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

" When you find out who you are, you find out what you need " - Mama Odie Hardworking and ambitious, dreams of one day opening the finest restaurant in New Orleans. Her dream takes a slight detour when she meets Prince Naveen, who has been turned into an amphibian by evil Dr. Facilier. Mistaking her for a princess and hoping to break the spell, Naveen plants a kiss on poor Tiana -- thereby turning her into a frog as well. The pair hop along on an adventure through the bayous to seek the help of a powerful voodoo priestess. In celebration of Black History Month I created a menu for Disney's first African-American Princess, "The Princess and the Frog." This movie has so many characters that I absolutely love! The beautiful music is deep rooted in Black American culture and don't get me started on the food! I mean the options for this menu were endless which is why this months menu has both a drink and an appetizer. I had a lot of fun experimenting and hope your family enjoys it as well. THE MENU Swamp Wata', Gator-Bites, Daddy's Gumbo and Voodoo Cookies Swamp Wata' Ray, the firefly is my favorite character from this movie. I wanted to dedicate this drink to his home and all his relations. So whats in this swamp wata? 1 scoop of powdered lemon lime gator-ade , blended with 1 peeled kiwi, 1 cup of water then top it off with some sprite for a refreshing sweet and tart drink. This recipe is for a serving of 1 so double or triple it as needed. For the fireflys I purchased these from Amazon , the great part about this product is that their water proof which means you can put them inside the drinks (except for the battery) for an added effect. My kids loved it, and now want to add it to all their drinks. NOTE: If you're not a kiwi fan you can just serve the gatorade but if you want to add the bugs to the swamp water just add some chia seeds. Gator-Bites Louis, is another favorite character of mine and definitely the funniest so I dedicated this appetizer to him and I figured since Louis and Ray live in the same place why not make it out of the same thing right? Hope you guys like kiwi's NOTE: If you are not a kiwi fan you can always make frogs out of apples instead. I created these for the Vise Versa menu as well. Tutorial can be found at kitchenfunwithmy3sons.com . 1 . Peel the kiwi's 2 . Start with the alligator head and slice (1) kiwi in half as shown above. To keep the head from wobbling slice off a small amount at the bottom of the kiwi to flatten it. 3. For the center of the body use only half of a kiwi (get a size smaller then the head) 4. For the nostrils poke it with your chop stick 5. Use another half of a kiwi for the bottom part of the body (try to get a small piece). Cut the part out for the end of the tail, feel free to add a curve to it. Once the body and tail are complete. Slice off the sides to square out the body of the alligator (shown in the dotted red lines above. 6. For the eyes use a fat straw (like the ones used for boba) and dig it into a half of a kiwi. Pull out the straw and blow into the straw the piece should come right out. 7. Once you have your eyes ... 8. Pick out (2) long chocolate sprinkles for the eye pupils 9. Push the sprinkles into the center of your gator eyes all the way till it digs into the head, this way it will hold them in place. 10. Cut out (2) hands and (2) feet 11. With your scissors make some slashes around the body to give it some gator texture 12. Last but not least, grab (2) rice grains and push them into the upper part of the head so they look like sharp gator teeth. 13. Enjoy your creation! Daddy's Gumbo I know, I know, how is making Gumbo easy for a working mom or dad? and the answer is, it's not. It's an all day cooking kind of meal but the good news is that this a very easy recipe to follow, it was my first time making this and I had no issues. This can be something you make a couple of days before or weeks/months before if you decide to freeze it. The best part, is that Gumbo is always better the day after and even better the day after that. Plus, how could I not have gumbo for this menu, gumbo was how Tiana and her beloved daddy bonded. It was their love for food that kept her working so hard to accomplish her dreams so I hope you understand why I had to put this in the menu, it's definitely a labor of love but I promise that you will love this recipe, it was delicious and an absolute hit with my family. I made sure to get an authentic Creole New Orleans recipe and it's the bees knees!!! NOTE: I live in Southern California so even though this recipe included okra I unfortunately wasn't able to include it, I couldn't find it anywhere! but was still delicious. NOTE: Eat this with a side of rice or cornbread. I of course ate it with both! Voodoo Cookies I know what your thinking...where are the beignets? just so you know I really contemplated on whether or not I should add them to this menu especially since it was one of Tiana specialties but these menus are suppose to be simple and easy and I couldn't have gumbo, which is neither of those things and homemade beignets in the same menu so I hope you understand that instead I went with voodoo cookies, it was after all voodoo that turned Tiana into a frog in the first place. These cookies are so easy that the kids can decorate it themselves and if you don't like cookies (hey some people don't) I also experimented with brownies and they were just as easy to make, its all a matter of preference. My kids loved the cookies but I preferred the brownies. 1. Push the jellybeans into the tip of the toothpick as shown above to make them look like the pushpins 2. For the brownies, make sure they are cooled before using the cookie cutter. Once your ready to decorate turn the brownies over so your not decorating on the flaky side. 3. For the cookies, flatten out the cookie dough on your tray like if your baking 1 very big rectangular cookie. Once they are done baking let them cool for 5 minutes or so but cut out your cookies while they are warm otherwise as it cools down the dough hardens. Q&A with the kids 1. Why is it unhealthy to work too much? Is having too much fun unhealthy too? Why or why not? 2. The shadow man said he could make all your dreams come true but at the cost of ruining someone else's life. Do you take the deal? Why or why not? 3. What dish or bake reminds you the most of your mom, dad, or guardian? Why is it special to you? #foodie_Moovies to share your moovie-night creations!

" You know what's hard about being the smartest person in the world? Everyone else is stupid. " - Dr. Robotnik aka Eggman The world needed a hero -- it got a hedgehog. Powered with incredible speed, Sonic embraces his new home on Earth -- until he accidentally knocks out the power grid, sparking the attention of uncool evil genius Dr. Robotnik. Now, it's supervillain vs. supersonic in an all-out race across the globe to stop Robotnik from using Sonic's unique power to achieve world domination. (NOTE: The following content might have spoilers) There's currently two Sonic movies, both are funny and action packed so I kept the menu generic enough to work for either or. Lots of references to food in both movies so I had a lot to work with which doesn't make creating the menu any easier. I hope you and the family enjoy movie night. I know I did! Fun Fact: I read that the majority of the creative team from the Sonic video games were hired for the movie as well which is why there many references to the game in the movie. Another reason why it was a hit amongst Sonic video game players. THE MENU Sonic Tonic, Chilidog with Gold Rings and Choco-Latte Stache Sonic Tonic Blue Powerade with glow sticks! Can't get any easier then that right? I went with blue Powerade because not only is Sonic blue but he also glows in blue, hence the glow sticks. OPTION: If you don't want to ingest that blue dye #1 from the Powerade I get it! A healthier option would be to go with a home made lemonade. Use yellow glow sticks instead of blue ones and call it "Super Tonic". In movie #2 Sonic evolves to Supersonic where he glows in yellow. NOTE: If you decide to use the glow sticks inside the drink make sure to wash them with soapy water first. Just in case your worried about the glow stick breaking and leaking into your drink (which I was) the Children's Hospital's website mentions that the toxicity in glow sticks is minimal and at most will cause an upset stomach but please take precautions. Chilidog with Gold Rings Chilidogs are Sonic's favorite food. In the movie he first ate them during a bar fight and fell in love. You'll see chilidog reference throughout both 1 and 2 movies. I will be using a chili that's a family favorite ( Trader Joe's canned turkey chil i) But if you want to make the official "Chilidog A La Sonic" check out this chili recipe that was featured in the first official issue of Archie’s Sonic comic book series . Make your life easier and make this a couple days before, then all you have to do is warm it up and serve! For our side of Gold Rings we will be using Funyuns. The gold rings in the movie were used as portals, all you had to do was think of a specific place as you throw the ring and a portal is created for you to jump through. These gold rings are also used in the game but are used to help him stay alive. Options: Instead of Funyuns you can use grapes for a healthier option. Grapes is Knuckles favorite food and his character is introduced in Sonic 2. Choco-Latte Stache I don't know what it is but villains are my favorite, maybe because I think they're just misunderstood. It should be no surprise that Dr. Robotnik (aka Eggman) was my favorite character. I wanted to do something that referenced his very well known mustache, it's a huge part of his character. So I started thinking....hmmm he loves latte's, he's nuts, salty even a little bitter...oh yes this definitely calls for chocolate! and not just any chocolate, dark chocolate mixed with nut, pretzels and lightly covered in espresso powder. And we won't be using any molds either as his mustache evolves from being perfectly groomed to a huge hot mess from Movie's 1 to 2 so were going to freestyle it. The messier the better! We're pretty much making chocolate bark but we'll be adding the ingredients into the chocolate instead of sprinkling them on top. We will then shape it into a mustache. Here's what you'll need: (1) 12oz bag of Dark Chocolate chips to melt (whatever brand and whatever % of dark chocolate you prefer) 1 tbs of coconut oil 1/4 cup of coconut flakes 1/4 cup of pretzel sticks (you'll need to break them into small pieces) 1/2 tablespoon of Instant espresso powder (optional) 1/4 cup of your favorite mix of nuts. I'm using pecans halves and slivered almonds (you'll need to break them into small pieces) 1. Melt the chocolate. Click here to see video on how to melt chocolate. Add the coconut oil anytime during this process 2. Add coconut flakes, and small broken pieces of nuts & pretzels to melted chocolate. 3. Mix all ingredients together in chocolate 4. With a small spoon plop a chunk of melted chocolate on wax paper, push down lightly as you spread the chocolate outward. Its going to look more like a bow tie 5. Let it cool in fridge for about 30min then carefully remove it from the wax paper 6. Take a selfie with your mustache and post it (#foodie_moovies). 7. Enjoy this evilicious treat. Q&A with the kids 1. If you had 3 golden rings where would you go and who would you go with? 2. Sonic gave humans their names inspired by food, like Donut Lord, Eggman and Pretzel Lady. What name would you give your parents? 3. If you had a beard or mustache how would you style it? What kinds of crazy shapes would you have? How long or wide would it be? And what color? Share your moovie-night creations at #foodie_Moovies

Meek flower shop assistant Seymour (Rick Moranis) pines for co-worker Audrey (Ellen Greene). During a total eclipse, he discovers an unusual plant he names Audrey II, which feeds only on human flesh and blood. The growing plant attracts a great deal of business for the previously struggling store. After Seymour feeds Audrey's boyfriend, Orin (Steve Martin), after Orin's accidental death, he must come up with more bodies for the increasingly bloodthirsty plant. I need to start off by mentioning that I absolutely hate musicals, and that's mostly because if I don't like the song, I'm then forced to sit there and listen to it. Then there's a song like every 5-10 minutes, and for me, that gets annoying. BUT... Little Shop of Horrors is not only my favorite musical (Chicago is my 2nd), but it's in my top 10 favorite movies of all time. I can sing along to every song and have probably memorized like 3/4 of the movie, so creating this menu for the month of October makes it extra special. I hope you all enjoy this bloody mess! NOTE: When creating this menu, I thought of this as more of a movie to watch for a date night with your significant other/bae or a girls' night, so the menu is a little more grown-up. Fun Fact: There are two different endings to this movie. In the original Director's cut, they all die in the end, which was not a popular ending with audiences (like at all!), so the team had to re-shoot it. I personally like the re-shot version, but the original ending is very entertaining, and you can tell it was a lot of work, so I'm sure it hurt to have had to cut that out. The following content might have spoilers THE MENU Sangria, Mean Green Salad, Dentist (medium rare) and the Audrey II Sangria Nothing fancy here folks just a glass of your favorite Sangria or if you want something non-alcoholic may I suggest this delicious Sangria soda called " Sangria Senorial " whether it's got alcohol in it or not add berries to your drink and spiff it up with just about anything really! The picture shown is from food blogger Shawn Williams, he has a fall inspired Sangria with step-by-step directions at kitchenswagger.com, if you want to make your own. NOTE: The name Sangria" comes from the Spanish word sangre (which itself comes from the Latin sanguis), or blood. Mean Green Salad Little gem lettuce serves as the delightful inspiration behind this entire dish, captivating my imagination with its unique appearance reminiscent of the iconic plant Audrey II. The vibrant, crisp leaves of the little gem lettuce offer a satisfying crunch that elevates any meal. To complement this intriguing vegetable, I knew I needed a dressing that would evoke a dramatic flair, something that resembled blood in both color and texture. My mind immediately raced to a luscious raspberry vinaigrette, a recipe I discovered on Foodnetwork.com . This vinaigrette is not only tangy and sweet but also boasts a rich, deep red hue that perfectly aligns with the theme I envisioned. In my quest to enhance the flavor profile of the dish further, I decided to add a personal touch by incorporating a bit of my favorite balsamic vinaigrette into the mix. This addition not only intensified the overall flavor, providing a delightful complexity, but it also contributed a darker, more intense blood-red color to the dressing, creating a striking visual contrast against the bright green of the lettuce. Once your gem lettuce is thoroughly washed and dried, it’s time to transform these beautiful leaves into a delightful creation. Stuff each crisp leaf with generous chunks of rich blue cheese, which adds a creamy texture and a bold flavor that perfectly complements the sweetness of the raspberry vinaigrette. To add an extra layer of crunch and nutty flavor, sprinkle in some roasted pumpkin seeds. It’s a bloody masterpiece, and I’m utterly obsessed with it. Seconds, anyone? Feed me, Seymour! Dentist (medium rare) An ode to my favorite character, Orin Scrivello D.D.S (Doctor, sorry...Doctor) He was a psychopath so yes, the guy looked like plant food to me. I figured the best way to serve him up was medium rare with a French Bordelaise Sauce. Paired with the vibrant Mean Green Salad and a refreshing glass of Sangria, it makes for a truly unforgettable meal . Recipe can be found at thespruceeats.com The Audrey II This probably took me the longest to figure out, lost of experimenting and many fails but I gotta say it's one of my most impressive food sculptures so I really hope you love this as much as I do. My inspiration started here so technically you can make your life easier and do what Smuckers did, except maybe use a green lollipop instead. I really wanted to capture the adorable baby Audrey II and like I mentioned earlier I had a lot of fails and in even messier kitchen. I will be recreating the Audrey II in Spetember of this year. The plan is to create a video to better explain the steps. If you'd like to be notified when the video comes out sign up below or follow me on Instagram. Purchase: 1. Chocolate covered ice cream cones (top part only) 2. Vanilla and strawberry ice cream swirl or just Vanilla 3. Oreos (like 6) 4. 1 box of Vanilla cake and 1 tube of vanilla frosting 5. Green and red food coloring 6. Mint leaves Now put it together: I created a cake pop but didn't dip it in Chocolate 1. Mix cake and frosting and add green food coloring until desired color (leave some frosting, about 1 Tbls for the red lips) 2. Create an egg looking shaped for the cake pop (use toothpick to create the open mouth and indentations) 3. Add red coloring to about 1 Tbls of frosting and with the toothpick add it to the rim of the mouth on the cake pop 4. Fill cone with ice cream just to the rim then top it off with crushed Oreo's and the mint 5. Stick cake pop into the top of the ice cream cone (use a cake pop stick but cut it in half) Q&A with the kids 1. What would you name your weird and unusual plant that you found? 2. Do you think Mr. Mushnik was a good guy ? Why or why not? 3. Would you have kept feeding the Audrey II to continue being rich and famous? Share your moovie-night creations at #foodie_Moovies