What could be more fun than to create and eat food inspired by video games?
Catherine Barson Eastis talks about the art of cooking fan-favorite meals and treats for her cookbook and blog, “The Gluttonous Geek.”
“I started The Gluttonous Geek back in 2015 to bridge the gap between our [world] and fictional worlds by using food as my medium,” Eastis says. “Ever since I was old enough to understand stories, I wanted to live them or explore their worlds. I guess most of us nerdy fantasy and sci-fi fans share that desire—which is also likely why we play certain tabletop and video games or costume our favorite characters. No matter how immersive these outlets are, though, I find there’s a disconnect because we need to forcefully suspend our disbelief.
With food, though, there’s no disconnect in what you’re sensing. So, that’s what I try to do. I try to research and then create a dish that transports you to where the rest of your senses cannot.”
What’s it like creating recipes inspired by video games?
CBE: The way I see it, every recipe has a story. I want that story to have meaning. I mean, while I could make a simple pumpkin pie recipe and say it’s inspired by “My Time at Portia,” it’s another thing to be able to say how its ingredients and cooking methods make it specifically Sophie’s Pumpkin Pie from that game.
With that, I like my recipe development to fit into the game world. I screenshot the food, the ingredients and even the kitchens and cooking implements, if there are any. I also research the culture and cultural inspiration behind the game. Sometimes, the characters even give their opinion in a conversation or off-hand comment.
Do you have any cookbooks?…[Are they] popular with kids and teens?
CBE: I have a combined Dungeons & Dragons -compatible adventure-and-cookbook out now called “Breakfast of Champions.” It was released in May of this year and is family-friendly. It features silly arena-style combat, dungeon crawls, 12 recipes that can be served at different parts of the adventure and ALL the breakfast puns.
Find recipes and more from Eastis onthegluttonousgeek.com
New Horizons Birthday Cupcakes
Inspired by Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Equipment: 12-cup standard muffin tin, cupcake liners, mixer, two mixing bowls and a piping bag with a large round tip
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 and ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 and ¼ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ cup lite coconut milk
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
Frosting
- 1 cup coconut oil
- ⅜ cup maraschino cherry syrup
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 and ¾ cups powdered sugar
Garnish
- 12 maraschino cherries
- Rainbow sprinkles
Instructions
Make the cake:
Preheat the oven to 325°F and fill the muffin tin with cupcake wrappers.
Cream the coconut oil and sugar in a bowl using the mixer until fluffy. Then, blend in the apple sauce, vanilla extract and orange zest.
Stir the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl with a fork. Then, alternate adding the flour mix and the coconut milk to the bowl of wet ingredients. Make sure to use the mixer to blend in between until all comes together as a smooth batter.
Fill each cup on the muffin tin ¾ of the way up with batter. Then, bake in the oven for 20 to 22 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Remove cakes from the oven and allow to cool completely before decorating.
Make the frosting and decorate:
Blend the coconut oil, cherry syrup, orange zest and vanilla using the mixer in a clean mixing bowl.
Add the powdered sugar ¼ cup at a time; whip the frosting until light and fluffy.
Add icing to the piping bag and refrigerate for five minutes. Pipe a ball of frosting onto the center of the cake. Then, pipe outward in a starburst pattern from and returning to the center with each pass. Refrigerate the bag again if the icing becomes melty. Repeat with the remaining cakes.
Top each cake with a cherry and sprinkles before serving.
Possum Springs Pizzatacos
Inspired by “A Night in the Woods” | Makes 8-12 tacos
Equipment: Oven, oven rack, baking sheet, microwave, paper towels, baking dishes, stovetop and skillet
Ingredients
- 2 pounds mild Italian sausage
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- ⅛ cup sliced black olives
- ⅛ cup pieces of torn pepperoni
- 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 8-12 taco-size flour tortillas
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 8 ounces shredded Italian blend cheese
- 1 tablespoon corn oil
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
Instructions
1. Remove a rack from the oven and preheat to 350°F. Wrap the tortillas in damp paper towels and microwave for 20 to 30 seconds until pliable.
2. Prop the rack on top of boxes to raise it and place the baking sheet underneath. Brush corn oil on each side of the tortillas and drape each one over two rack bars. Then, put the rack back in the oven and the baking sheet on the rack below to catch the oil.
3. Bake 7 to 9 minutes until crispy. Remove the tortillas with a pair of tongs to cool.
4. Preheat the skillet on the stovetop over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add the sausage in clumps and brown while breaking up. Transfer the meat to a mixing bowl and drain off most of the fat.
5. Add the peppers, onion and cumin to the still-hot pan and stir. Cook until the onions are translucent.
6. Transfer the meat back to the pan and pour in the crushed tomatoes and dried basil. Reduce the heat to low, and stir and simmer until the liquid absorbs. Empty the contents of the skillet back into the bowl.
7. Bump the heat up on the oven to 375°F. Lightly coat the inside of some baking dishes with cooking spray and line with taco shells.
8. Fill the shells with taco meat—you will have leftovers. Top with cheese and dot with olives and pepperoni pieces. Bake for 10 minutes; then, let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
