It’s that time of the year where the leaves are changing and the air is getting a little chilly (at least up North where I am) and it just feels like Halloween.  And what would Halloween be without PUMPKINS! 

 A few weeks ago we were fortunate to be at Walt Disney World where we saw some of the HUGE pumpkins being grown in the “Living With The Land” attraction.  These are grown in the Production Greenhouse section of The Land where a lot of different vegetables are grown for use in the Garden Grill Restaurant just upstairs as well as many other EPCOT restaurants. I have no idea what these weighed however they were some of the biggest pumpkins I’ve seen. In addition they’re also growing the Mickey shaped pumkins in the hanging molds which are really neat (see picture below.)

So, in honor of the season, I wanted to post a Disney recipe with this tasty ingredient that you can make right in your own home. This recipe comes from the restaurant BOMA in the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  It’s a PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE recipe that I’m sure you’ll enjoy.  Here’s how you do it:

Pumpkin Cheesecake (Boma, Animal Kingdom Lodge)

Yields (1) cheesecake

1 2/3 lb Cream Cheese
5/8 tsp Coriander
5 oz Sugar
5/8 tsp Ginger
3 Eggs
1 ½ oz Heavy Cream
1 tsp Orange Zest
1 ½ oz Sour Cream
1 tsp Lemon Zest
5/8 lb Pumpkin Puree (canned is fine)
1/8 tsp Ground Cinnamon
4 Tbl Bourbon Whiskey
¼ tsp Fresh Ground Nutmeg
5/8 tsp Cloves
5/8 tsp Anise Seed

Crust Topping
½ lb Graham Cracker Crumbs
¼ oz Black Sesame Seeds
4 oz Melted Butter
4 oz Heavy Cream
2 oz Sugar

Prepare graham cracker crust by mixing graham cracker crumbs, melted, butter, and sugar in a bowl. Sprinkle into the bottom of the round flexipan mold. Set aside.

Prepare cheesecake mix by creaming sugar, zests and cream cheese.

Add all the spices, then the rest of the ingredients, while constantly scraping to make sure there are no lumps.

Pour the cheesecake mix in the pan all the way to the top. Set the flexipan mold on a sheet pan and bake in a hot water bath at 275° for about an hour. Place in freezer to cool and then un-mold.

Sprinkle black sesame seeds on a sheet pan and bake at 350° until golden brown.

Whip heavy cream with sugar until stiff peaks. Pipe small dollops of whipped cream on cheesecake. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

That’s all there is to it! 

Happy Halloween everyone!

Disney Food for the Holidays Disney Recipes

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Bet you’ve been wondering where I’ve been! Well, I took some time to take the family to one of the best family vacation spots on the east coast which is Ocean City, MD. This was a nice little primer to our upcoming Walt Disney World vacation scheduled for later in September and we had a great time relaxing on the beach and eating at some really great seafood restaurants. It was also a great way to get our tummy’s ready for the great Disney restaurants we’ll be visiting this time around as well! (more to come about that later)

After an extended stay at the beach and some superb seafood meals I went on a search for the best Crab Cake recipe I could find since it’s one of my favorite meals when dining at seafood restaurants. The one I chose comes from Phillip’s Restaurants Executive Chef and TV Show Host Mark Laubner as it’s a simple and classic way to prepare this dish at home. Just about everyone out there has their favorite crab cake recipe (and each Disney restaurant also has their own unique twist on this dish) so give this one a try and you’ll be in CRAB HEAVEN!

And just a note…….For those of you planning on visiting Walt Disney World, you can also find great Crab Cakes at places like the Libery Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom (only as an appetizer for lunch), the Flying Fish Cafe on the Boardwalk and of course Fulton’s Crab House in Downtown Disney.

Ingredients:

1 pound Crabmeat
1 Egg
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon Seafood Seasoning (Old Bay)
1 teaspoon Parsley Flakes
1/4 teaspoon Dry Mustard
1 heaping tablespoon Mayonnaise
1 heaping teaspoon Prepared Mustard
1/4 cup Cracker or Bread Crumbs
2 tablespoons Olive Oil

Directions:
Place crabmeat into a large mixing bowl.

In a separate mixing bowl, beat eggs, worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, seafood seasoning, dehydrated parsley flakes, dry mustard, mayonnaise and prepared mustard in a separate mixing bowl. Add cracker crumbs to the mixture. fold dressing into crabmeat, being careful not to break up the crabmeat. Shape into slightly flattened patties and chill.

You can either sauté the cakes in 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil on both sides until they are golden brown, or you can broil until golden brown on each side.

Yield: The number of crab cakes depend on their size.

Recipes courtesy of Mark Laubner © 2002

Disney Recipes

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The perfect compliment to a cookout on a hot summer day is this chilled Strawberry Soup which comes from 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. It’s an easy recipe and a crowd pleaser. Plus it’s the perfect time of year for this soup as strawberries are abundant just about everywhere. Give it a try.

2 1/2 lbs Frozen Strawberries (thawed with juice)
16oz Heavy Cream
2oz Sour Cream (Regular)
3oz Plain Yogurt
1/2 lb Fresh Strawberries

Mix frozen strawberries, heavy cream, sour cream and yogurt in a large bowl. Beat slowly until well mixed with a smooth consistency. Chill and then mix well before serving. Add fresh strawberries halves as garnish.

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Disney Recipes Strawberry Soup

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Recipe: Cottage Pie
Disney Location: Rose and Crown Pub, United Kingdom (EPCOT)

Cottage Pie is a traditional English dish that is served at the Rose and Crown Pub in the United Kingdom (EPCOT.) Basically it’s a Shepherd’s Pie but instead of using lamb the Cottage Pie is made with beef as the main ingredient. Topped off with some made-from-scratch mashed potatoes, this is a winner for the whole family.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1/4 cup Butter
1 cup Diced Onion
1 1/2 pounds Lean Ground Beef
Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper (to taste)
1/4 teaspoon Ground Savory
1 cup Brown Gravy
2 cups Mashed Potatoes
Additional Butter

Heat 1/4 cup butter in a 9-inch skillet. Add onion and cook until lightly browned, stirring. Add beef, salt, pepper and savory and continue cooking 5 minutes longer. Stir in gravy and heat until bubbling. Spoon into a buttered 8-cup flat casserole dish. Top meat mixture with mashed potatoes. Dot with pieces of butter. Bake at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes or until potatoes are lightly browned.

As always, the quality of the ingredients will improve the taste of the dish. Make sure you take the extra time to make your own mashed potatoes as the boxed instant kind doesn’t quite give you the right taste.

Enjoy!

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Cottage Pie Disney Recipes Rose and Crown Pub

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Welcome to the Wonderful World of Disney ICE CREAM! One of the best sundaes in Walt Disney World is the “No Way Jose” served at ‘Beaches and Cream’ which is located at the Beach Club Resort. Tucked along the walkway near the resort pool is this very popular little soda shop which has great sandwiches and spectacular ice cream sundaes. One of the most popular sundaes (outside of the “Kitchen Sink” of course) is the one pictured above. There’s nothing better to top off a great day at the parks then sharing (or eating by yourself if you can handle it) this perfect ice cream treat.

Here’s how to make one at home….you’ll need:

2-3 scoops Chocolate Ice Cream
2-3 scoops Vanilla Ice Cream
1/2 cup Peanut Butter Ice Cream Topping (warmed)
1/2 cup Hot Fudge
1-2 tablespoons Peanut Butter Morsels
1-2 tablespoons Chocolate Morsels
Reddi-Wip Whipped Cream
Cherry

If you can find an ice cream glass to fit everything that would be best, however a large bowl will do. Just add a few scoops of ice cream to your bowl followed by some Peanut Butter Topping and a little bit of Hot Fudge. Add the rest of the ice cream and more Peanut Butter topping and Hot Fudge to taste. Top it off with a good amount of Reddi-Wip Whipped Cream and some Peanut Butter and Chocolate Morsels and top it off with a cherry and there you go!

Make sure you purchase good quality Ice Cream since we’re trying to replicate Disney’s version of the sundae. It’s also a must to have really good Peanut Butter topping made specifically for ice cream. If you use plain old peanut butter you won’t get the full effect as the topping is much sweeter. There are a lot of different recipes online to make the topping so Google it or you might be able to find it at your local grocery store. Also, don’t skimp on the Hot Fudge. The better the quality the better the sundae will be so make sure you go with a good brand like Hershey’s or Smuckers.

Have fun with it and bring a little Disney dessert to your home this weekend!!

(P.S. Thanks to our friend “Wazzo” (from DISBoards.com) for providing this great picture!!)

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Beach Club Resort Beaches and Cream Disney Recipes No Way Jose

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As I write this I’m about 3-days into my Nutrisystem diet and I’m a little hungry from the tiny dinner I just had and my tummy is screaming for some cheesy goodness. So if I can’t eat it I might as well write about the Macaroni and Cheese from Jiko in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Next time you’re there for dinner try out the Oak Grilled Filet Mignon which comes with a nice portion of this classic side dish. You’ll love it!

Here’s what you’ll need:
1/4 cup Butter
1/4 cup Flour
1 quart Milk (the full fat stuff!)
1 1/4 cups Quattro Fromage (which is basically a mixture of Asiago, Provolone, Fontina, and Gruyere cheeses)
2 pounds Elbow Macaroni

Prepare the macaroni according to the directions on the package. Make a roux with the flour and butter over low heat. Bring the milk to a simmer and work in the roux. Add cheese and salt to taste. Pour over the macaroni and heat through in a moderate oven.

If I can’t enjoy it because of my diet (at least for now) then I hope you do!

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Animal Kingdom Lodge Disney Recipes Jiko Macaroni and Cheese

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One of the funnest places to eat in Walt Disney World is the 50s Prime Time Cafe which is located in Disneys MGM Studios. This themed restaurant is made to look like you were dropped into a 1950’s kitchen with all your other relatives (many of whom you’ve never met before!) Be sure to keep you elbows off the table and eat all your green beans or Mom will get upset.

Taken right from Mom’s cookbook, this Meatloaf recipe is a classic. Give it a try and do Mom proud!

Ingredients:
2 lb Ground Beef
1 lb Ground Pork
4 Eggs
1 cup Seasoned Bread Crumbs
½ cup Diced Onions
1/4 cup Diced Green Peppers
1/4 cup Diced Red Peppers
2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
Cracked Black Pepper (to taste)
Kosher Salt (to taste)
½ cup Meatloaf Glaze (see recipe below)

Dice peppers and onions and set aside for later use. Combine meats and seasonings. Add vegetables. Place meat mixture in oiled loaf pan. Bake at 350º F oven for 1 hour (internal temperature should be 155º). Remove meatloaf and brush with meatloaf glaze (see recipe below.) Bake another 10 minutes, remove from oven and set aside for 10 minutes. Cut loaf and serve.

Meatloaf Glaze Ingredients:
½ cup Ketchup
1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 Tsp Dijon Mustard
½ Tsp Worcestershire Sauce
(Combine all ingredients until mixture is smooth.)

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50s Prime Time Cafe Disney Recipes Disneys MGM Studios Meatloaf

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As you’re heading towards Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World you’ll come across this little gem of a snack shop where you find the famed Dole Whip (which is basically Pinapple Soft Serve ice cream.) Below I’ve added two different recipes for this refreshing treat. The first recipe below requires an ice cream maker so make sure you have one or can borrow one.

RECIPE#1

1 quart Dole Pineapple Juice
1 teaspoon Vanilla
3 cups Cream
3 cups Sugar
Milk

Mix the pineapple juice and sugar making sure that the sugar is completely dissolved. Next add the cream and vanilla. Pour the whole mixture into the Ice Cream freezer container. Add milk to finish filling to the “fill line”. At this point simply follow the instructions on your ice cream maker. When the ice cream is ready you can serve it as is — or you can stick it in the freezer for a while and let it set up a bit.

RECIPE#2

2 cans DOLE Crushed Pineapple (20oz cans)
2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
2 tablespoons Lime Juice
1/3 cup Sugar
1-1/2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream (whipped )

Drain pineapple from the cans and reserve 2 tablespoons of the juice. Set aside. Place the pineapple, lemon juice, lime juice, sugar and reserved pineapple juice in blender or food processor container. Cover and blend until smooth. Pour into two 1-quart freezer ziplock bags. Store bags flat in freezer. Freeze for 90-minutes or until slushy. Take bags out from freezer and in a large bowl stir pineapple slush gently into whipped cream until slightly blended. Return to freezer until completely frozen (about 1 hour) and serve.

Enjoy!

Disney Recipes Dole Whip

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If you’re looking for something different and are tired of the same old cheesecake recipe then you have to try this Tye Dyed Cheesecake. A few years ago my wife and I were staying at Disney’s Pop Century for the first time and one late night we found this very odd looking cake. The colors on the cake were so cool that I had to try it. Well, this isn’t the same cheesecake your Mom makes because instead of a graham cracker crust they used a Red Velvet Cake for the bottom of the cheesecake! It was spectacular looking and tasting so go ahead and give this recipe a try.

Red Velvet Cake Ingredients:
1/4 cup Butter (softened)
3/4 cups Sugar
1 Egg
1 tablespoons Cocoa
1 ounces Red Food Coloring
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 cup Buttermilk
1 cups Flour
1/2 tablespoon Vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda

Preheat oven to 350 deg F. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9″ springform pan. Cream together butter, sugar and eggs. Make a paste of cocoa and food coloring. Add the paste to the creamed mixture. Mix salt and vanilla in buttermilk and add alternately with the flour. Mix baking soda and vinegar separately, add last, folding in. Do not beat after adding baking soda mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until tester comes out clean. Cool cake in pan. Lower oven temperature to 325 degrees F.

Cheesecake Filling Ingredients:
1 1/2 lb. Cream Cheese
1 1/3 C. Sugar
5 Large Eggs
16 oz. Sour Cream
1/4 C. Flour
2 tsp. Vanilla
2 tsp. Lemon Juice
(Note: All above ingredients should be at room temperature before your begin.)

Start by beating the cream cheese until light and fluffy, Keeping the mixer on a low setting throughout the beating and mixing process. Add the sugar a little at a time and continue beating until creamy. Add one egg at a time and beat after each egg. When eggs have been mixed into the cream cheese add the flour, vanilla and lemon juice. Mix well. Add the sour cream last and beat well.

Divide the batter into 6 bowls and color each one:
Purple
Red
Yellow
Light Blue
Green
Orange

Drop large spoonfuls of the colored batters randomly atop the red velvet cake in the springform pan. Swirl each layer slightly. Place on the top rack in the middle of a 325 degree preheated oven for one hour and 15 minutes. When time is up, prop open oven door and leave in oven for one hour. After one hour, remove from oven. Let cool enough before the cheesecake is put into the refrigerator for 24 hours.

Serve and Enjoy!!

Disney Recipes Pop Century Red Velvet Cake Tye Dyed Cheesecake

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Because the weather is so hot across most of the country I thought I would post a more refreshing end-of-the-work-week drink for the over 21 folk. Give this Old Key West Resort drink special called a “Turtle Krawl” and you’ll certainly feel like your in the tropics.

Ingredients:
1/2 oz Castillo Rum
1/2 oz Bacardi Silver Rum
1/2 oz Malibu Rum
1/2 oz Myers Dark Rum
Splash Grenadine
Splash Key Lime Juice
Equal parts orange juice and pineapple juice

Just shake to mix in an ice filled 12oz cup. Now, if you don’t have all these types of Rum in your liquor cabinet then just take the rum you have available and use that instead. It will be different in taste but you’ll certainly have a refreshing drink none the less.

Cheers!

Disney Recipes Old Key West Resort

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A new friend of mine on another blog mentioned how much she loved the Banana French Toast at the Polynesian and that prompted me to add this excellent recipe to DiningInDisney.com. If you’ve never tried the Tonga Toast at the Kona Cafe (in the Polynesian) then quickly go to your grocery store and pick up these ingredients as your family will love it!

Here’s what’ you’ll need:

4 slices Sourdough Bread (cut about 1 inch thick)
1 Banana
1/3 cup Sugar
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 Egg
1/4 cup Milk
1/2 tsp Vanilla
Canola Oil (for frying)
Whipped Butter (optional)
Maple Syrup (optional)

This is how you make it…..Cut a 1 inch pocket in one side of each bread slice. Cut the banana in half crosswise and then split each piece lengthwise. Remove peel from the banana and stuff 1-2 pieces in each pocket, again depending on size. Set aside.

Mix sugar and cinnamon together. Then, mix the egg, milk and vanilla until well blended.

Heat about 4 inches of oil in a pan to 350 degrees(F). It’s best to use a candy thermometer of some kind to make sure the oil doesn’t go above 350 degrees or it will burn. Dip stuffed bread into egg mixture, allowing it to soak in for a few minutes. Carefully place bread slices into the hot oil and fry until lightly brown, turning to brown both sides. It should take about a minute on each side to cook. Drain on paper towels on cake or wire rack. Sprinkle with or toss them in the cinnamon-sugar mix and serve!

Enjoy!

Disney Recipes Polynesian Tonga Toast

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Let’s try another dessert that’s perfect for this time of year.  This Berry Cobler, a favorite at the Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge, is a delicious dessert that is made even better with fresh berries which are abundant at this time in most parts of the country.  For those of you lucky enough to be in the Northeast this time of year, head to New Jersey for some fresh Jersey Blueberries and whip up this great cobbler!
Ingredients:

3 cups All-Purpose Flour
1/4 tbsp. Salt
2 1/2 tbsp. Baking Powder
1 1/8 cups Granulated Sugar
1/2 cup Unsalted Butter
2 Eggs
1 cup Heavy Cream
2 cups Blueberries or other Seasonal Berries
8 tbsp. Brown Sugar
8 tbsp. Unsalted Butter
Whipped Cream or Ice Cream (topping)

Here’s what you do……

Combine the flour, salt, baking powder and sugar.  Then break the butter apart into small pieces and mix it in. Next, add the eggs and stir until just absorbed. Then add the heavy cream and mix just enough to incorporate (batter should be lumpy). Divide the dough into four pieces.

Now, in four 6-inch cake pans lined with parchment paper, place the pieces of dough, spread evenly along bottom of the pans. Spread the blueberries on top of each piece. Sprinkle each with 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Dot each with 1 tablespoon butter.

Bake in a preheated 350º F oven for 15 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean and dry and the cobblers are lightly browned. Cool to room temperature, add fresh berries (if desired) and serve with a dollop of chilled whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

A GREAT summertime treat!  Enjoy!

Artist Point Berry Cobler Disney Recipes Wilderness Lodge

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Ever wish you could recreate some of the great meals you ate in Disney?  Well this recipe is super easy and brings a little bit of the magic to your plate at home.  Parmesan Potatoes, from at the Contemporary Resort, is a great side dish as it goes great with just about any beef, chicken or pork meal and it’s very easy to prepare.  Here’s how you do it:

Ingredients:

3 Large Baking Potatoes
3 Tbsp. Butter
1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan
1 Cup Warm Milk
Peel the potatoes and cut into chunks and boil about 15 minutes until tender. Mash, using a potato masher or a heavy fork. Put back in the pot with the butter, cheese and milk. Blend well, adding salt and pepper to taste.

You can also mix it up a little and use red or purple potatoes for some color or you could also try your favorite herbs to spice it. 

So, next time you want to Disney-up your meal at home try this easy side dish and I’m sure your family will be swinging their napkins in the air just like they do at Chef Mickey’s! 

Enjoy!

Chef Mickeys Contemporary Resort Disney Recipes Uncategorized

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Since we’re in the season where strawberries are plentiful I thought I would post a great recipe called Strawberry Banana Bread from a fun restaurant at the Wilderness Lodge, the Whispering Canyon Cafe. This one makes a great breakfast item or dessert!

Ingredients:

1 cup Butter (softened)
2 cups Granulated Sugar
2 cups Bananas (about 6 medium/ripe), mashed
4 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
3 cups Flour
1 1/2 pounds Frozen Sliced Strawberries, thawed

Grease two 9- by 5-inch loaf pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Incorporate the bananas and scrape the sides of the bowl with the spatula. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each one. Set aside.

In another bowl, mix tgether the salt, baking soda, and flour. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir until fully incorporated. Add the strawberries. Pour into prepared pansd and bake for 60 to 75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a rack before inverting onto a plate.  Makes 2 loaves.

Enjoy!

Disney Recipes Whispering Canyon Cafe Wilderness Lodge

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By far one of the best buffet restaurants in Walt Disney World is Boma, which is located inside the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  The atmosphere and the wide selection of foods with an African twist makes this spot an enjoyable one after a great day at the parks.  However, one of the best kept secrets is the Breakfast Buffet at Boma which has an equally wide menu of items, including today’s ‘Disney Recipe of the Day’ which is FRUNCH!

Instead of grabbing a glass of OJ next time you have breakfast at home, try this amazing concoction! 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups - Mango Juice
1 - 8oz can of frozen Pineapple Juice (prepared)
1 - 8oz can of frozen Lemon Juice (prepared)
1 - 8oz can of frozen Orange Juice (prepared)
3/4 cup - Grenadine

Here’s what you do:  Prepare the frozen juices according to the instructions on each can (it’s easiest to empty the cans into a large bowl and add the appropriate amount of water per the package instructions.)  No need to do each separately. Just empty them in a bowl, mix in the amount of water required and stir.  Then, add the Mango juice and Grenadine to the mix.  Serve in a glass over ice and there you have it!

Also, if you’re like me and are not really fond of the concentrate versions of the juice, you can certainly substitute fresh squeezed or the ‘not from concentrate’ versions of the juice which you can find in any grocery store.  Each can will normally make 64-ounces of juice so just substitute a 1/2 gallon of each juice if you’re not using the concentrate versions.  This does make a TON of Frunch but will easily keep in the fridge like any other juice.  Plus, if you have a smaller gathering, you can certainly cut everything in half if need be.

Just another way to ‘Bring Home the Magic’ so hope you enjoy!

Disney Recipes FRUNCH

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