Recipe on page 140.
MELUSINE
Melusine is a legendary witch who comes in many different guises. She can be found in different regions of France, where she often takes on the appearance of a woman, but she can also transform herself at will into a snake or bird. You can find her on some nights busy building cities and houses by the light of the moon. They say that, struck by a curse, she was condemned to hide from her husband one day a week, when she took the form of a snake below the waist. You can also find Melusine inside the squares of a comic strip, where she is a young red-haired witch who divides her time between a Transylvanian castle, where she works as an au pair, and a witches school, where she is a diligent student, aware of her special gifts.
Recipe on page 130.
NANNY MCPHEE
Mr. Brown’s seven children, who recently lost their mother, have made frightening their nannies their specialty. But the Nanny McPhee of the film, Nurse Matilda in the novels by Christianna Brand, is no ordinary nanny: dressed in black, with a warty face, a crooked nose, and always carrying her cane, everything about her is like a witch, including her powers. Of course, the children try to resist her, but when they are muted when they want to speak and compelled to be polite, it soon becomes more fun to do what she says. Especially because Nanny McPhee, beneath her stern exterior, turns out to be a very valuable ally when a strange woman sets her sights on marrying Mr. Brown.
Recipes on pages 41, 109.
SLEEPING BEAUTY
Offended at not having been invited to the baptism of the daughter of King Stefan, Maleficent (also known as the wicked fairy godmother in the version of the story by Charles Perrault) condemns Princess Aurora to prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel on her sixteenth birthday, and thus sink into an eternal sleep which can only be broken by true love’s kiss. Surrounding the castle with impenetrable brambles, she jealously guards the princess, not hesitating to take the form of a dragon if necessary to fight those who want to steal Aurora away.
Recipe on page 163.
THE SNOW QUEEN
There are several versions of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale. One of them features two sisters, one of whom can command ice and cold. In the traditional version, the Snow Queen is riding her sleigh and kidnaps Kai, a young boy, to take him back to her ice palace. There, she freezes his heart to make him lose all memory of his family and his friend Gerda so that he will stay with her forever. Gerda, who has gone looking for Kai, narrowly escapes a witch and finds him imprisoned in the palace. Taking advantage of the Queen’s absence, Gerda enters the castle and frees her friend by melting the ice that has frozen his heart and mind.
Recipe on page 53.
THE SMURFS
With his cat Azrael always by his side, Gargamel hunts down Smurfs because they are the essential ingredient for making the Philosopher’s Stone. If only he could catch them! This however is not going to happen any time soon, because no one can find Smurf village unless they are guided there by one of its inhabitants. Papa Smurf is distinguished by his cap, red pants, and venerable white beard, along with his ability to speak the language of humans. The energetic leader of the small blue gnomes is 542 years old, giving him the necessary wisdom and experience to avoid the traps set for them by the scheming Gargamel in the forty-odd volumes of this Belgian comic created by the cartoonist Peyo.
Recipes on pages 84, 167.
SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS
Obsessed by her beauty and terribly jealous of Snow White, the Wicked Queen decides to get rid of her by having her killed by a huntsman. Snow White finds refuge in the forest, prompting the Queen to change strategy. Helped by her magic mirror, the Wicked Queen transforms herself into an ugly old woman, finds Snow White, and offers her a poisoned apple. This fairy tale, collected by the Brothers Grimm and published for the first time in 1812, is said to have been inspired by a German myth.
Recipes on pages 107, 164.
ULYSSES 31
In the animated television series Ulysses 31, first shown in France in 1981, which follows the broad outlines of Homer’s Odyssey in a futuristic setting, Circe is a an enchantress who aims to gather together all of the knowledge, stories, and legends that have been told since the origin of the worlds. She lures the crews of passing spaceships and charms them during an elaborate banquet, then hypnotizes them so they stay forever by her side and help her manage her intergalactic library.
Recipe on page 135.
THE WITCHES
According to Roald Dahl’s novel The Witches, they live among us as quite ordinary women, far from the popular image we have of them. But if you pay attention, the gloves they always wear, their lack of toes, and their bald heads hidden under wigs should tip you off. They lurk everywhere, especially in England, and desperately seek to eliminate children, by all possible means. Led by the Grand High Witch, they gather together in a large hotel, where they try to pass unnoticed. But a young boy sees right through them and infiltrates their Meeting.
Recipe on page 45.
WILLOW
Willow Ufgood, the hero of the film Willow, directed in 1988 by Ron Howard, is a Nelwyn (little person) living modestly with his family on a small farm, cherishing the hope of one day becoming a great sorcerer. One morning his children find a human baby on the riverbank. The village council assigns him the task of taking the little girl to a crossroads and entrusting her to the first Daikini (human) he meets. This is how Willow makes the acquaintance of Madmartigan, a disreputable mercenary but excellent warrior. Saving the sorceress Fin Raziel along their way, who teaches him the art of magic, Willow and Madmartigan lead Elora toward her destiny: to shatter the reign of the tyrannical Bavmorda.
Recipe on page 95.
THE WIZARD OF OZ
Dorothy is torn from her home by a violent tornado that rages over Kansas. With her little dog Toto, she arrives in the Land of Oz, where she is told that only the great Wizard living in the Emerald City can get her back home. Along the way, Dorothy meets a scarecrow who would like to be smart, a lion who seeks courage, and a tin woodman who longs for a heart. Together they head to the Emerald City, but the road turns out to be strewn with dangers orchestrated by the wicked witches of Oz. The 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum was released as a film in 1939, starring Judy Garland, and won the Academy Award that year for best song, “Over the Rainbow.”
Recipes on pages 54, 57.
THE WORLD OF NARNIA
According to C. S. Lewis, the author of this novel saga, it was quite by chance that Digory and his friend Polly created Narnia, by playing with magic rings. Jadis, the White Witch, is a terrifying sorceress, half-giant, half-djinn. Awakened by Digory, she arrives in Narnia shortly afterward, where she reigns for a hundred years, ensuring that it is “always winter and never Christmas.” Fought against by Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie, she is defeated by Aslan at the Battle of Beruna. It is her sister who sends Eustace and his companions to the Harfang Giants for their Autumn Feast. During their exploration of the Lone Islands, the crew of the Dawn Treader face many magical phenomena, including the cave that turns those who fall asleep in it into a dragon and Dufflepud Island.
Recipes on pages 25, 26, 77, 78, 81, 143, 169, 171.
WORLD OF WARCRAFT
Once upon a time there was a video game set in Azeroth, a fantasy world populated by many mythical races. Each of them is in search of quests and instances to successfully complete for the power, glory, and many treasures promised to the victors. To defeat your enemies, everything is a matter of choice: join the Alliance or the Horde? Become a renowned warrior or a dreaded shaman? What skills do you need to develop to become essential in a guild? Each player has to confront these questions every day before forging the right alliances and engaging in brutal, epic, and legendary battles.
Recipe on page 48.
MAGICAL FOOD FOR EVERYDAY
Souk Cigars • Spinach phyllo fingers
Brochettes of Finely Chopped Enemy • Falafel s
kewers
Morsels from the Cave of Wonders • Carrot squares with spices
Pumpkin Soup • Pumpkin soup with nutmeg
Cair Paravel Eggs • Bacon and egg toast
Ramandu’s Island Salad • Whiting ceviche with coconut milk
Soufflé Omelet Saruman • Soufflé omelet
Radagast’s Salad • Watercress and mushroom salad
Beorn’s Goat Cheese Toast • Goat cheese toast with honey and herbs
Kebab of 3,000 Years Ago • Meat-filled pita pockets
Cucumber Sandwiches • Cucumber and mint sandwiches
Babylonian Pottage • Chicken and red lentil soup
Sardine Sandwiches • Cocktail sandwiches with homemade sardine pâté
Peelings Soup • Soup made from heirloom vegetable peelings
Magical Gratin • Macaroni and cheese
Witches’ Soup • Zucchini soup with tapioca
Red Dragon Inn Fiery Broth • Spicy coconut milk soup
Nagrand Tempura • Japanese shrimp and vegetable fritters
Pasta from the Lair of Magica De Spell • Spaghetti with fresh mussels
Chicken with Cherries from the Cold Lands • Braised chicken with cherries
Scarecrow Bread • Corn bread
Dorothy’s Toast • Spice bread toast with goat cheese and apricot
The Ancient One’s Tibetan Momo • Asian beef dumplings
SOUK CIGARS
Welcome, noble stranger, your presence honors one of the most esteemed souks in Arabia! Inhale these incomparable incenses and perfumes, marvel at the fine quality of these fabrics! What was that? You seek something even more precious? Some sort of remarkable lamp? I recognized you, O Great Wizard! Let me find it for you! I insist! And while you wait, sit and enjoy the best cigars of the souk, the pride of our lands!
INGREDIENTS
• makes about 20 cigars
2 1/4 lb spinach, fresh if possible
3 1/2 oz sheep’s milk cheese (such as feta)
Salt and pepper
10 sheets phyllo dough
8 fl oz (1 cup) milk
1 small cup olive oil
1 3/4 oz sesame seeds
1 small tub plain yogurt
1 squeeze lemon juice
PREPARATION TIME • 20 mins COOKING TIME • 35 mins
Rinse the spinach thoroughly to rid it of any dust from the souk (remove the larger stems if necessary), then simmer for 20 minutes in salted water. Using a slotted spoon take it out and drop it straight into a large bowl of iced water—that will wake it up!
Drain and chop the spinach, crumble in the cheese, and mix. Above all, Noble Friend, do not forget to season with salt and pepper.
Next, brush a sheet of phyllo dough with milk using a kitchen brush (yes, a brush, even if the carpet insists that you use its tassels).
The next step demands the dexterity of 40 thieves: place a spoonful of mixture 3/4 inch from the bottom of the sheet of phyllo, leaving the necessary space on each side. Fold the pastry over the filling, brush with milk, then fold the sides inward: Ta-da! You have a rectangle!
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Roll the filled part toward the top, remembering to brush the pastry with milk with each turn. Finish all the cigars. What was that? Distracted by the marvels of the souk, you forgot to preheat the oven? Is that a formal wish? It is? In that case, consider it done: here, before you, O my Master, is a perfectly prepared oven. All you have to do now is slide the cigars, brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with delicious sesame seeds, into the oven and wait for about 35 minutes. Be patient, your cigars will be golden and crisp! Enjoy them with yogurt enhanced with a squeeze of lemon juice. Good, no?
BROCHETTES OF FINELY CHOPPED ENEMY
“When, like me, you are a powerful wizard with designs upon the Sultan’s throne, you have to be able to command respect. I’ll tell you a secret: ever since my faithful servant spread the rumor that this recipe is made from the flesh of my enemies, they are terrified whenever they see me. Ha! ha! ha!” –The Vizier
INGREDIENTS • serves 6
1 lb 2 oz chickpeas
1 onion
2 garlic cloves
2 t flat-leaf (Italian) parsley leaves
1 t cilantro leaves
1 t cumin
1 t baking powder
Salt and pepper
Oil for deep frying
Juice of 1 lemon
1 seasonal lettuce
PREPARATION TIME • 5 mins COOKING TIME • 20 mins
SOAKING TIME • 1 night RESTING TIME • 30 mins
Remember to soak your chickpeas in water. There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep to soften them up.
The next day, drain the chickpeas, wrap them in a dish towel, and rub them vigorously to remove their skin. Crush them mercilessly, then reduce them to a purée.
Finely chop the onion, crush the garlic, rinse the parsley and the cilantro and delicately shred them.
Mix together the herbs, cumin, puréed enemy … I beg your pardon, the puréed chickpeas, add 3 cups water and the baking powder, and mix again to make sure any insubordinate ingredients know who’s in charge! Taste, season with salt and pepper, and leave them to rest and reflect for 30 minutes.
Heat some oil in a large saucepan or deep fryer to 350°F.
After 30 minutes, shape small balls of mixture with a spoon and cook them in the oil until they are golden brown. Impale them on skewers, drizzle with lemon juice, and enjoy with a simple seasonal salad while dreaming up your next Machiavellian plan.
MORSELS FROM THE CAVE OF WONDERS
“Salaam, Esteemed Effendi, who rubbed my lamp … allow your humble servant to introduce you to these sweetmeats straight from the Cave of Wonders.”—The Genie of the Lamp
INGREDIENTS • serves 4
1 lb 2 oz carrots
8 fl oz (1 cup) milk
3 1/2 oz superfine sugar
1 oz currants (dry)
4 cardamom pods
1 oz unsalted pistachios
1 3/4 oz butter
1 oz flaked and toasted almonds
PREPARATION TIME • 20 mins COOKING TIME • 50 mins
To sample these squares, my Friend, you must wash, peel, and finely grate the carrots.
Then, put them in a saucepan over high heat—watch your fingers!—and add the milk and enough water to cover the carrots. Next, ask the carpet to add the sugar and mix gently until it is dissolved (the sugar, not the carpet). Lower the heat and let it simmer for the time it takes to admire the sun setting over the desert (about 45 minutes).
As the last rays are fading, soak the currants in a little lukewarm water.
Remove the cardamom seeds from their pods and grind them to a powder by asking an elephant to stamp on them. If you don’t have an elephant, you can also take two spoons and crush the seeds by pressing them against each other—or else use a food processor, but it is noisy and not as amusing. But, by my beard, I am forgetting something, the pistachios must also be roughly chopped!
When the sun has disappeared behind the dunes and the carrots have absorbed almost all the milk, add the drained currants, ground cardamom, and chopped pistachios, then add the butter in pieces and leave to cook for 5 minutes, just enough time to grant a wish.
Spoon mixture into a dish or tray and allow it to cool completely before cutting into squares. Scatter with almonds.
Cut into squares and enjoy as you contemplate the moonlight.
PUMPKIN SOUP
To celebrate Halloween, here is a recipe that delights sorcerers both of this world and the next, from that most esteemed authority on the subject of pumpkins: Cinderella’s fairy godmother.
INGREDIENTS • serves 4
One 2 1/4 lb winter squash from the garden (red kuri, butternut, Hungarian blue …)
1 chicken bouillon cube
Freshly grated nutmeg
Salt and pepper
2 1/4 oz crème fraîche or sour cream
PREPARATION TIME • 30 mins C
OOKING TIME • 45 mins
Fetch your best pumpkin from the bottom of the garden (not the biggest one, you might need that for a coach), brush off the lizard, find your wand (up your sleeve, perhaps?), take a deep breath, smile, and cut the pumpkin into large pieces, carefully. Remove the seeds.
If cooking in a cauldron: don your protective gloves and carefully remove the peel of the pumpkin. Place the pieces in your pot, cover with water and a shower of sparkles, crumble in the bouillon cube, and cook for 45 minutes.
If you are using a steamer: crumble the bouillon cube into a bowl of water to add to the pumpkin later. Place the pumpkin pieces in the steam basket without removing the peel and cook for about 45 minutes, until the flesh is as tender as a fairy’s smile and can be easily pierced with the tip of your wand. Let it cool for a few minutes, then remove the peel by gently pulling it off.
Blend the cooked pumpkin pieces in a food processor, adding a little of the cooking liquid until you have a smooth, fluid soup. Taste, ask the mice and the lizard for their opinion, and add grated nutmeg, salt, and pepper to your preference (the opinion of the mice is decidedly too weird).
Pour into bowls, add the crème fraîche or sour cream, and serve. Let your guests enjoy, but only after casting a protective spell over their clothes—it would be a shame to have to change and be late for the ball.
CAIR PARAVEL EGGS
Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter, and not forgetting Caspian … over the centuries many have sat at Cair Paravel, the castle where the kings and queens of Narnia hold court. Many remarkable banquets have been held there, but the dish that has been most well-received is based on eggs. Why? Because wherever and whenever you eat it—in the middle of nowhere or in some very tricky situation—it will always be like being at home.
INGREDIENTS • serves 4
Wizard’s Cookbook Page 2