage boy Linguini he puts his culinary skills to the test in the kitchen but he has to stay in hiding at the same time, with hilarious consequences. Remy eventually gets the chance to prove his culinary abilities to a great food critic but is the food good? A Pixar animation. THE MENU Little Chef Cheese Plate, Ratatouille and a Waffel Tower Little Chef Cheese Plate Aren't cheese plates the best! they can be sweet, savory, big, small, cheap, expensive and most of all they have such a beautiful presentation with so many colors and textures, its a favorite of mine and I wanted to dedicate my cheese plate to the star of the movie, Remy. This rat has some good taste so I added a little bit of everything to my plate but feel free to keep it as simple as you want. Add any rounded crackers for the ears, raisins for the eyes and a 1/2 of grape for the nose. I rolled up a slice of prosciutto and created the tail. The main cheese I had was brie which is one of my favorite cheeses just because its so creamy but feel free to use whatever your family likes, I know kids can be really picky. Ratatouille How could I not have ratatouille for the main dish, I mean that is the name of the movie after all. The hard work came in finding the right recipe, even with such simple ingredients there were a lot of different recipes out there. I went with one that added potatoes and topped with Gruyere cheese, it not only sounded delicious but I felt the potatoes and cheese would help fill us up. I had invited the sisters over to chime in on the recipe and it was a total hit. The sauce itself was absolutely delicious! and it was so easy to make. The recipe can be found at here at everyday delicious . NOTE: I served this dish with a side of mushroom risotto from #traderjoes and a french baguette. The bread was mainly used to clean the plates of that delicious sauce. There were no leftovers and that's always a good sign. Waffel Tower This movie took place in France so when it came to a dessert, the options were endless but when I came across this Eiffel Tower made out of wafers I knew it was going to be a hit with the kids especially since they would get a chance to build a 3D model out of food. For the wafers, simply buy your favorite brand, there are all kids of flavors to choose from as well. Here is the best video I found for step-by-step instructions ---> Click here . For the flag you can print some out or color one and tape it to a toothpick. NOTE: Use icing sugar, aka decorative icing DO NOT use cake frosting. Cake frosting will not hold and only make a mess. I ended up finding this out the hard way. Apologies but the French flag shown above is not accurate. Colors should be Blue, White, and Red and in that order. Q&A with the kids 1. What is your passion? Who or what inspires you and why? 2. Throughout your life you will probably come across people like Skinner who are jealous of your talent and try to do what they can to prevent you from achieving greatness. How will you deal with people like him? 3. Remy's dad wanted him to just be a rat, why is it important to always support friends and family instead of holding them back from their dreams? #foodie_Moovies to share your moovie-night creations!

"We can't let them walk away with everything. If we give in, we're giving in to all the cute, fuzzy bunnies in the world." - Hoops After graduating from high school, Hoops McCann (John Cusack) struggles to complete his application to the Rhode Island School of Design. Resigning himself to a summer of boredom, McCann agrees to go along with his best friend, George Calamari, on a family trip to Nantucket, Mass. But, after McCann and Calamari meet rocker-in-distress Cassandra (Demi Moore), it suddenly looks like it's going to be "one crazy summer." THE MENU Lobster Bisque, Fish Crackers, Pesto Grilled Cheese Cassandwich, and Teddy & Cookie Popcorn Image provided by cherishedbliss.com Lobster Bisque : I usually like to stick to a budget with the menu but lobster was a must for this moovie and you'll see why. I recommend buying your favorite brand at your local store. Making this from scratch is very time consuming. ALT: If you don't like Lobster use Clam Chowder instead. My favorite is the #Sprouts brand Fish Crackers : This whole moovie is filmed on water so adding some #fishcrackers to the menu seemed appropriate. Use your favorite flavor! There's a lot to choose from. Pesto Grilled Cheese Cassandwich : One of the main characters of the moovie is named Cassandra, she is kinda hippi-ish so I thought a grilled cheese and pesto sandwich was a perfect tribute to her. Add whatever cheese or veggies you like to the Cassandwich. You can follow the recipe at cherishedbliss.com Teddy & Cookie Popcorn : There is a self-centered couple named Teddy and Cookie in this moovie so I had to name them after their own dessert. Teddy is a total jerk with a bad tan so I got the cinnamon flavored #TeddyGrahams and Cookie is a blonde so I got the vanilla #Oreominis Q&A with the kids 1. Would you be friends with someone like Teddy? Why or why not? 2. If you ever had to raise money for a good cause, what friend(s) would help you out? Would you do the same for them? 3. If you owned a restaurant in a small town what would you call it and what kind of food would you serve?

"You think I'd let you starve to death!? When I cut off my own arm to feed you, then you'll know that you're my child." - Agnes Kamkwamba (Williams Mother) A true story of a13-year-old boy who is thrown out of the school he loves when his family can no longer afford the fees. He sneaks into the library and learns how to build a windmill to save his village from a famine. THE MENU Kukolola Pie, Water and Mbatata Cookies Kukolola Pie: Kukolola means Harvest in Chichewa, the language spoken in the village that William is from in Malawi, Africa. I wanted to make sure that maize would be the inspiration behind this dish. Maize is what the country of Malawi depend on not just to make a living but as a source of food as well. I thought a somewhat traditional tamale pie would be perfect. I say somewhat because I'll be adding additional veggies that aren't traditionally cooked with tamale pie but for me the more veggies the better. ALT: The beauty of this dish is that you can substitute the ground beef for ground turkey or even a meatless ground. It's all in the spices! 1. Start first by cooking the ground beef then drain the fat. 2. Add all the veggies until slightly soften (make sure you chop the carrots into small pieces so that they cook faster.) 3. Add all the spices and mix altogether (you add the spices after you drain the fat so you don't drain the spices as well.) 4. Once all is mixed, evenly spread the cooked pie mix into an 8x8 deep baking pan. Set aside and get started on the corn muffin mix. 5. Follow the instructions for the corn muffin mix, once done pour on top of the ground beef. Lightly spread the corn mix to cover the beef. It will feel like its too thin but no worries it will fluff up once baked. 6. Follow baking instructions from the Corn mix. 7. Once Kukolola is done baking, poke holes into the pie with a toothpick or similar. 8. Peel the rosemary stems clean half way and poke them into the holes of the pie. Water : This liquid which we take advantage of on a daily basis just doesn't get enough attention if you ask me. In the movie too much and not enough of it meant life and death for some people. It really forces you to appreciate it for all the beautiful things it does for us and this planet. Sure it's boring but it's the best thing for you! Mbatata Cookies: The movie takes place in Malawi, Africa so I wanted the desert for this menu to be from Malawi. I came across these mbatata cookies made from sweet potatoes! Watch this video for the recipe on AfroFoodTV . FYI, these to me were more like scones then cookies but they were so so good with a cup of tea. My kids wanted to to also try them out with chocolate chips instead of raisins which were also good but I preferred the raisins. NOTE: Traditionally these cookies are made into the shape of a heart because Malawi is known as the Warm Heart of Africa. The people are so kind-hearted and friendly, and although resources are scarce people are generous with what they have. The dough itself is very sticky but I was able to scoop them and shape them with a small spoon into hearts. It takes some practice but they won't go unnoticed. My kids love when I shape anything into a heart. There's a Book! The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind  is a remarkable true story about human inventiveness and its power to overcome crippling adversity. It will inspire anyone who doubts the power of one individual's ability to change his community and better the lives of those around him. Q&A with the kids 1. What are some of the things that William and his family struggled with that you take advantage of on a daily basis? 2. What do you have in common with William? 3. What would've happened if William had given up on building the windmill?

"He's drinking...Marshall he is drinking!!!" - Robyn, Charlie's mom Marshall Seymour (Judge Reinhold) is an executive vice president for one of Chicago’s most prestigious department stores and has little time for his 11yr old son, Charlie (Fred Savage). But when the two find themselves under the influence of an ill-gotten mystical skull, they become much closer due to the fact that their minds have switched bodies! THE MENU Spritetini's, Moe Apples, Chicago Dogs and Sugar Puck's Chicago Dogs: The movie is filmed in Chicago so I figured lets go authentic. ALT: If your family is vegetarian and you don't want to eat hotdogs feel free to make Spaghetti instead. Charlie is eating spaghetti when he goes out to a fancy restaurant with his dad and his girlfriend. Moe Apples: Charlie's pet frog is named Moe. Tutorial: go to kitchenfunwithmy3sons.com Tip: These were so easy to make and the kids loved them! I have a son that is not a fan of granny smith's so I used a red apple with the red grapes instead. Also, I froze the grapes ahead of time. #funwithapples #motherapproved #happykids #applefrogs Spritetini's: After Charlie switches bodies with his dad he drinks martini's throughout the movie but don't worry I'm keeping these kid friendly. Sugar Pucks: aka #DingDongs , Marshall goes to hockey practice for his son and struggles to keep up with the team. Q&A with the kids 1. What is the first thing you would do if you ever switched places with your dad? 2. The dad worked for a man that didn’t appreciate his hard working employees. What things will you do to show your employees that you appreciate them? 3. Balancing work and family is very hard as an adult. What kind of things will you make sure to do with your kids when you become a parent? Fathers Day Activity I don't always have an activity for the moovies I showcase but since this was for father's Day I wanted to share with you something that I do every year with my kids. It's Cheap and easy and dad will love it! You can pick up all the supplies at # Michaels .

I hope your family enjoys movie night with this very easy menu inspired by the classic film The Goonies. This beloved adventure film, which has captured the hearts of audiences since its release in the 1980s, is not just about the thrilling quest for treasure but also about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of childhood. Most of this menu is inspired by Chunk since it was him who was either talking about or actually eating food throughout the movie, I guess that why he was probably my favorit character. Don't want family time to be over once that the movie has ended? There's a Q&A section at the bottom of this page; it can ignite a conversation with the kids once the movie ends. Movies affect us differently due to our individual biases and perspectives. The Q&A helped me understand my kids better, and vice versa. It provided an opportunity to share my viewpoint and hear theirs. Often, it turned into a valuable teaching moment. Make the most of this extra time with them while you have their attention.ching moment. Please take advantage of this extra time with them while you have their attention. NOTE: Spoilers in the menu descriptions below The Goonies: INSPIRED MOVIE MENU Pepperoni Pizza, Lighthouse Lounge Water, Rich Stuff Chips-n-Dip & Willies Treasured Rocky Road Movie Inspired Drink: Lighthouse Lounge Water:   The treasure map leads the boys to an abandon restaurant called "The Lighthouse Lounge". They run into the Fratelli's who are currently hiding out there due to their criminal activity. Nobody wants to act suspicious so the boys sit at a table and order water but when the water comes out they get a glass full of very dirty water. I found that the best looking "dirty" water is going to be an iced tea. I used my favorite, Arizona Peach Iced Tea. There also wasn't any ice in the cup but you can'y have ice tea without the ice! Movie Inspired Appetizer: Rich Stuff Chips-n-Dip   When all the boys are over at Mikey’s house they are eating chips which to no surprise they end up making a mess on the coffee table. What goes well with chips? Well dip of course! but not just any dip, one that looks like a treasure map. Follow the very simple steps below: Red bell pepper: Cut out 2 small retangular shaped and cross them over to create a X Black Olives: Cut these is small rectangles as well and create a path cut out some of the very small pieces of a broccoli and place around the bowl to look like trees. NOTE: I used a small bowl that also holds the chips but you can create a much bigger version depending on how many people you have over. TIP: For the dip I used plain sour cream because I have very picky kids but I originally wanted to use french onion dip with a sprinkle of dill to give it the very old look Movie Inspired Meal: Domino's Pepperoni Pizza Pizza was mentioned and shown several times throughout the movie. In the beginning when the charachter "Chunk" is introduced, he is eating pizza. The Fratelli brothers almost got in a fight over pizza as well and then in the end with Chunk again, his mom whom I'm sure was worried as hell when these boys went missing arrived to greet her son with his favorite pizza, Domino's Pepperoni. NOTE: A pepporoni pizza is nothing special, what makes it special is the flavor/taste of it. Pick up your favorite frozen brand at the grocery store or even better buy one from a local small business. Movie Inspired Dessert: Willies Treasured Rocky Road Chunk and Sloth were being held captive by th Fratelli's but ended up freeing themselves. Whats athe first ndthing they do? Raid the freezer, which is full of ice cream! I probably would have done the same to be honest. There's a scened when sloth comes out of the freezer, mouth full of melted ice cream looking so happy saying "Rocky Road". This scene is forever etched in my mind so ice cream it is! For the treasure, I think its an obvious addition and an omage to the greedy man that started it all, One Eyed Willie". You can find gold coins just about any store But it was the gem candy I had a hard time finding. Eventually, I found both at Party City. I simply filled a small bowl with Rocky Road and scattered the gummy gems and gold coins around. My kids were much more excited about the candy treasure though. On a budget? Just get some chocolate gold coins for the dessert. They're in the candy aisle of any grocery store. I even see them at the liqour store. Whip Cream Activity There is a scene in the moovie when Chunk says he's depressed and fills his mouth full of whip cream that was taken from his friends refrigerator. I thought it would be fun to have a game going on for the kids during the movie. Every time chunk is eating or talks about food you need to yell "Goonies never die!" and you get a mouthful of whip cream. The kids really enjoyed this and I was surprised on how many times they missed out on these sugar bomb opportunities. Q&A: The Goonies 1. If you went on an adventure to hunt for treasure what 5 friends or family would you take with you? 2. What would your adventure look like? Where would you have to go? What would you be hunting? 3. Out of all the characters who would you most likely be friends with? Why? Share your moovie-night creations at #foodie_Moovies