Family Dinner and a Movie – E.T.

As the weather turns cooler here is Wisconsin we are forced to seek shelter in our homes and hide away till April. Just kidding, there are still a ton of fun outdoors activities in autumn and winter, but it’s also the perfect time for a cozy a family night IN!! Continuing our Family Dinner and a Movie series, I will share with you another three-course dinner menu complete with recipes you can make as a family and shopping list that is perfect to go with a classic family movie as well as some more fun to tie the night together.

This month, perfect for this time of year…ET!! That’s right, the 1982 classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (rated PG). Now we can share the joy of our 80’s/90’s childhoods with our kids plus have fun cooking together!!

Start your night off right by preparing the perfect E.T. menu together!

Menu:

Alien Pizzas

Ingredients:

Pita Bread, Naan Bread or Flat Bread

Pesto Sauce , homemade {recipe below} or store bought

Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Black Olives, sliced

Veggies (peppers, broccoli, snap peas, carrots)

Uncured Pepperoni

This is a perfect pizza recipe because everyone can make their own, just how they like.  Inspired by the magic the movie brings to the idea that their could be life on other planets. Spread the pita bread with sauce and decorate with toppings, making a silly or spooky alien face – this just might get everyone excited about adding veggies to their pizza. Toast the pizzas in a toaster oven or 350°f oven for about 5-10 minutes.

Homemade Pesto

Ingredients:

1 cup Basil, fresh

1/4 cup Spinach, fresh

1 clove Garlic

1/2 Lemon

1/4 cup Cashews

1/4 cup Pine Nuts

1/4 cup – 1/2 cup Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper

Puree the basil, spinach, garlic, juice from the lemon, cashews and pine nuts in a food processor or blender. Stream the olive oil in until you get a smooth and cream texture. Add salt & pepper to taste. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days or freezer for up to three months. Perfect sauce for pizza, pasta or dip for veggies.

Ginger Beer Cheesy Bread Sticks

Ingredients:

1 pkg of Yeast

1 ½ cup Warm Water

1/4 cup Ginger Beer

1 tsp Sea Salt

1 tbsp ground Flax Meal

4 1/2 cups of Whole Grain Flour

¼ cup Butter (or Vegan Butter)

1/2 cup Shredded Cheese

This recipe is a kid-friendly beer bread using ginger beer. You can also use regular beer and the alcohol in beer cooks off when baking. This recipe is inspired by the scene in the movie where E.T. is drinking the beer he found in the fridge – not knowing what it was. Preheat oven to 350°f. Add the warm water to a large bowl. Next sprinkle in the yeast and gently stir till it’s soft and bubbly. Add the salt, flax meal, flour and ginger beer. Mix the ingredients together till a dough forms. Knead the dough with hands till well combined. Next take about ¼ cup of dough and twist and shape into a bread stick shape. Brush them with melted butter and sprinkle with cheese. Place on parchment covered baking sheets. Bake for about 12-15 minutes.

PB Candy Cookies

Ingredients:

3 Ripe Bananas

1 1/2 cups Oats

1/2 cup Oat Flour

2 tbsp Maple Syrup

1/2 tsp pure Vanilla

1/4 Cup Carrot, finely diced

1/4 cups Raisins or Chocolate Chips

1/4 cup Peanut Butter Candies (we use these because they are dye-free), chopped

This cookie is so yummy and wonderful treat, inspired by E.T.’s love of peanut butter candies. Preheat oven to 350°f. Mash the bananas very well. Add the oats, oat flour, maple and vanilla, whisk together. Fold in remaining ingredients. Roll into balls and press flat into small circles on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes, until firm. Allow to cool a few minutes before serving. A healthy(ish) cookie bursting with flavor!

Grab the printable shopping list HERE!!

Questions and Activities:

Here are some trivia questions to see if you and your family can remember the answers after watching the movie! (Answers at bottom of page.)

1. What does Elliot do to ensure he can stay home from school?
2. What is E.T. collecting at the start of the movie?
3. What was Elliot, Mike and Gertie’s mom dressed up as on Halloween?
4. Where does E.T. hide when Elliot’s mother comes upstairs into his bedroom?
5. What are the students in Elliot’s science class supposed to dissect, before he releases them all?

Hope you have a wonderful movie night with your family! Look for our next dinner and a movie in November!!

Trivia Answers:

1. Pretends to be sick, holding a thermometer up to the lamp.
2. Plants.
3. A Cat
4. The closet, among the stuffed animals.
5. Frogs.