Stranger Things is one of the most talked about shows to hit TV screens in a while. The Netflix series was a breakout hit with its first season and the recently released second season has been binged by fans across the world. Capturing the feel of 80s coming of age movies and adding in a supernatural twist, Stranger Things has become a cultural phenomenon and made its young stars international faces. To coincide with the second season, The Muffin Brothers have released a parody baking book called Stranger Fillings.
Nicely presented with an eye-catching hardcover, Stranger Fillings is full of very creative recipes based on key things from Stranger Things. Fans of the show will lap the book up and it just goes to show that with a bit of imagination, you really can do pretty much anything in the kitchen. There are 21 recipes in total starting with Demogorgonzola Tartlets and ending with Will’s Slug Surprise, which looks as delightful as it sounds.
Each recipe is given a difficulty rating using Eggos and there are plenty of tasty treats to attempt. One of the things that surprised me with the book is that the end creations, while fun and definitely recognisable, lack the polished finish you normally see in recipe books. In some ways that gives Stranger Fillings a quirky charm that I found kind of endearing to be honest.
One of my favourite recipes in the book is Hopper’s Coffee & Contemplation, which makes the fan-favourite sheriff as a cupcake with an alcoholic kick. It looks great and it’s relatively simple to make if you stick closely to the instructions. Another favourite, although it’s much more difficult, is Mike’s Rock Cake Rescue which is the kind of showstopper that you could use as a table centrepiece if you do a good enough job of it.
Elsewhere in the book you can make Eleven out of Eggos, pay homage to Joyce’s Christmas lights display with Light Bites, and depict the friends on their bikes with the challenging Friends Don’t Li(m)e Pie.
Stranger Fillings is a book that brings fun into the kitchen. It’s creative, a bit silly but a whole lot of fun. The recipes are simple and clear, the book has a lovely design that fits in with the style of the show, and fans are sure to want to make these inventive creations. What the recipes lack in finesse, they make up for with their passion for the show.
Publisher: Trapeze Release date: 19th October 2017
