With the U.S. in the middle of a polar vortex, I thought this would be a nice time to do a Disney Dinner and a Movie article that reminded me of summer; swimming, warmth, and barbecues! That’s why this installment is based on one of my all-time favorites: Finding Nemo! Finding Nemo is arguable one of the most beloved Disney/Pixar films. It offers a colorful environment and a wonderful adventure story that includes values about family, bravery, and friendship. And it also gives us some great food inspiration as well!
For an appetizer I wanted to do something that incorporated Nemo’s famous orange, black, and white clownfish coloring. Dip is a great barbecue snack so I chose with three different dip recipes: black bean dip, carrot dip, and white bean dip. I originally thought it would be possible to arrange the dip on a plate in the shape of Nemo himself but soon realized that was never going to happen so I put them in these cute orange bowls and garnished them with goldfish crackers instead. This is a great appetizer because each dip has a unique flavor so guests can hopefully find at least one they like. It’s also a great source of protein.
For the entree my first thought was a seafood dish but I realized that this was kind of morbid since we don’t want to think of eating the main characters of Finding Nemo. So I thought I would go in a different direction and remembering that the film takes place in the water surrounding Australia, decided to make some typical barbie food. I found this recipe for the most amazing honey, lime and chipotle sauce (which you can use on any sort of protein, meat or not) and complimented it with one of my favorite summertime recipes, macaroni salad. Classic, and refreshing.
Dessert for this blog was the most fun. One of my favorite parts of the film has to do with the sharks, including the infamous Bruce. I love sharks to begin with and these characters are awesome so I found this really clever watermelon shark fruit salad recipe. You carve a watermelon into the shape of a shark head (try not to forget the dorsal fin like I did) and fill it with all kinds of yummy fruit, Swedish Fish candies, and if you’re feeling creative, a toy human. This was a big hit at our barbecue and there’s nothing better than fresh fruit on a hot day.
Finding Nemo is the perfect Disney/Pixar film to use as inspiration for a summer-time barbecue blog. The foods I made here are great for eating with your family or for guest-filled party. I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Disney Dinner and a Movie!
Coming Soon: Mulan
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