Dinner and a Disney Movie: Heavyweights

Dinner and a Disney Movie is a new series on Laughing Place that pairs food with some of the best films the company has produced. We have assembled a themed menu to help make your movie night extra special.

IMG_7182I was a fat kid. I can vividly remember the day my babysitter took me to see Heavyweights in a mostly empty theater when I was ten. Not only was it a hilarious movie about a summer camp for overweight kids, but it also had a powerful message: If you’re happy with who you are, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.

Over the years, this box office dud from 1995 has become a cult classic. It’s one of the best summertime movies I can think of and it seems only fitting to pay tribute to it this summer as the film recently turned 20. So after a hard day of Perkisizing (“I’m feeling skinny, Tony!”), sit back and enjoy the fattest meal of your day while visiting Camp Hope with your favorite chubby campers.

IMG_7179Mac & Cheese Hot Dogs

My first encounter with mac & cheese on a hot dog was at Walt Disney World, where you can obtain one at two separate theme parks (Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom). My first thought was “That’s the fattest thing I’ve ever seen.” Then I tried one and upon the first bite, I decided this would be a good way to die. So when it came time to finding the perfect main course for Heavyweights, which features a human hot dog on the poster, it seemed like the perfect choice. Pairs great with your favorite contraband potato chips. The total process takes about an hour. Makes 8 hot dogs. Based on a recipe from Food.com.

 

  • 2 cups macaroni
  • ¾ cup evaporated milk
  • 1¼ tsp dry mustard
  • 1¼ tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp pepper
  • 2½ cups shredded cheddar
  • 8 hot dogs
  • 8 hot dog buns

Follow the instructions on the package to cook the macaroni. After draining the pasta, return it to the pot. In a separate saucepan, mix the evaporated milk, dry mustard, salt, pepper and 2 cups of the shredded cheddar over low heat, stirring frequently. When melted, pour the cheese sauce into the noodles and blend well.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the hot dogs in half lengthwise, but don’t cut all the way through because they need to stay connected. Spread the macaroni mixture inside each dog and lay them on a cookie sheet (there will be extra mac & cheese). Using the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar, sprinkle the tops of each dog with more cheese. Bake for 15 minutes and serve hot on the buns.

IMG_7173Twinkies On Pizza

“Don’t put Twinkies on your pizza!” That’s what Roy (Kenan Thompson) says when counselor Tim asks what the boys learned from their night of binge eating under the stars. And while the cream-filled treat would probably be extra gross on a traditional pizza, they are delicious on a dessert pizza. The cookie base comes from a Betty Crocker recipe. Add your favorite frosting, some candy, a few Twinkies and dessert is done! This dessert takes about an hour to make. Makes 8 slices.

  • ½ cup softened butter
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • 1¼ cup flour
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • Frosting
  • M&M’s
  • 3 Twinkies

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Beat the butter, brown sugar, sugar, vanilla extract and egg with an electric mixer until smooth. Ass the flour and baking soda and gently mix until a dough forms. Roll the dough on an ungreased round pizza pan and bake for 15 minutes. Let cool for at least 30 minutes.

When the cookie is cool, spread the frosting on it, leaving the edges of the cookie free like a pizza crust. Decorate with M&M’s and slices of Twinkies. Use a pizza cutter to cut the pie into 8 pieces and serve.

LarsNow that you’ve stuffed your face, Lars has some celebratory words for you:

“Congratulations, you are ze fattest boy in camp!”

 

 

 

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Alex Reif
Alex joined the Laughing Place team in 2014 and has been a lifelong Disney fan. His main beats for LP are Disney-branded movies, TV shows, books, music and toys. He recently became a member of the Television Critics Association (TCA).