Brony Chef Project # 24: Flutterbats "Veganpire" Gazpacho

             I have been waiting for this post ever since the "Bats" episode is released. Before I go into more detail, let me tell you guys a quick story of how I got inspired to make this post today.

              During my time in "bronydom" I always feel neutral about Fluttershy. I do like her and she is a good character, but sometimes she seems not that interesting to me. I think the only times I really like Fluttershy is when she goes "out-of-character" and reveals her more crazy side. I don't know why but I kind of like her when ever she has her "psychotic break downs" like at the Grand Galloping Gala or when she turned into "Flutterhulk" in Power Ponies.

               So when I heard rumors that season 4 would involve Fluttershy becoming a vampire, I thought to myself "Oh boy, here comes another 'Twilight Vampire Story' I have to sit through". Yet when I tuned into the episode "Bats" and saw Flutterbat for the first time, I was excited, because she not only looks menacing but her design is pretty amazing. Although, I am getting ahead of myself. Lets dive into the creature to be Flutterbat.

Flutterbats Stare from "Bats": Season 4 Episode 7

 

               The Origin of Flutterbat was originally an accident on Twilights part. It all started when there was a vampire fruitbat infestation at Sweet Apple Achers. Applejack proposed that she wants the bats out through artificial means (aka extermination/mental brainwash). Although Fluttershy actually perpose to not get rid of the bats but to use them to produce more apple. Yet through peer presure, she was succumbed to Twilight Sparkles plan to brainwash the bats by stareing into the terifying creatures eyes to hold them still. Yet when Twilight casted the spell, the desire to suck out the apples juices from the whole flock transfered to Fluttershy through magical radioactivity. (To all of the non-brony readers of this post: This is Pony Physics ladies and gentlemen. Try not to think about it too much or you will get a migrain that will last for days.)




Flutterbat on the hunt for Apples

      

Flutterbat Swooping Down

After the treatment that was delivered to the bats, the problem of the ruined apples still persisted and nopony knows why. Later that night, The Mane 6 decied to comence a steak out by the orchard. Little do the group of brave ponies know that the beast was ready to pounce.





Flutterbat paralyzed by her appearance

Once they split up, each pony saw the shadowy figure flying over devouring Applejacks crops. Little did they know that the creature was one of there own possesed by the desires of the vampire fruit bat. When Applejack discovered the source of her apple problems (with Applejacks greatest reaction face ever), she discovered that her once quite freind has turned into......Flutterbat! Luckily, she reverted back into the original Fluttershy. Although, rumors say that Twilight's Spell did not get rid of all of the vampire desires.




She was savage and wild with a haughnting hiss that brings chills downs one spine. This is what I love about Flutterbat: she is NOT the styrotypical vampire from Transiviania or the Twilight vampire movies. Flutterbat looks and sounds like a lagitamit monster that bring actual fear and threat. Even if she does not eat ponies or draws blood from her victumes, she still retains that fear of the beast existing in one's body. Plus the fact that she brings ruin in her wake brings up a message of how artificial pestisides (Twilights Spell) could not only distroy the nateral enviorment of our food source, but also the consumers who were in the crossfire of this chemical debachol. (Note: Im not trying to be political about where our food comes from, this is just an observation of the message behind the episode.)

For those don't know what a Gazpacho is, it is originally a Mediterranean dish that is traditionally made with cucumber and other fresh herbs with some cool vegetable juice. What makes this soup different from other soups is that there is no heat needed to create the soup. In fact it was used to help cool down the body during the very hot and dry summer months on the Mediterranean sea. It was also used as medicine to help bring down fevers and other heat related illnesses.

Flutterbats "Veganpire" Gazpacho

For Flutterbats Gazpacho, its really more of a modification of Fluttershys Vegan Tomato Soup. Instead of being warm and inviting, the Flutterbat "Veganpire Gazpacho" is more cold and somewhat savage. To be honest, the recipe is more of a character profile then a look into the life of Flutterbat. (Since she was in one episode so far.) There is obviously apple juice and apple juice to compliment her diet, as well as cherry juice and raspberries to give the illusion of blood, and just like the Fluttershy Soup this Gazpacho is vegan. It also has some cucumber blended in to give it a more cooling sensation to fend of the hot late summer heat.

Flutterbats "Veganpire" Gazpacho

Soup Base
1 Cucumber: Peeled, Seeded and Chopped Finely

2 Apples: Peeled and Chopped

2 1/2 cups of Frozen Raspberries (Fresh will work but add a few ice cubes to make it cold.)

8 oz of Apple Juice

16 oz of Cherry Juice



Apple Chunks
2 Apples: Peeled and Chopped into bite size pieces



Seasonings
1 Tsp of Ground Ginger

Sea Salt to taste



Adding the fruit to the blender

1. Place all your chopped cucumber, apples and raspberries into a big bowl.

2. Add 1/3 of your fruit mixture to the blender along with the apple and cherry juice. Blend the mixture until it is liquefied. Keep adding the chopped fruit mixture (a few scoops at a time) and blend them into the soup until all the fruit is blended.



Adding the fruit juice

3. Pour the soup into a separate bowl and add the apple chunks to the gazpacho. You can add more chopped apples for a more chunkier soup.

4. Season your Gazpacho with the ground ginger and stir. Add some sea salt to the soup to taste and stir.

5. Serve your gazpacho in small bowls with a sliver of apple.



This dish is more suitable for the summer months, but you can also use it as a Halloween type of dish to freak some of your Friends out. Although, it is also a good soup to have something is summery and also a good transition from the summer months into more of the fall. The month that I would choose to eat this would be September since there is still that summer heat but the signs of fall are approaching in sight.

I want to thank you guys for keeping in touch of my website. I know I haven't been up-to-date as much but these posts take a lot of work. Speaking of which, I am also working on a new project. I'm not going to say much it is going to be something a little special. I will provide a few clues and hints about what it is but other then that I will keep this under wraps. Hope you guys stay cool from the August heat and I bid all of you a-do.

Brony Chef Project #19: The "Cinna-Coco" Pummel Mocha

While the winters of Chicago still rages on outside, there is warmth beside freinds and good coffee. I recently started to watch more of season 4 and one new character that recently appeared caught my eye. She was only in one episode so far, but she has gained an impressive audience with the fan art and back stories galor. She is a background pony but I believe she could be more if the series give her more air time. She is simply known as Coco Pummel: a designers apprentice and an insiration for a delectable treat.

From "Rarity Takes Manehattan" episode 8, Season 4: Coco beside Suri's Polomare's "New' clothing line.

 

Coco's backstory is somewhat unknown to the series so far, but they are however some clues about her origin durring her first appearence. In the episode "Rarity Takes Manehatten", Coco first appeared as an apprentice to the lieing and deceiving Suri Polomare; a competator designer for the Fashion Week compition. She was shy and somewhat weak willed since she was an intern for Seri, but Coco did started to change when she saw Rarity's example of generosity. At the end of the episode, Coco decied to quit her apprenticeship and got the job of costume set designer for the Manehatten Theater: Thanks to Rarity.

From "Rarity Takes Manehatten" episode 8, Season 4: Coco Pummel giving Rarity the 1st place prize of Fashion Week.

 

Coco is considered what I like to call "the apprentice who became the master" type of character. She decided to guide herself to what she belives is right instead of following an experienced master of the craft who is only successful through unethical practices. Eventhough Coco was weak willed under her apprenticeship, she does have the concious to make better decisions not only for herself but for ethical bussiness practices itself.

The inspiration for Coco was to put in the perspective of Manehatten's caffe scene. I wanted to make something that maybe Coco would get regularly in her neighbor hood to start her day right to face any challange or as an escape from Seri's corruption. I naturally thought about the local coffee houses, arround the city and came up with a "Dessert" coffee drink that adds subtly but originally that Coco represents.

 

The "Cinna-Coco" Pummel Mocha

 

Makes 6 cups

 

Coffee

 

6 cups of hot brewed coffee

 

Flavorings

 

~1/2 cup of coconut milk

 

1/3 cup of coco powder

 

3/4 cup of brown sugar

 

Cinnamon to taste

 

 

 

1. Pour the coffee into individual mugs. (Remember to leave room for the coconut milk.)

2. Add a splash of coconut milk until each cup 4/5 filled up.

3. Add 1 Tablespoon of coco powder and 2 Tablespoons of the brown sugar to each cup and stir.

4. Add the cinnamon on top to taste and serve warm.

 

 

This drink is perfect for any coffee lover who wants to save money while still enjoying the drinks they love. You can serve this drink to to individual guests who want to enjoy some episode disscusstions or lay out some extra ingredients on a table to have a "customizable coffee bar" to create there own pony themed drinks. Although, one of the biggest perks of all is that the coconut milk is lactose, gluten, and soy free: so anyone can enjoy it.

I know this post is little late, but I am still updating. My kitchen is currently being remodeled and there might be some changes to the recipie photos and some delay, but It will look ten times better over time. As for the next recipie, I'm going to have wait and see once the kitchen is done, but for now: I'll try to keep things simple to accommodate my current situation. For now, this is the Brony Chef saying "I bid you all a-do" and enjoy a cup of warm joe this winter.

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Brony Chef Project #17: Daring Do’s Exotic Vegan Fried Rice

With the year of 2014 starting out the New Year and the website revives from its hiatus, there needs to be a dish that needs to be not only new, but daring. There has to be a dish that not only expands ones taste buds but ones courage for change and exploration. To celebrate the revival of the project and the New Year, The Brony Chef Project proudly presents Daring Do and The Exotic Vegan Fried Rice.

From "Read it and Weep" Episode 16, Season 2: Front- Daring Do, Back-Arizol's Minions

Daring Do is a fictional character with Rainbow Dashes favorite book series with the same name. Daring first appeared in “Read it and Weep”: Episode 16 of Season 2 as a fictional book character. She was originally an interpretation of Rainbow Dash’s ego while reading the story. Daring became an inspiration to dash not only because the stories were not only entertaining through her time at the hospital, but through Daring Do as a character who is willing to try new ways of thinking and exploration through Dashes reading.

From "Read it and Weep" Episode 16, Season 2: Prop used-Book

Daring remained more of a side character and somewhat downed played after the episode to reference only when Rainbow Dash is reading. Yet all that changed, when “Daring Don’t” (Season 4, Episode 7) first aired. Daring became more of a real character as herself when she reveals that the stories of her alter ego A.K Yearling writes was based on her own experiences. This confused a lot of fans, since they did mention deadlines and release dates of these stories as the adventures were happening. Although through out the whole episode, Daring revealed to be more of a professional mercenary who works alone to solve her own problems. Yet near the end, Daring became more open to accepting help from others when she needed it from Rainbow Dash. This later inspire A.K Yearling to not only finish the book, but to add a special fan in the story who was willing to become the support of Daring Do.

From "Daring Don't" Episode 4, Season 4: Daring Do disguised as A.K Yearling

The culinary inspiration for Daring Do was to bring up during some reflection of my past posts, specifically BCP #3: Rainbow Dash. I took a look at BCP #3 and asked myself “What exactly could I do differently to reflect Rainbow Dashes interpretation of Daring?” I deiced to use certain influences from Asia and South America to reference Daring Do’s background as an explorer. I also wanted it to also to cook it vegan to add the challenge of going through certain limitations and thinking outside the box, just as Daring Do did. Plus I wanted to add more vegan items to anyone who is vegan to enjoy some more of my creations.

There are also a lot of elements from the Rainbow Dash post I added to the fried rice to bring the similarities of Daring Do and Rainbow Dash into light. First, its very fast to make (if the ingredients are made ahead of time) and easy to prepare. There is a spice component that is similar to rainbow dash but have more exotic flavors of curry and smoked paprika. It is also very healthy as the Rainbow Dash stir-fry with the only difference of using white rice and Extra-Virgin Olive Oil instead of using canola oil. This not only adds a different flavor to the rice and better nutrition value but it could also withstand more heat since it has a very high smoke point.

From "Daring Don't" Episode 4, Season 4: Daring Do and Rainbow Dash

Daring Do’s Exotic Vegan Fried Rice

Serves 4-6 people


Rice
1 cup of dried Balsami or White Rice or 5 cups of cooked rice (Leftover rice can be a good substitute)
2 cups of water
6 Whole Allspice pods
A pinch of salt
The Filling
1 whole pine apple, cut into medium size chunks
1 bell pepper, diced
1 Swiss chard leaf, cut into thin ribbons or chiffonade
1/3 cup of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil to coat the pan.
Seasonings
Dry
1 Tsp of Curry Powder
1 tsp of Paprika
A pinch of cayenne pepper

Wet

1/3 cup of light soy sauce

• If you are using dried rice, rinse the rice in cold water to remove the unnecessary starch. Then add the rice to the small pot of cold water. Then add the allspice and salt to the rice for seasoning. Bring the water up to a boil and put the lid on to let it steam for 10 minutes. Do NOT remove the lid until all of the rice has absorbed the water. Removed the Allspice pods once rice is all cooked. (If using precooked rice, add the allspice in powdered form by a pinch.)

• In a non-sick pan, sauté the Pineapple Chunks in Olive Oil at medium high heat for 15-20 minutes or until caramelized. Remember to turn the pineapple chunks once a while to prevent burning. Once the Pineapple is done cooking, remove the pineapple and remove the pan from the heat. Rinse the pan with water and dry the pan with the paper towel.

• Add a new coating of olive oil to the pan on high heat and add the cooked rice Swiss chard and red pepper to the pan and fold in the vegetables to the rice. About 5-8 minutes of cooking, add the caramelized pineapple to the rice and stir.

• Add the soy sauce to the rice, followed by the dry seasonings and stir until incorporated into the rice. Once mixed, bring the heat down to low to keep warm.

• Place the rice in a bowl and Garnish with some fresh chopped cilantro or any other green herb. Serve.

Daring Do was a fun return to work with since I wanted to do something exciting to bring back the project. For a while, I stopped writing since I decide to go back to school and writing felt more like work then creating something I love. But since the new year of 2014 has arrived, I feel confident that I will bring the Brony Chef Project to new heights and wider horizons while enjoying creating something new and exciting.
Before I go, I do want to mention that I will be attending Trot Con this summer in Columbus, Ohio. I never really attended a convention before, but this would be my first time and I’m really excited. I would post some updates about my experience of getting to the con and share my experiences at the convention itself. I would post these updates once in a while if something develops and some tips I may come across that I would like to share to the other “first-timers” to Trot Con.
That is all I want to say for now. I hope you all had a great holiday season and a happy, healthy new year. For now, it is my pleasure after a long time to say, “I bid you a-do.”

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Brony Chef Project #13: Queen Chrysalis Caprese

We return to yet another villan whos apearence is not only serial but the story behind this particular character has a backstory that is quite a mystery. Her fannon story and peronality has not only created a folowing of fans, but she reapeared in many other mediums of the Brony Renaissance. She appeared in comic books, writen in many fanfiction stories, music was inspired by her, and so much more. Allow me to introduce Queen Chryslis (AKA The Changleing Queen).

Chrysalis only one time appearence (so far) in the show was "revealed" in the second half of the season 2 finale "A Canterlot Wedding." When I said "revealed" is because she was disguised as a princess to feed off the love of Shining Armor (Twilights Brother) and take control of Canterlot. She disguised herself as Princess Cadence Mi Amore, the bride and Twilights childhood freind, to bring an invation of an alian race (known as the Changlings) to take over all of Equestria. Although her plans were spoiled by the very treasure she desperatly speaks. by using the true love of the real Princess Cadence and Shining Armor, Queen Chrysalis was banished from the kingdom and never been heard from since. (Im know I might be spoiling a lot for Bronies who have not seen the episode, but this was the only way I can truly reveal the character.)
Although since then, the fandom has created a new following of My Little Pony Villains. She became a symbol of villany, darkness and seduction in many fanfiction and animation alike. Her personality was not really revealed in the episode but over the past year, the fandom gave her a "fannon" personality.
If your not familuar with the term "fannon", it is term for which a character is built based on the observations and perceptions of the fan base. Some examples might include background characters or some "one-time only" characters apearences of a show or movie. They would take the character and create back stories to build up an in-depth look into a character that was not noticeable before. It sounds a little unusual but it has been part of many fandoms, brony or before the whole trend got started.
As for the inspiration to create the dish, I got the idea from when I was in the grocery store. I found theses new tomatoes known "Kumotos" or special brown tomatoes.
Now at first, I was a little confused to what this new fruit came from and I thought it was some sort of sceam to sell rotten tomatoes to the public. But then, after some research, it turns out that these tomatoes were orginally grown in Mexico and the soil gave these tomatoes the unusual brown color while still retaining that pure tomato flavor. That gave me the idea to give the character, who is dark on the outside but still the same character no matter which form she is. With the alternating flavors of kumoto, white mozzorella, and green basil leaves, the bitterness of the garlic balsamic vinigerette still reaveal her dark and envious behavior. So now, I would like to present the one and only Queen Chrysalis Caprice.

Queen Chrysalis Caprese

 

Serves 2

 

Salad
3 "Kumato" brown tomatoes, sliced into rounds
3 Basil Leaves
5 Slices of Fresh Mozzarella, moist, cut into small rectangles

Dressing
1 Tsp or Spicy Brown Mustard
1/4 cup of garlic infused balsamic vinigir
1/4 cup of extra virgin oilive oil

1. To create the dressing, take a small bowl and combine the mustard and vinegar in the same bowl. (If you dont have any garlic infused balsamic vinegar, you can substitute it with regular balsamic vinegar and 1 clove of minced garlic.)
2. Add the oil to the bowl by pouring the oil slowly and wisking the mixture at the same time. Keep on whisking until the emultion is incorporated.
3. Start assembling the salad by folowing the pattern Tomato, mozzarella,tomato until you are done plating. Add the Basil leaves to garnish.
4. Take the dressing and dress the salad as you wish. Serve.
How to eat: You can take the tomato and mozzarella and wrap it around a basil leave to experience all the flavors at once. You can also take each piece and eat individual piece of the salad to experience each flavor one at a time.

This is more of a dinner part peice then a casual meet up dish. Although, you can make a giant party platter by simply multiplying the recipie and decorating the platter. Its the perfect dish to impress your brony or non-brony freinds and easy to make as a last minute appetizer. Feel free to tweet me a picture of the party platter @chefkyro or by #bronychefproject. I would really like to see the results.

The artwork provied for this post is by http://shiv3ry.deviantart.com/ . She is from Poland and she enjoys makeing beautiful art work such as this. So feel free to check out her gallery and give her kudos for the artwork.

I really enjoyed making this dish and finding more about this villianess of endless possibility. Not only can she change her own appearance but everyday. I found out more and more about her through the fans. I could go on and on about her, but I think the best way to explain her is to experience it yourself. Look up Queen Chrysalis and discover another world behind her dark yet mysterious world. I would like to finish off this post with the animated opera masterpiece of Chrysalis and Candance in "This Day Aria." Thanks for reading and Arrivederci.

 

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The Brony Chef Project #3: Rainbow Dash

Whats interesting about this character is that she is a symbol of the growing Brony fandom and the message of "love and tolerance" behind the fan base. She is bold, adventurous and would never back down from a challenge. Shes is the new and improved, Rainbow Dash. Shes the one that puts the "Pow!" in the current pony generation and makes it more action packed then your average T.V show for little girls. She is the heroine of the Bronies and the most courageous out of any other character.

Rainbow Dash is a pegasus who is athletic, determined and somewhat reckless to be the best flyer of all of Equestria. She represents the element of Loyalty and she's willing to stay with her freinds until the very end. Although sometimes she may become lazy but she does have determination to follow through on her promises. Her dream is to fly with the Wonderbolts, a team of elite flyers similar to the Blue Angles in air shows around the country. Her loyalty not only focuses on her dream to become a Wonderbolt, but on her friends as well: especially to Fluttershy.She is always there to help her friends for anything and will always follow through her promises.

For this dish, I decided to go simple but bold for Rainbow Dash. Actually, this dish was inspired by the episode "Sonic Rainboom" (season 1 episode 16) where she redifined all odds to perfect not only her potential but gain the motivation to go above and byond. I want it to reflect her courageous nature and the fire within herself by adding many spices and the Teriyaki sauce for a sweet and spicy combination for her to be bold but approachable. I also made it healthy for her athletic nature and simple for anyone to make it for a great meal at a low cost.

"Sonic Rainboom" Stir fry

Serves 6

 

Stir fry

3-4 Chicken breasts, cut into cubes, cooked (Leftover cooked Chicken breast works as well)

1 Zucchini, chopped

1 yellow squash, chopped

1/2 an onion, roughly diced or chopped

2 green bell peppers, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

Extra Light olive oil

Spices

Dry

a pinch of cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon each of paprika, curry powder, and chili powder

Wet

1/4 cup of Teriyaki Sauce

 

1. Chop the vegetables into a rough, even chunks. Combine the vegetables into a plastic bag and store into the refrigerator until later use. You can store this mixture for up to 3 days.

2. Combine dry spices into a small bowl. Adjust seasonings to your liking.

3. With a big wok or a large non-stick pan, sauté the vegetables in olive oil until soft. Then add the chicken and fold it into the vegitables until mixed in.

4. Add the dry spices into the stir fry and stir until incorperated.

5. Add the Teriyaki sauce into the pan and stir until fully incorperated.

6. Serve warm and steaming.

This recipie is also perfect for anyone who wants to start cooking simple and healthy meals on a budget. All you need is a stove top or a hot plate and a good sautee pan to create this one of a kind stir fry. You can take some left over chicken you have in your fridge and remake it into something bright and healthy. Plus you can change the vegetables, the spices or the meat to create your own vertion of "the Sonic Rainboom."

The artwork is provided by http://nethear.deviantart.com/ and by Deviant Art, the #1 choice of independent art website The Brony Chef Project. Check out the gallery and the website for more artwork and so much more.

I hope enjoy this newer edition of the Brony Chef Project. For now I bid you a-do and a big brohoof to all for all my readers.

 

 

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