Cloudy with a chance of meatballs? What? Why is a movie featured here?
When the reps for Sony Pictures called me to bring a food character from their movie* to life in a recipe, I could not say no. Why? Because I love movies? Well, not exactly. My children did not see a movie (or television show for that matter) until they were 8 and 9 years old respectively. No screen time in our house, lots of playing in the mud –something I rarely mention here.
This was the exact reason in fact, that we moved from New York City to outdoorsy Colorado. We all needed to get our hands dirty and spend some time digging around outside.
So why a movie here?
Many children do go to the movies. Many children who cannot consume gluten. That is why I decided to bring a character from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs to life. A GLUTEN-FREE character. Better than that? A vegetable character utilizing a healthy recipe that can get children into the kitchen.
You will find my pickle character on the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Facebook page.
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And it just might be the only gluten-free character –but at least there will be one!
And so I present you with my sassy dill pickle family, pickly personifications in the make-believe world-of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. My dill pickle is simply a brined cuke. I call him Dill, and he is salty, silly, and dilly. A winning combination of gherkin cucumber, dill, garlic and bay leaf, this cuke likes to stir things up with his pickle pals. Here’s how to make your own silly dilly cuke.
Dill Pickle People
Ingredients
- 5 pickles
- 10 white peppercorns
- 5 pink peppercorns
- 3 sprigs dill
Instructions
- Place dill pickle on counter
- Using toothpicks, make tiny holes in the pickle for eyes, then fill with white peppercorns
- Make tiny hole in each pickle for mouth, then fill with pink peppercorn
- Make holes on side of pickle for arms, and fill with 1-inch of dill stem
- Make hole for hair, and fill with sprig of dill
- Repeat with remaining 4 pickles for a pickle family
- Remove garnishes just prior to serving
Equipment
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 will be in theaters September 27th.
*I was sponsored in writing this post and donated 100% of the funds to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness.
Mia says
That is such a cute picture! I love your sassy dill pickle family. :o)
Jemma says
As usual, wonderful fun! I think I prepare one of your recipes almost daily, and share them with many clients! Thanks and more thanks, Elana~~~
Susan says
Congratulations! A pickle is the perfect gluten free character for the movie. Bubbies pickles are labeled “Shake until cloudy” and my kids have always found it hilarious to look up while shaking, waiting for clouds to appear. Perfect.
Nana says
How exciting for you! Love your recipes!
Crista says
that is so cute! and pretty funny…..
i bet you would have never guessed to have an opportunity like that…. haha
Susan says
These guys are really cute and creative. I hope their dill (read dull) hair doesn’t give them trouble… :-) Congratulations on being chosen to turn the movie character into a recipe.
Lynn Krukowski says
Pretty cute. Neat side dish at a kids party. Or have them all make one to decorate their plate or put beside their own, personally decorated pizza.
I hope you are over the massive rains and flooding you have there. May it not be Cloudy with a Chance of there (more rain)
Take care.
Dawn @Transformed By Food says
Oh my gosh! Congratulations! I used to read that book all the time with my kids. Time goes all too fast.
I just wanted to let you know that there’s a great picture book series by
Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers, which is based upon fruit and vegetable characters. Yours remind me of them. So cute, and yet so simple. You can find more info about the books (photo books, actually) at my old literacy blog here: http://www.momsinspirelearning.com/2011/02/food-for-life-and-laughter.html Is it okay to link? If not, feel free to remove it.
Thanks. Best of luck!
Jennifer says
Thank you! So important to represent so many kids feeling left out of this gluten filled world!
Stacey says
Congrats! That is very exciting:)
B says
It was a wonderful book way before it was a movie.
From another Mom who’s kids are out in the mud and know nothing of Sponge Bob or Mickey.
Love the pickle people.