Bridget Thoreson - The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Cookbook: 50 Bewitchingly Delicious Recipes for Fans of the Halloween Classic

Bewitchingly Delicious Recipes for Fans of the Halloween Classic

The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Cookbook

Bridget Thoreson

This book is not associated with or authorized or approved by The Walt Disney Company or any other owner of rights in Hocus Pocus.

To 90s Kids, and 90s Kids at Heart

Hocus Pocus first premiered 28 years ago in the golden age of 90s cinema (can you believe it was that long?). You may remember the timehigh school was a horror, kids from California were all laid-back surfer dudes, and parents were always impossibly out of touch and uncool, despite firm clues that, perhaps, they actually werent.

Despite these extremely time-bound tropes, Hocus Pocus, unlike the Sanderson sisters and likely most of us, hasnt aged. Okay, it has, but overall it has aged fairly well. Outside a few insensitive teenager remarks, the story and script are every bit as enjoyable today as they were nearly 30 years ago.

Perhaps it is for that reason that the movie seems to have so many more fans today than in the 1990s. When the movie first premiered, it was not a resounding success. However, over time, more and more people came to know the film, appreciating its wholehearted 90s-ness, its camp, or its ability to be both grisly and pure.

Like its substory, Hocus Pocus is getting better with age, and each year draws new devoted fans. Which is why it seems to make perfect sense to write a fan book now, three decades late. This book is a celebration of Hocus Pocus, its characters, and of course, its big musical number for no apparent reason (seriously, how could Bette Midler singing I Put a Spell on You not have clinched a Grammy and an immediately thriving fan base from the get-go?). The cookbook format draws inspiration from Winifreds unholy spellbook, and the recipes pay tribute to fan-favorite moments, characters, and lines from the movie. One recipe even comes from the dialogue itself, though it moves so fast in parts, you might miss it!

I hope you enjoy this homage to Hocus Pocus as much as you enjoy the film itself. While blondies are no substitute for Bette and no cocktail is quite as funny as hearing a young girl humiliate her older brother by saying Yabos, I hope youll find the recipes and references fun, delicious, and delightfully spooky, and youll rewatch the film again and again accompanied by the goodies in this booo-ooooo-ooook.

Now, preheat your cauldron, pick a treat, and get ready for some culinary magic.

Brooms, ho!

• Baking rack
• Blender
• Cast-iron skillet
• Chefs knife
• Cocktail shaker
• Colander
• Cutting board
• Dutch oven
• Double boiler
• Immersion blender
• Mason jars
• Matches
• Meat tenderizer
• Measuring cups
• Muffin tin
• Parchment paper
• Paring knife
• Pastry brush
• Potato masher
• Strainer
• Wax paper bags
• Wire whisk

One dark fall eve when the moon is round,

Enjoy this cinnamon bread so nicely browned.

With butter and sugar and a dash of spice,

Even Master himself cant resist a slice.

S ERVES : 8 | P REP T IME: 15 MINUTES | C OOK T IME: 50 MINUTES

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons white sugar, divided
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons unsalted butter

1. Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.
2. Mix the flour, 1 cup of the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, 1 teaspoons cinnamon, salt, buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl, and beat for about 3 minutes until well combined. Pour into the loaf pan and smooth the top.
3. Combine the remaining sugar, cinnamon, and butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over the top of the batter in the loaf pan.
4. Bake for about 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

You never know what any day might bring. For instance, you might wake up one morning thinking it will be just another day in the new town you just moved toonly to, in the course of 24 hours, get publicly burned by a girl who later becomes your girlfriend, have your kicks stolen, ignite ancient witchcraft, raise the dead, accidentally cause every adult in town to be ensnared in a magic dancing spell, and stay up the whole night trying to figure out how to outsmart a coven of witches.

I think it goes without saying, then, that its important to fuel up at breakfast and start every day with your best foot forwardjust in case. This frittata is the perfect addition to a hearty breakfast. Add a side of fresh fruit and youll be ready to tackle just about anything lifeor deathmight throw at you.

S ERVES : 8 | P REP T IME: 15 MINUTES | C OOK T IME: 25 MINUTES

• 6 eggs
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream or half-and-half
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 ounces grated cheddar cheese
• cup chopped white onion
• cup chopped zucchini
• cup chopped tomato
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

1. Preheat the oven to 425F.
2. Whip together the eggs, cream or half-and-half, salt, and pepper with a wire whisk. Stir in the cheddar cheese.
3. Heat the skillet on the stove over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil.
4. Saut the onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Then add the zucchini and saut for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomato and butter, and finish sauting the vegetables so that they are all cooked through.
5. Pour the egg and cheese mixture over the sauted vegetables and let them cook on the stove for about 1 minute.