Brony Chef Project #22: CMC Series #3: Applebloom

We have officially got to the leader and Founder of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. It took awhile but, there is finnally an appitizer that fully describes not only her stong will to keep trying but also the determination to try something different. It may not be perfect but, I can truly say that this masterpeice can finnally put Applebloom in the lime light she deserves.

From "Call of The Cutie" Episode 12, Season 1: The Founding of the Cutie Mark Crusaders

From Left-to-right: Scootaloo, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle

 

Applebloom was first introduced in the very first episode as the little sister of Applejack and for awhile she was not really present most of the time. But her true debut as a side character really shined through in Bridle Gossip as somepony who was somewhat rebellious but still young enough to be innocent and carefree if she wanted to. Although, the one episode that really gave not only made Applebloom a character of a seperate major story line but made a group of characters to have a seperate story line without overshadowing the Mane 6 storyline is quite revolutionary. Although, I'm not writing exactly how The Cuitie Mark Crusaders is a miracle on itself....yet. This post is mainly focused on the founder of the group and how Applebloom can be a signifigent character on her own.

From "The Cutie Pox" Episode 6, Season 2: Appleblooms Apprenticeship with Zacora

 

Appleblooms character can be sumerized as a "comming-of-age" story. She starts off innocent in the begining, but then she starts to grow as a character who's will to change is stronger then anyone else. She is willing to push the boundries byond the small child stereotype and succeed in earning her cutie Mark that is the symbol of her maturity. Try her many attempts were unsuccessful. In fact, it has gotten her more into trouble then it has provided the solution to her problems. Yet at the end if the day, she redeems herself by providing the backbone moral of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

 

From "The Cutie Pox" Episode 6, Season 2: Applebloom tamming some lions while infected with the Cutie Pox.

 

The inspiration behind this particular dish was mostly based on Applebloom's determination and curious nature. I try to incorperate many different cultural influences to create something that really screams out "My name is Applebloom and I'm willing to get my Cutie Mark, no matter what!" I used many different kinds of spices and unique ingredients to make it stand outfrom the others. There was a lot of inspiration from the Applejack recipie and see if you can spot those influences in the ingredients below.

 

Appleblooms Ambitious Flatbread with Apple Spice Hummus

 

Serves 6

 

Caramelized Onions

 

1 White Onion, Sliced

 

1/4 cup of extra virgin Olive Oil

 

1 tsp of surgar

 

Hummus Mod

 

8-10 oz of Pre-made Hummus

 

1 jazz apple: Small Dice

 

4-5 Allspice Pods: Crushed or 3/4 tsp of Powered All-spice

 

2 tsp of smoked paprika

 

2 tsp of ground chipotle

 

1 tsp of granulated sugar

 

Flatbread + Toppings

 

1 Large or 2 Medium Slabs of Flatbread (such as Naan or Pita bread)

 

4-5 slices of prosciutto

 

1 Jazz Apple: Cut into bite size chunks

 

A small handful of Parmesan cheese

 

1.Heat a large sauté pan on medium high heat with the olive oil covering the bottom of the pan. Once the pan is heated up, add in your sliced onions to the pan and let them cook for 20-30 minutes until they are a dark Carmel color. Make sure to stir around the onions every few minutes to prevent burning. You can also add some sugar to help with the caramelization.

2. While the onions are cooking, combine all of the hummus ingredients in a large bowl and season to taste. Then place the hummus ,covered, in the fridge until ready to serve.

3. Once the onions are done cooking, remove the onions from the pan and set them on Side until you are ready to assemble. You can also store your caramelized onions in fridge for up to 3 days.

4. Prepare your flat bread using the instructions on the back of the bag in order for the bread to be fully cooked. If your bread is fully cooked, prepare your station for assembling as shown below.

 

5. Start Assembling by placing the prosciutto on the bottom of the bread. Then add the apple, the caramelized onion and some Parmesan cheese. You can also customize your flat bread with any other ingrediants you want.

6. Place your broiler on medium high and broil your bread on a sheet pan about 2/3 way up to the top or higher. Broil until the cheese on top is browned.

 

7. Cut up the flatbread into small pieces and serve them on a platter or on a paddle bread board with apple spice hummus on the side.

 

I really enjoyed makeing this Flatbread mostly because I put the most time really focusing on the "uniqueness" of Applebloom and it took me a couple months of brainstorming but I finally hit the nail on the head.

I want to thank everyone for sticking with me after a very long hiatus. I recently got a new job and it takes a lot out of me. But there will be more to come. Yet for now, I bid you all a-do.

 

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Brony Chef Project #18: Big Mac’s Farmhouse Berginon

From the outside, every character on My Little Pony: Friendship is magic is always seemed to be expressive about everyone’s character through great length and quality of there own dialogue. Yet, there is this one character, who doesn’t seem to say much but he is considered as I like to call “The Intelligent and Silent Giant” of the series. A pony that doesn’t really say much but his own character reveals himself through his actions, body language and the tone when he uses his line of “eeuop” and “Nope”. His name is Big Macintosh or Big Mac for short.

From "Hearts and Hooves Day" Episode 17, Season 2: Big Mac Bucking Apples

 

He first appeared in the series during the first episode as a “male drafted character” to provide diversity to the show. Although, through out the first season, Big Mac became his own character when he is revealed to be Applejacks Big Brother. He was essentially, “the rock” of the Apple Family and somewhat of a representative for the common working male figure for a show made for the young female demographic.

Although he is treated as a minor character of the series, featured in only a few episodes with little dialog, his character is more three-dimensional then he appears to be. What lacks in his dialog, he has this inner wisdom that he keeps to himself and rarely shares that knowledge in only the most thought provocative situations. A few examples of those times of inner wisdom from Big Mac would be the biting off more than you can chew discussion with Applejack in “Apple Bucking Season” or when he shared Pinkie Pie his own inner wisdom about taking risks in the recent “Pinkie Apple Pie” episode.

From "Pinkie Apple Pie" Episode 9, Season 4: Big Mac demonstrating his strength.

 

He also has his own signature strength of the physical and the moral. He always works hard and was always honest as Applejack. He never really lied or succumbed to any temptations (exception to the Hearts and Hooves Day episode because he was under the influence of the love poison). He also never uses his physical strength to dominate over anyone else to his advantage, which would be very easy for a pony, his size. He always uses his strength for good and productivity at Sweet Apple Acres. In all he is considered as “gentle giant with little to say but express through his uniqueness.”

The inspiration for this dish was mostly just an excuse to make a stew commonly known as beouf Berginon. True, it is French but, when I was thinking of Big Mac; I thought about how Big Mac is not only a hearty dish but as a wholesome experience that would reflect Big Mac’s hard working nature. I naturally think of a good hearty stew that accompanied with apples to obviously reference the apple family aspect. Naturally, wine would be the perfect match with apples. Plus with the addition of tender stew meat and thick cut bacon, it would be perfect not only for the character itself but for the extremely cold weather that January and for the upcoming February is expecting to come (especially in Chicago).

 

To be frankly honest, this recipe is more of an Americanized version of the classical French dish. I know it’s devious to mess with something that is original and magnificent on its own, but I do want to explore the many possibilities that could turn out amazing. Plus, according to my parents, “Apples do make the dish.” So it may not be the original but at least it tastes good. (I would also like to note that if you plan to shop for these ingredients: you need to be 21 or over to purchase the wine. If you are under 21, you can ask your parents or legal guardian to make the purchase for you.)

 

 

 

Big Mac’s Farmhouse Berginion

 

Serves up to 6-8

 

Meat

 

1 ½ lbs. of Stewing beef or roughly cubed beef shoulder.

 

4 strips of thick cut bacon, Chopped into 16 chunks

 

 

 

Vegetables and Fruit

 

1 red onion, roughly chopped

 

3 medium carrots, medium chopped

 

3 breaburn apples or red delicious, roughly chopped into chunks

 

 

 

Cooking Liquid

 

750 ml Bottle of California Red Wine or Burgundy

 

2 cups of Beef broth.

• Cook your stew meat on a big wide pan on high heat and cook until browned. (Remember to turn and stir the beef to cook on all sides.) Once the stew meat is browned, remove from the pan and set it on the side. Skim the fat on the pan until you have a nice brown coating.

• Using the same pan as you cook the meat, sautee the red onion on the pan and with a wooden spoon, scrap the bottom of the pan to enhance flavor. Cook the onions until soft.

• When onions are soft, add ¾ of the bottle of wine to the pan on high heat to deglaze the pan. Add your stew meat, carrots and the rest of the wine. Bring the stew up to a boil and turn the heat down low to a simmer and let the alcahol evaporate for 2 ½ hours. (If your stew does not have any bubbles coming up during the cooking process, turn the heat up until you see a gentle bubling.)

• After about 2 hours, the stew should be reduced by half of its original volume. Add in your apples and let it cook for 45 more minutes.
• While the stew is cooking, on a separate cast iron pan, cook your bacon until floppy and fully cooked

 

 

Add your bacon and the broth to fold into the stew.

Season to taste and serve with some hearty French bread.

 

This stew is perfect for making large quantities to share with friends, family or even yourself. Its also considered as the perfect economic dish because the cheaper and tougher the meat is, the better the stew gets. Plus, its perfect for potluck parties because if have a warming crock pot or pressure cooker to keep it warm, then the meat will become more tender and the intensity of the wine flavor increases. It will take time, but if you have the afternoon free, you can make a really great meal for yourself and your friends.

I really hope you enjoy this warming and new experience in Brony cuisine. Send in some more suggestions for new recipes at #bronychefproject for more. This is Chef Kyle saying, “I bid you a-do and stay warm.”

 

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