Disney Inspired Dinner & A Movie

**Note- Disney owns the rights to all character images and names, and is not affiliated with this blog

Tonight we are featuring- Dumbo!

I still cry every time I watch it. It is such a cathartic thing, as a parent, to watch the love between Dumbo and his mom! Also, he is definitely one of the cutest Disney characters there is! Different parts definitely scared me when I was little- the "Pink Elephants" scene, when Dumbo's mom goes berserk and gets taken away from him, and the clowns. And yet, even with all those "semi-frightening" scenes, it was still one of my favorites as a tiny! Some people argue that "good, old fashioned Disney racism" is present (aka the Crows, specifically "Jim Crow"), but I just look at them as silly birds, and nothing more. This movie is definitely a lesson in anti-bullying and the love between a mother and her child.

For tonight's dinner- it is going to be a little CRAY! When I think Dumbo, I obviously think of circuses, fairs, and carnivals, so tonight we are having foods inspired by those venues. You heard that right- fair food! So greasy, so unhealthy, SO DELICIOUS! I definitely DO NOT eat or advocate eating these foods on a regular basis, but once a year is kind of fun to experiment what you can do in the kitchen. I also apologize in advance because I normally try to create pretty balanced meals, but this meal has A LOT of sugar! I'm sure there are healthy alternatives, and maybe the next time I feature Dumbo, I can use those alternatives. Until then- here is tonight's menu:

Dumbo's Baby Elephant Ears (Obvious, right?)

Timothy Q. Mouse's Deep-Fried Nutter Butters (He LOVES peanuts)

Casey Junior's Chock Full of Coal Cookies (Gotta fuel up if we are going to make it up the mountain)

Circus Animal Cookies (I don't need to include a recipe, because they are store-bought)

Mrs. Jumbo's Baby Mine Cotton Candy Dip (Cotton Candy= Circus, and she matches it!)

Mr. Stork's Delivery of Deep-Fried Pickles (for all those preggo mamas and their cravings)

Mean Elephant's Pachyderm Caramel and Chocolate Popcorn (A Pyramid of Pachyderms!)

Ringmaster's Funnel Cake Whips (I always wanted to break that whip growing up)

The Clowns' Corn Dogs (there's that alliteration again!)

Pink Elephant's Dance Drink 

(it's pink, just like them! And it's bubbly just like the champagne Dumbo drank! No champagne kids!) 

The Crows Baked into Mini Taco Pies 

(4 and 20 blackbirds baked in a pie! Remember the old nursery rhyme?)

Enjoy!

Dumbo's Baby Elephant Ears
(recipe from Pillsbury)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 box Pillsbury™ refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
• 1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 box Pillsbury™ refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
• 1/4 cup butter, melted

Enjoy!

"Look at those ears!"

Timothy Q. Mouse's Deep-Fried Nutter Butters
(recipe adapted from Tablespoon)

Ingredients:

• 1 package of Nutter Butter Cookies
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 2 cups Bisquick™ Original baking milk
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• Powdered sugar, for topping- I didn't add this

Directions:

• Pour oil about one inch deep into a large saucepan or stockpot. Heat over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 350°F to 360°F.
• For Batter:
• Meanwhile, combine Bisquick™, milk and eggs in a large bowl; stir until well mixed. Roll 1 Nutter Butter cookie around in mix until fully coated.

• When oil is fully heated, carefully lower Nutter Butter into mixture. 
• Fry 30 seconds on each side until golden brown, then transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain.
• Repeat with remaining batter and cookies, making sure oil temperature stays within 350°F to 360°F.
• Sprinkle warm fried cookies with powdered sugar- optional

Enjoy!

"Dumbo- The Great!"

Casey Junior's Chock Full of Coal Cookies
(recipe from Cheap Recipe Blog )

Ingredients:

• 2 cups minus 2 tablespoons cake flour
• 1 2/3 cups bread flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fine grain sea salt
• 2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups chocolate chips

Directions:

• In a large mixing bowl, sift all dry ingredients together. In a separate mixing bowl using a hand mixer, cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each additiona. Add vanilla and mix until incorporated.
• Combine dry and wet ingredients. Don't over mix. Add chocolate chips. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit in the fridge overnight, or up to 3 days- I was bad and baked after 6 hours.
• When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350F. To get the cookies just the right size, use a standard cookie scooper - then divide that amount in half. Place cookie dough balls evenly onto a baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until barely done. You want to under-baked these cookies slightly so they turn out soft and gooey.

Enjoy!

"I think I can!"

Circus Animal Cookies

Ingredients:

• I just used Barnum's and Mother's Animal Cookies. Through "Mother's", you can actually win a trip to the zoo!

Directions: 

• Open and Enjoy!

Mrs. Jumbo's Baby Mine Cotton Candy Dip
(recipe adapted from Dip Recipe Creations)

Ingredients:

• 1 (8-oz) block cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 oz. cotton candy
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• gel food coloring (if desired) - I used blue

Directions:

• Pour the heavy whipping cream into a small bowl and add in the cotton candy. The cream will instantly dissolve the cotton candy. Using a mixer, beat the cream until soft peaks form. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Fold in the whipped cream mixture.
• If desired, add a couple drops of gel food coloring to reach the desired color.
• Chill for an hour and serve with animal crackers, strawberries, cookies or graham crackers.

Enjoy!
"Baby Mine"

Mr. Stork's Delivery of Deep-Fried Pickles
(recipe adapted from Copy Cat Recipe Guide )

Ingredients: 

• Frying oil 
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1 teaspoon pepper 
• 1 teaspoon sugar 
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 cups pickle chips (I used baby dills- both whole and chopped)
• Ranch dressing or horseradish sauce 

Directions: 

• Heat oil in a deep fryer or large deep pan until oil sizzles when a water drop is placed on top.
• Combine flour, salt, pepper, sugar and cayenne pepper in a large mixing bowl. Whisk to incorporate all the dry ingredients.
• Drain the pickle chips to remove excess water. The pickles do not need to be completely dry as some moisture is needed for the battering process.
• Toss a portion of the pickle chips in the seasoned flour mixture until the pickle chips are well-coated with the flour.
• Transfer the pickle chips to a wire strainer. Shake to remove excess flour from the pickle chips.
• Carefully place the pickle chips in the hot oil. Cook for three to four minutes, or until the pickles float to the surface.
• Remove from oil and place on a plate lined with paper towel to drain. Transfer to a serving plate and serve with a dipping sauce of your choice.

Enjoy!

"Happy Birthday to you!"

Mean Elephant's Pachyderm Caramel and Chocolate Popcorn
(recipe adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction )

Ingredients:

• 10 cups (100g) air-popped popcorn*
• 1 cup (200g) packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup (80g) light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter
• 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• Easter Peanut M&M's

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 200F degrees. Spread the popcorn and M&M's out onto 2 large baking sheets. Set aside.
• Combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter, cream of tartar, and salt in a medium saucepan over a medium-high heat. Stir constantly and bring to a boil for about 5 minutes.  Remove from the heat and quickly stir in the baking soda.  Pour the caramel over the popcorn and stir gently until all the kernels are coated.
• Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes.  Allow to cool on the pan and break apart large clusters if desired.  Cover the popcorn tightly once cooled; it will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks.
• Additional Notes:
• *If you do not have a popcorn maker at home, you can simply add 3 tablespoons of popcorn kernels to a brown paper bag.  Seal the bag tightly by folding over the top.  Microwave the popcorn for approximately 1 minute, 45 seconds on High, or up to 2 minutes, depending on your microwave.  This method will make 5 cups, so you'll have to do it twice. Alternatively, you can use natural-style microwave popcorn that has no butter added to it.

"Who cares about her precious little Jumbo? You mean Dumbo!"

Ringmaster's Funnel Cake Whips
(recipe adapted from Tablespoon *Note- Mine turned into more strings than an actual funnel cake- hence the name )

Ingredients:

• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 2 cups Bisquick™ Original baking mix
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• Powdered sugar, for topping

Directions:

• Pour oil about one inch deep into a large saucepan or stockpot. Heat over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 350°F to 360°F.
• Meanwhile, combine Bisquick™, milk and eggs in a large bowl; stir until well mixed. Pour batter into squeeze dispenser bottles.
• When oil is fully heated, carefully squeeze batter in a circular motion, close to the oil, until a mini funnel cake forms (don't make more than 2 cakes at a time). Fry 30 seconds on each side until golden brown, then transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain.
• Repeat with remaining batter, making sure oil temperature stays within 350°F to 360°F.
• Sprinkle warm funnel cakes with powdered sugar.

Enjoy!

"I give you- the elephants."

The Clowns' Corn Dogs 
(recipe from Jo Cooks )

Ingredients:

• 6 hot dogs, cut in half
• 12 lollipop sticks
• vegetable oil for frying
• For batter
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cornmeal
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ cup to ¾ cup milk
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• In a large Dutch oven, pour the vegetable oil to a depth of 4 inches. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F.
• Slice each half hot dog onto the lollipop sticks. You can use wooden skewers as well.
• In a bowl, combine all the batter ingredients and whisk.
• I found it easier to pour the batter in a long glass. Dip each hot dog into the cornmeal batter to completely cover the hot dog. Carefully place the hot dogs into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown, about 2 or 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels. I fried about 2 or 3 at a time. Repeat with remaining hot dogs and batter.
• Serve with ketchup and/or mustard.

"Oh, we're gonna hit the big boss for a raise!"

Pink Elephant's Dance Drink 

Ingredients:

• Sprite
• Red Grenadine

Directions:

• Combine the two liquids (more sprite than grenadine) and serve cold.

Enjoy!

"Look out! Look out! Pink elephants on parade Here they come!"

The Crows Baked into Mini Taco Pies

Ingredients:

• Tostitos' Scoops
• 1 can black beans
• 1 pound prepared taco meat
• 1 can corn
• shredded Mexican cheese

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Combine beans, meat and corn in large bowl.
• Place chips on baking sheet, and fill with mixture.
• Top with shredded cheese and bake for 5 mins or until cheesy is melty.
• Serve warm.

Enjoy!

"When I see an Elephant Fly!"