May 4, 2021

Basic Boba (Fett) Tea

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Basic Boba (Fett) Tea

May 4: Star Wars Day

Not only is Islander a fan of Star Wars, but she is a fan of boba tea (specifically jasmine green milk tea with golden tapioca pearls)—so much so that she gave it up for Lent one year, which was a challenge because there are several boba tea places around town! Her Taiwanese ESL student taught her how to make boba tea at home, which is cheaper, and we can control how much ice and sweetness levels to put in our boba beverage.

Boba in the tea sounds like “bubble” because of the bubble-like tapioca pearls. Boba Fett, a bounty hunter, is the name of one of the favorite characters in the Star Wars film franchises. He was the muse for our traditional Taiwanese drink recipe for today. Add a few drops of grayish-green food coloring to match Boba Fett’s outfit and it becomes a more festive food for Star Wars Day!

Recipe

(From YaJu Y.)

Ingredients

  • 6-8 tea bags (jasmine, green, black, oolong, chair tea—any strong tea)
  • 1 cup quick cooking golden tapioca pearls
  • Water (to steep the tea and to boil the boba)
  • Sweetener (sugar, honey or simple syrup-see Notes), to taste
  • ½ cup milk (half-and-half, cream, soy, nut or non-dairy creamer)
  • Ice (optional)

Directions

Boil 4 cups water for the tea. Steep the tea in a large bowl for 10-20 minutes (depending on personal desired strength and taste of the tea). Remove and discard the tea bags and cool to room temperature. In a large pot, boil the water and cook the tapioca pearls according to the package directions. Drain and rinse in a colander.

Add sweetener to the tea bowl to taste (more or less a tablespoon). Stir in the milk. In two tall glasses, add ice and tapioca pearls. Pour in the milk tea. Serve with tall spoon or fat straw.

Notes

  • To make simple syrup, boil equal parts water and sugar until dissolved. Let cool completely. May be stored in a bottle in the refrigerator until ready to sweeten the boba tea.
  • Avoid cooking the tapioca pearls too early or they will harden and dry out when cool and not be chewy. Always use freshly cooked boba for the tea recipe.
  • Be careful not to choke on your aspirations when slurping up the pearls in the straw.
  • Hunt for a bounty of other Star Wars-inspired recipes under our Theme Menus page. May the 4th be with you—and with your spirit!

 

May 4, 2019

Rey’s Portion Bread

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Rey’s Portion Bread

May 4: Star Wars Day

How about some quick gourmet for Star Wars Day? Then try these recipes for “Rey’s Portion Bread”. The “bread” heats up instantaneously, just like in the movie “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens”, and it is enough for a single serving (or two petite portions) for geeks on the go!

We have adapted two recipes for this blog post and used the magic of the microwave for the bread to cook quickly. They are as “appetizing as they look” (honestly, these mug cakes don’t taste that bad!). For Rey, the portion bread was her sustenance on the desert planet of Jakku; for film fans it could be an extra amusing snack or dessert on Earth. Either way, this is a fun food to eat on Star Wars Day. May the Fourth be with you!

Recipe I

(Adapted from StarWars.com)

Ingredients

  • ½ teaspoon vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup cake flour
  • 1 ½ tablespoons sugar
  • ½ teaspoon matcha powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Grease a large ramekin or microwave safe mug or small bowl with the oil. In a separate bowl, combine the cake flour, sugar and matcha powder.

Add the baking powder and pinch of salt. Stir in the milk and vanilla until the ingredients are well combined.

Pour into the greased ramekin. Place in the microwave and heat on high for 40-45 seconds. Carefully remove from the microwave and cool slightly before eating.

Recipe II

(Adapted from Rosanna Pansino of “Nerdy Nummies”)

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon matcha powder
  • 5 tablespoons self rising flour
  • pinch of salt
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablepoons coconut oil, melted
  • 2 tablespoons milk, room temperature
  • 1 egg, room temperature

Directions

In a bowl or plastic bag (the latter is for later use), combine the matcha powder, flour, salt and sugar.  In a small bowl, melt the coconut oil. Stir in the milk (cold milk will solidify the melted coconut oil).

Beat the egg into the oil-milk mixture. Add the dry to wet ingredients, stirring with a clean finger (like Rey did) or a whisk, until smooth and well blended. Portion the batter into two small ramekins (or one large mug). Microwave for 1½ minutes. Carefully remove from the microwave and cool slightly before eating.

Notes

  • In the second recipe, place the dry ingredients in a zipper top plastic bag (Rey received her rations this way) for later use. Whenever hunger hits, strike back like the Empire and prepare the portion bread by mixing the contents of the dry pack with fresh liquid ingredients.
  • If the mug cake looks a little undercooked, zap it in the microwave for another five seconds. Take it out and let the heat continue to cook as it cools slightly. Avoid overcooking as it will turn as hard as an asteroid rock.
  • Thanks to Islander’s brother for letting us borrow his Star Wars book, “The Force Awakens Visual Dictionary”, for the food photos above.
  • We have attended “Star Wars Celebration III” in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2005. Islander and her brother attended “Star Wars Celebration” in Chicago, Illinois, in 2019. Both were FANtastic experiences!
  • Look for more Star Wars recipes on our blog by searching under the Theme Menus section. 
 

May 25, 2018

Han Solo Carbonite Cookies

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Han Solo Carbonite Cookies

May 25: Release date of the first Han Solo movie trilogy (2018)

Han Solo got a solo spin-off story in a “Star Wars” movie! The film, officially released today, features the origins of the space smuggler turned general in the Rebel Alliance/New Republic.

His character, portrayed by actor Harrison Ford, made his first appearance in 1977 in “Star Wars: A New Hope” (Episode IV) and was killed off in 2015 in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (Episode VII). In 2018, actor Alden Ehrenreich portrays the young Han Solo in “Solo: A Star Wars Story” and may reprise his role in two more forthcoming films.

Han Solo is immortalized in pop culture history, much like his iconic scene in 1981’s “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back “ (Episode V) when he was frozen in carbonite. To celebrate the release of the new Han Solo movies, we made carbonite cookies à la LU Biscuits’ Le Petit écolier (“The Little Schoolboy”) cookies. The sugar cookie base is topped with a chocolate impression of Han Solo in his classic frozen state and finished with a shiny metallic silver glaze.

Make these classic cookies for the movie’s release and for a Star Wars themed celebration.

Recipe

(Adapted from Williams-Sonoma)

For the sugar cookie base

  • 2 ½ cups flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla

Directions

In a bowl, combine the flour and salt. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter with the sugar. Beat in the egg. Add the vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Mix until a dough is formed. Roll the dough into a large ball, divide in thirds, cover and refrigerate until firm (about an hour).

Roll out dough ¼-inch thick. Cut out rectangular shapes 1.5 inches wide by 2.75 inches tall. Place on a lightly greased baking pan. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes to firm up the dough. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand for five minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely and become crisp.

For the chocolate “carbonite”

  • Chocolate or confectioner’s candy (such as Ghirardelli melting wafers or Wilton dark chocolate candy melts)
  • Silver edible powder, non-toxic
  • Alcohol base (Everclear or almond/lemon/orange extract)

Directions

In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and stir until smooth. Spoon melted chocolate into the Han Solo ice cube tray no thicker than ¼ inch. Tap the tray lightly to level out the chocolate. Refrigerate until firm. Carefully unmold the chocolate onto a paper towel.

pread a little melted chocolate on a rectangular cookie and press a Han Solo chocolate piece on top. Repeat to complete the rest of the cookies. In a small dish, put a little silver powder. Put an eyedropper or two of clear alcoholic liquid to make a thin paste. Paint over the Han Solo chocolates, being careful to avoid the cookie base. Let the cookies dry. Store covered in single layer.

Notes

  • Han Solo ice cube tray is available from Amazon.com.
  • For a cheaper “chocolate”, use Wilton candy melts.
  • Search our blog for other Star Wars-inspired recipes.

 

 

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