Lockdown Creativity: Theme Meals - An Overview

Like so many of you, our family was on lockdown/quarantine starting in mid-March. While we've been enjoying take-out from local restaurants to help support small businesses, the past few months have tested my creativity when it comes to getting dinner on the table.

I've also started drawing silly cartoon figures - really just as an exercise for my brain that doesn't involve teaching Ronan common core math.

When I paired the drawings with our Disney+ subscription and my love of cooking, I came out with THEME MEALS. Once a week, our family enjoys a special dinner and accompanying Disney movies.

In the next series of posts, I'll share our most recent theme nights. They've been a big hit around here, a lot of fun to plan for, and even a test of my cooking skills. FWIW, homemade fortune cookies are NOT EASY.

1. May the Fourth Be With You (Star Wars theme night)

Movie: The Rise of Skywalker

Drink: Blue Bantha Milk

Entree: Severed Wampa Arm

Side: Tatooine Tossed Salad

Dessert: Carbonite Jell-O

2. Cinco de Mayo (Taco Tuesday theme night)

Movie: N/A

Drink: Virgin frozen margaritas

Entree: Tacos with all the fixings (lettuce, tomato, sour cream, cheese, avocado)

Sides: Refried beans, cheesy Mexican rice

Dessert: N/A

3. Luau Theme Night

Movie: Moana

Drink: Lava Flow

Entree: Pineapple chicken over rice

Side: Macaroni salad

Dessert: N/A

4. Chinese Theme Night

Movie: Mulan

Drink: Virgin Mai Tai

Entree: Sweet and Sour Chicken over rice

Side: Broccoli

Dessert: Homemade, egg-free fortune cookies (the fortunes were Dad jokes)

5. Italian Theme Night

Movie: Lady and the Tramp

Drink: Strawberry Aqua Fresca

Entree: Spaghetti and meatballs

Sides: Breadsticks, Caprese salad

Dessert: Vanilla panna cotta with fresh strawberries

6. Breakfast for Dinner

Movie: N/A

Drink: Virgin mimosas

Entrees: Mickey waffles, scrambled eggs, bacon

Sides: Homemade bagels and bialy

Dessert: N/A

7. Middle East/Mediterranean Theme Night

Movie: Aladdin

Drink: Lemonade (because it was too hot for tea)

Entree: Chicken kabobs, falafel

Sides: Pita, Greek salad, mushroom-herb cous cous

Dessert: Phyllo with pistachios and honey simple syrup