Recipes - Blog Posts

Baked Feta Wrap

I’ll make a better pub night, with chicken and feta! - Me

Who doesn’t love a night with friends after a long week? Whether you’re meeting up with a large group or settling in with a few close friends, it’s always nice to take some time to unwind and catch up. You know what we all don’t love? Expensive prices at bars and pubs. So, why not bring the vibe of pub night home and save some cash!

Popularized on TikTok back in 2020, the original tomato-feta sauce took the app by storm and spawned a whole batch of variations. Although I can’t find it anymore, the most interesting, to me, was from a woman roasting her cheating SO while turning this tasty sauce into a wrap (disguising the elastic as olives? Oof).

So, as midterm season comes to a close (or reaches its penultimate), this recipe is sure to make some great, easy snackables to kick off either a study sesh or a night out. Or, make your friends jealous by bringing it with you to school for an eating-out-style lunch without having to spend the cash!

Cheating SOs dni.

VEGETARIAN? No problem! Check out the results section for how to make this recipe work for you!

(Adapted from Rachael Ray’s recipe and the TikTok mentioned in the intro)

Prep: 5 mins               Cook: 1h 30 mins               Overall: 1h 35 mins*

* Will take 1h 15 mins time if not allowing the sauce to fully cool.

Ingredients*:

½ cup (118 ml) olive oil

2 pints (550 g) cherry tomatoes

One 8-ounce (225 g) block feta

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

¼ tsp. (0.5 g) red pepper flakes

4 large fresh basil leaves, chopped (or 1 handful of smaller ones)

Salt and pepper

1.5 pounds (750 g) chicken strips

1 box (142 g) baby spinach

24 medium (not mini) whole-wheat tortillas

* Makes enough for ~24 medium wraps (8-12 servings).

To start, preheat oven to 400℉ (204℃) and move the oven rack to the middle.

In a baking dish, toss the olive oil, whole cherry tomatoes, salt, and pepper until all tomatoes are coated (above-left).

Next, add the feta to the middle of the baking dish. On top of the feta, add a splash of olive oil and some pepper (above-right).

Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.

NOTE: I used 2 blocks of feta so I put olive oil and pepper on each block and stacked them.

While the tomatoes and feta bake, prepare the chicken.

To remove extra juices on the outside (and prevent the strips from sticking to the skillet) blot both sides of the chicken strips with a clean paper towel.

Then, sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper and lightly massage it in.

Next, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add chicken strips to the pan and allow to cook for 4-5 minutes a side until the inside is no longer pink and the internal temp reads 165℉ (74℃).

After cooking, remove skillet from heat and move the chicken to a plate to rest.

After 30 minutes in the oven, increase the heat to 450℉ (232℃) and bake for another 5-10 minutes or until the tomatoes and feta have browned.

Once everything has browned, remove the baking dish from the oven and add the chopped garlic and red pepper flakes. Break apart the feta block and stir so the residual heat cooks the garlic and incorporates the flavour from the red pepper flakes.

Unlike the pasta recipe, your goal here is to make sure everything is incorporated and has cooled down a little before assembling the wraps. It will take ~10 minutes to incorporate the sauce and then another ~20 minutes to cool. I recommend placing the baking dish on a wire rack to help it cool faster. If you’re in a rush, you can make the wraps with the warm sauce right after incorporating everything but it will be much harder to roll the wraps.

You’ll know the sauce is ready when you don’t see large streaks of olive oil while stirring or clinging to the sides of the baking dish.

NOTE: I recommend placing a kitchen towel or paper towel under the baking dish as you stir. I’ve made this several times now and always manage to stir a little too hard and spill some olive oil. Best to cut the spillage mess off at the pass.

TIP: Take the time when the sauce is cooling to clean the dishes created in earlier steps!

Stir in the chopped basil leaves once the sauce has cooled and everything has been incorporated.

To assemble the wraps, place a medium tortilla on a clean surface and layer a handful of spinach leaves on one side. Spoon ~1 tbsp. of sauce over the spinach and spread it out a little using the back of the spoon. Place a chicken strip over the sauce (above-left).

To wrap it up, fold the edge with the filling tightly around the chicken. Push in the corners and fold in the top and bottom edges. Continue to wrap everything tightly and fold in the corners that are created as you roll (above-right).

Overall, I would give this recipe a 5/5. Served warm or cold, the infamous sauce lends itself really well to being used in wrap form.

Although you may feel a little impatient while incorporating the sauce, the flavour is absolutely worth it (as is not just taking a bite of pure olive oil). Don’t skip the spinach either! The sauce is very rich and, although just using 1 tbsp. helps a little, the greens are really what stops it from becoming overbearing.

VEGETARIAN? The chicken inside can easily be substituted for Beyond Meat alternatives. However, if you’d like to change it up, reduce the amount of sauce used and pack the wrap with your favourite bagged salad! I’ve done this a couple times now and it’s tasted great!

Feywild Eggs

(w/ my favourite add-ins)

[Feywild Eggs are] a delightful presentation of creamed, herbed, and fluffed eggs, completed over even heat for a golden crisp finish. Some have even claimed this simple recipe descended from the leShay, an immortal breed of fey “elves” with incredible, godlike powers. - Heroes’ Feast, p. 58

Eggs are one of the most versatile foods around. Scrambled with cheese, added to rice, mixed with greens - there’s nearly no limit to the variations. Easy to pick up the basics, they make a great introduction food for anyone looking to start their cooking journey. The only trick to these eggs is to make sure you have the proper pan for the job!

The Feywild Eggs frittata in Heroes’ Feast makes a great base for any number of combinations you can think of, anytime of the day. Due to all of the possibilities, I couldn’t possibly cover all options in this post. So, I’ll be covering the base recipe through the post and will discuss my favourite add-ins and how I cooked them in the results section!

For a complete feast, eat them with the Yawning Portal Buttermilk Biscuits (p. 31) and Otik’s Skillet-Fried Spiced Potatoes! (p. 20)

See below for my notes on the results and for some helpful tips and tricks when making this yourself! Get Heroes’ Feast here: https://dnd.wizards.com/heroes-feast

Prep Time: 10 mins             Cook Time: 35 mins               Overall: 45 mins*

* Will take longer if you are preparing and cooking add-ins.

For the ingredients:

9 eggs

¼ cup (23 g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese

⅓ cup (20 g) finely chopped mixed fresh herbs (ex. parsley, basil, dill, mint, tarragon, lovage, or celery leaves

½ tsp. (3 g) kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp. (30 ml) extra-virgin olive oil

1 yellow onion, finely chopped

5 oz., about ½ cup, (140 g) Fontina, Colby, Monterey Jack, Havarti, or Gouda cheese, finely diced*

* If looking to reduce the fat content, feel free to use half the suggested amount of Parmesan cheese and cubed cheese.

Warning: Make sure the skillet you use is oven-safe to 400℉

NOTE: The cook’s note in Heroes’ Feast gives suggestions for veggies and meats to use with the frittata (asparagus, sautéd bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, etc. and cooked crumbled bacon or sausage). The only point of concern is to make sure they have all been seasoned and cooked through in the pan before adding the egg mixture.

First, I preheated the oven to 400℉ (204℃).

Next, I beat together the eggs, Parmesan cheese, herbs, salt, and some pepper until the mixture was uniformly blended.

After combining the egg mixture, I heated my 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and warmed the olive oil until shimmering. Then, I added the onion and let it cook, stirring frequently, until it softened - about 3 minutes.

REMINDER to cook all of your add-in veggies and meats in the skillet before adding the eggs! See the results section for my favourite add-ins and how I cooked them up.

Once the onion softened, I added the egg mixture to the skillet and let it cook, undisturbed, until the edges began to set and bubbles appeared in the center - about 1 minute (upper-left).

Then, I sprinkled the diced cheese evenly over the eggs (upper-right).

After assembling, I transferred the skillet to the middle oven rack and baked the frittata until the center had set and it puffed up - about 14 minutes.

NOTE: The frittata will puff a lot in the oven, so make sure your oven rack is in the middle!

After taking the skillet out of the oven, I ran a flexible nonstick spatula around the edges of the frittata to loosen it for transfer onto a serving plate.

I let it cool for about 15 minutes then cut it into wedges. It can be served warm or at room temperature.

NOTE: Don’t panic when it deflates as you loosen it from the skillet and transfer - it’s meant to do that!

Overall, I would give this recipe a 3.5/5 on its own and a 4.5/5 when you include add-ins. As stated in the introduction, the base Feywild Eggs recipe is a great starting point to build on but really needs the extras to not taste bland.

For my personal favourites, I used Italian parsley, 1 cup (130 g) chopped asparagus, and 1 cup (70 g) sliced mushrooms. Like the original recipe, I mixed in the finely chopped Italian parsley with the eggs. To cook veggies, I heated 2 tbsp. olive oil on medium heat until shimmering and then added the onion, asparagus, and mushrooms at the same time. I seasoned them with salt and pepper in the pan then cooked, stirring frequently, until the asparagus softened and the onions were a translucent golden brown - about 5 minutes.

UPDATE:

Since making this post, I have some new tips and tricks for you guys!

If you’re substituting the bacon for smoked turkey like I did, don’t throw out the bone right away! While the potatoes and veggies simmer, add the smoked turkey leg bone to the broth. Don’t worry about any meat bits that fall in, they’ll get incorporated in the blender. Not only will this provide more flavour to the broth but you’ll get extra nutrients from the bone marrow! NOTE: Do your best to keep the bone as intact as possible as you’ll need to pull all the bone bits out before blending.

To reduce the fat content and make it an appetizer-soup, I substituted milk instead of cream and it worked out great! The only adjustment needed was to let it thicken for 6-7 minutes instead of 1 minute. 

Potato Leek Soup (w/ Smoked Turkey)

Served year round, this dense and nutritious vegetable blend is perfect for warming the limbs and souls of dwarves subjugated to the unrelenting cold of damp subterranean life. - Heroes’ Feast, p.97

There’s something very comforting about a rich, creamy soup on an overcast day. Whether rain or snow, its warmth gives you a sense of homely comfort and raises your spirits.

I’d never tried potato and leek soup before attempting this recipe and was skeptical at first; how good could some leeks and potatoes be? However, I was blown away by taste! Delicious and filling, this Potato Leek Soup is sure to satisfy your hunger while giving you those reading-a-good-book-on-a-rainy-day vibes. Make sure to dip a thick slice of sourdough bread from your nearest bakery in it for an even more knock-your-socks-off taste!

As an added bonus, this soup is easily made vegetarian! See the results sections to find out how.

See below for my notes on the results and for some helpful tips and tricks when making this yourself! Get Hero’s Feast here: https://dnd.wizards.com/heroes-feast

Keep reading

Vedbread

Traditionally prepared with sharp “ved” cheese and presented with onion butter, these crusty buns are best served warm, [...] this particular recipe comes from Lorren’s Bakery in Faerûn’s Village of Red Larch, and features mushrooms and cheese from local, outlying farms. - Heroes’ Feast, p. 27

Ever since I first started looking through Heroes’ Feast, Vedbread has been one of the recipes I’ve been most interested in trying. Although they may appear a little strange at first glance, the best way to describe them would be a ‘savory cinnamon rolls’. The mushroom filling mixed with the cheesy dough gives the buns an awesome flavour combo!

Delicious and filling, these buns are sure to make an interesting alternative to a typical lunch or midday snack. Not only that, but they’re great for a fall aesthetic as the perfect match for a steaming cup of broth!

See below for my notes on the results and for some helpful tips and tricks when making this yourself! Get Heroes’ Feast here: https://dnd.wizards.com/heroes-feast

Prep:  15 mins                           Cook:  60 mins                           Overall:  1h 15 mins

For the filling ingredients:

12 ounces (345 g) cremini mushrooms, coarsely chopped*

2 tbsp. (28 g) unsalted butter

2 shallots, finely chopped

Kosher salt

1 tsp. (1 g) finely chopped fresh thyme

¼ cup (23 g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Freshly ground black pepper

For the dough ingredients:

2¼ cups (281 g) all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling

1 tbsp. (14 g) baking powder

1 tsp. (4 g) sugar

½ tsp. (3 g) kosher salt

6 ounces (170 g) Gruyère cheese, coarsely grated

¾ cup (177 ml) buttermilk, cold

6 tbsp. (85 g) unsalted and butter, melted and cooled

1 egg

Truffle oil for brushing (optional)

* Heroes’ Feast mentions you can substitute the cremini mushrooms with the same amount of shiitake.

For the filling:

First, I pulsed the mushrooms in the food processor until they were very finely chopped (about 8-10 pulses).

Next, I cooked the mushrooms:

I melted the butter over medium heat and cooked the shallots until they began to soften - about 2 minutes;

I adjusted the heat to medium high and added the processed mushroom and ¼ tsp. salt. While stirring I cooked them until all of the liquid from the mushrooms had evaporated - about 9 to 12 minutes (keep an eye on it);

I added the thyme and cooked, stirring, until fragrant - about 1 minute;

I removed the skillet from the heat and stirred in the Parmesan.

After cooking, taste the mixture and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. I found there was enough salt but needed a couple shakes of pepper.

After seasoning, I spread the mixture on a plate to cool for assembly.

Then, I preheated the oven to 425℉ (218℃) and lined a large rimmed baking sheet with a piece of parchment (you could also use a reusable silicone liner).

For the dough:

To prepare the dough, I started by whisking the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar together in a large bowl. Then, I stirred in the grated Gryère cheese.

Next, in a small bowl, I whisked together the buttermilk and cooled melted butter. The butter will clump, this is normal.

I added the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and used a wooden spoon to form a chunky dough.

Heroes’ Feast notes that the dough should be sticky at this stage. However, I found it to be rather dry - with bits and pieces of cheese and flour not being incorporated. Don’t worry if your dough turns out similarly. Mine incorporated into a stickier dough while kneading.

After creating a chunky dough, I turned it out onto my breadboard and kneaded until it held together and was mostly smooth - about 4-5 minutes. Take care not to overknead.

After creating the dough ball, I floured the board and under the ball to keep it from sticking to the surface while rolling out.

TIP: The techniques I use for kneading (and a helpful video) can be found on my post about Dwarven Flatbread.

Assembly:

To start the assembly, I rolled out my dough ball into a roughly 12 by 18-inch rectangle. Dust off any excess flour from the surface.

Next, I spread the mushroom mixture over the entire surface. Expect the layer to be thin and patchy.

To roll the vedbread, I started by working with the widest side (18-inch) furthest from me. I then rolled the dough into a very tight, even, compact cylinder towards me.

When I finished rolling, I pinched the seam along the entire length of the cylinder to close it.

Next, using a serrated knife in a sawing motion, I trimmed off the ends of the cylinder to discard and cut the remaining cylinder into 1 ¼-inch pieces.

NOTE: When you make these, you will find it makes about 14. I only have 11 because I misread the dimensions for rolling out the dough.

I arranged the buns cut-sides up on the baking sheet and brushed the top and sides with eggwash - an egg beaten with 1 tbsp. water (above-left).

I cooked them for 18 minutes on the middle rack of the oven until they were golden brown, rotating the baking sheet halfway through. I let the buns cool on the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.

I let the buns cool on the wire rack for a little while before storing them. They are best eaten warm or at room temperature (would not recommend cold).

If using, brush the buns with some before serving.

Overall, I would give this recipe a 4.5/5. If it’s not already obvious from the ingredients list, these buns are very mushroomy.

I would suggest trying these buns both at room temperature and warm out of the oven to see how you best enjoy them. Personally, I found the taste of the mushrooms mellowed when left at room temperature and made them much more enjoyable. On the other hand, my dad, who doesn’t particularly enjoy mushrooms, found them tastier warm. So make sure to try them both ways and see how you feel.

There’s a general tip that it’s best to store baked goods in a paper bag at room temperature to keep the crust harder on the outside and softer on the inside. However, I would advise against this for these buns. The dough is too thin to benefit from this and will just go stale-ish  - like they’d been left uncovered on the counter. Keeping them in an airtight container is the best way to preserve that softness that you get right out of the oven.

Want to enjoy them again later? No trouble! Reheat them at 300℉ (149℃ ) for about 8 minutes to snack on them warm.

Halfling Oatmeal Sweet Nibbles

“Dense with oats, chocolate chips, and butterscotch, these diminutive cookies are perfect for halfling hands… and the stomachs of everyone.”- Heroes’ Feast, p. 128

Whether you’re looking to make tasty treats for yourself or something sweet for a bake sale - cookies are the ultimate go-to. With so much deliciousness packed into something that’s simple to make, they’re the perfect choice!

The chocolate-butterscotch chip cookies from Heroes’ Feast will knock your socks off when you try them! Served at room temperature, these little guys are the perfect combination of crunchy on the outside and soft, chocolaty goodness on the inside.

They’re also the perfect addition to any lunchbox! Their small size makes them easy to nibble on and easier to share! So, why not impress friends, both old and new, with a batch of these bad boys? They’re sure to be a hit!

See below for my notes on the results and for some helpful tips and tricks when making this yourself! Get Heroes’ Feast here: https://dnd.wizards.com/heroes-feast

Prep Time: 5 mins               Cook Time: 55 mins               Overall: 60 mins

For the ingredients*:

1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour

2 cups (180 g) rolled oats

1 tsp. (1.25 g) baking soda

½ tsp. (3 g) kosher salt

1 ½ cups (255 g) packed light brown sugar

1 cup (128 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 egg, beaten

2 tsp. (10 ml) pure vanilla extract

1 cup (150 g) semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup (150 g) butterscotch chips

* Heroes’ Feast says that this makes ~45 cookies. I made 40.

First, I preheated the oven to 350℉ (177℃) and lined two large baking trays with parchment paper. You’re going to be baking 2 trays at a time, so move both of your oven racks to the middle of the oven (one in one set of grooves and the other directly below it). It will look like a tight space, but the tray and cookies will fit!

Next, I whisked together the flour, rolled oats, baking soda, and kosher salt in a bowl.

In a large bowl, I started by beating the butter and brown sugar until well combined (upper-left). Then, I added the egg and vanilla extract and whisked until smooth (upper-right).

Once the wet ingredients were combined, I stirred in the dry ingredients (upper-left). Then, added the chocolate and butterscotch chips and mixed until they were well-distributed (upper-right).

To bake the cookies, I scooped rounded tablespoons of batter and placed each one on the baking tray 2 inches apart (upper-left). I baked them for 15 minutes, rotating the positions of the pans halfway through.

Heroes’ Feast advises that smaller cookies will take less time to cook and that reusing trays will significantly cut the cooking time - so keep an eye on later batches.

I misread the directions for the first tray (left tray in upper-left) and rolled the batter after scooping it instead of just placing it on the tray. You can see how they turned out differently in the upper-right picture. They have much more of a smooth “traditional” cookie shape to them as opposed to the cookies on the right tray that look more rustic and bumpy. More about my thoughts on this in the results section.

After the cookies baked, I let them cool on the tray for around 3 minutes and then transferred them to a wire rack. I repeated this process until I ran out of batter.

Overall, I would give these cookies a 5/5. They are incredibly rich and the perfect cure for any sweet tooth. Due to the large amount of sugar in them, I don’t recommend eating them with Hot Cocoa Broth (p.188). Rather, they make a great snack while enjoying a cup of black tea (red rose, earl grey) or coffee.

As mentioned in a previous step, I rolled out the batter for the cookies on one of the trays before placing them. In my opinion, I prefer the ones made this way over just placing them on the tray. Rolling the batter allows for more structure and gives the cookies a nice soft interior.

To keep them fresh, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They can also be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week - though you’ll want to give them a few minutes to warm up on the counter before snacking!

FUN FACT: These cookies were so popular in my house that I only had five cookies left by the time I took the first and last pictures! (I started with 40!)

The Ultimate Sausage Pasta

“This is the best pasta I’ve ever had” - Everyone who’s tried it

Living with other people is a valuable experience for any young person - especially when you get the chance to share meals and recipes. It’s amazing what kinds of foods you can add to your cooking arsenal and this pasta is one of them!

Originally introduced through the friend of my housemate, I can say with absolute confidence that this is the best pasta I, and everyone who's tried it, has ever had. The best part? It only takes half an hour to make!

With it’s quick cooking time on consistent heat, easy steps, and simple ingredients, it makes for the perfect meal for everyone from an on-the-go student looking for a cheap, filling meal to a busy professional.

VEGETARIAN? No problem! Check the results sections for tips on changes to make the recipe work for you.

Prep: 5 mins                     Cook: 25 mins                       Overall: 30 mins

For the ingredients:

Half a bag (450 g) Rigatoni pasta

500g mild italian sausage, sliced into 3/4-inch pieces (I recommend Johnsonville brand, if available)

4 large cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 tbsp. sundried tomatoes in oil, sliced

2 tbsp. oil from the jar

1 cup (250 ml) low-sodium chicken broth*

1 block (150 g) chopped frozen spinach**

½ cup (125 ml) heavy cream (35%)***

* Feel free to use any homemade chicken broth or stock you have for a deeper flavour! If you store your homemade broth in the freezer using ice-cubes, you’ll need about 8 for a cup.

** If you’ve got the chopped frozen spinach that comes in little cylinders it’s about 3 of them. If you only have frozen whole leaf spinach (like I did here), take it out of the package and stick it in the microwave on a plate until it starts to defrost. Then, chop it up!

*** Feel free to use either 35% “cooking cream” or “heavy cream”. I’ve used both and haven’t noticed a difference. Do not use lighter creams as substitutes. You will end up with a cream soup instead of a cohesive sauce.

Start by boiling your pasta according to the directions listed on the package - straining it about 1 minute before it reaches al dente.

Next, heat up a high-rimmed skillet on medium heat and add your sausage. Allow it to fully cook through, about 12 minutes (internal temp of 160℉), stirring occasionally.

After the sausage has fully cooked, add the garlic, sundried tomatoes, and oil. Mix it with the sausage and cook until the garlic starts to turn a golden colour (2-3 minutes), stirring frequently.

TIP: After finely chopping your garlic, use the flat side of the knife to crush it. This will allow more flavour to release from the garlic.

Add the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any bits that got stuck. Allow the broth to come to a boil.

Add the frozen spinach to the boiling broth, breaking it up as it thaws. Allow it to cook until no frozen chunks remain, about 3-4 minutes.

NOTE: At this stage, you’ll probably start to think that there’s too little sauce in the pan, but resist the urge to add extra broth.

Add the heavy cream and stir. Allow it to come to a boil and incorporate, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes.

You might need to add a little more cream as it cooks. Ideally, you want the sauce to have taken on the lighter colour of the cream but still be able to see the darker colour of the broth.

NOTE: This was made with homemade chicken stock - giving it a deeper colour when the cream is mixed in. You’ll find your sauce to be much lighter if using store-bought broth.

Finally, keeping the heat on medium, add your strained past. Stir until you can see the sauce clinging to the noodles and making them shiny, about 2 minutes. There should only be a little sauce remaining at the bottom of the pan.

Overall, I would give this pasta a 5/5. I’ve honestly never made a recipe that everyone unanimously agrees is a hit with no changes. It’s so quick and easy that I make it almost every week without fail. In fact, I'm making it tomorrow!

As I’ve mentioned in the introduction, I would highly recommend this to anyone who is just starting to learn how to cook. The entire meal cooks in 30 mins on the same heat and is extremely forgiving. Perfect for those starting to venture past instant noodles and freezer meals!

EATING VEGETARIAN? No problem!: I’ve made this dish vegetarian several times and although you do lose some of the flavour, it’s still amazing. 

To substitute the sausage, I’ve either taken it out completely or I’ve used Beyond Meat sausage. Personally, I would recommend leaving the BM sausage out as it has a strange texture. If you enjoy BM and want to add it, add 2 tbsp. of neutral oil to the pan while heating it. Add the sausage and cook for 8 minutes, stirring frequently.

You can substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth. I would also recommend adding ~1 tsp. italian seasoning with the broth (like the one used in the dwarven flatbread, but maybe skip the marjoram). This should make up for the loss of spicing from the sausage.

Hand Pies

(Includes small, snackable pies!)

“The variety [of hand pies] presented below, made famous at Cuttle’s Meat Pies located in Waterdeep’s Trades Ward, is flavored with bacon and leeks and is extremely popular across the Heartlands, the Dales, and even the Savage Coast of Faerun, where hungry adventurers simply can’t get enough of them.” - Heroes’ Feast, p. 21

I think we can all agree that pie is one of the best foods ever (take that cake lovers). But, why should its awesomeness only extend to fruit, pudding, or whatever olden times had going on?

The Hand Pies in Heroes’ Feast are a great, filling meal to close to a long day. Packed with awesome carbs, proteins, and spices, they’re hard to resist! 

I was really interested to see if there was a way to turn the traditional, larger pies into snackable finger foods that could be brought to school or made for a party. After a little bit of testing, I found that they could! Since my main goal for this post was to create the snackable ones, I will be incorporating my process into the main body of my review instead of just keeping it to the notes after each step.

Although not the fastest meal to make, there are several ways to speed up the process and give yourself less work!

See below for my notes on the results and for some helpful tips and tricks when making this yourself! Get Heroes’ Feast here: https://dnd.wizards.com/heroes-feast

Prep Time: 20 mins               Cook Time: 2h 40 mins                  Overall: 3 h

* See results section for how to cut down vegetable prep time

** Prep time will increase if you’re making your own pie crust

For the ingredients:

6 slices thick-cut bacon*

1 large (about 8 ounces) Yukon gold potato, peeled and cut into ½-inch pieces

2 leeks, white and light green parts, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced

1 tbsp. (3 g) finely chopped fresh thyme

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 pound (500 g) ground beef**

2 tbsp. (16 g) all-purpose flour

⅔ cup (160 ml) low-sodium chicken broth

¼ cup (60 ml) chopped fresh parsley

Pastry for 2 double-crust pies (about 1 ½ pounds), thawed if frozen

1 egg

Ketchup, grainy mustard, or steak sauce to serve (optional)

* I couldn’t find any thick-cut bacon at my grocery store, so I used double the amount of regular cut bacon instead.

** I used medium ground beef.

Preparing the Filling:

I cooked the regular cut bacon in batches in order to avoid crowding the pan. Because I was using thinner bacon, I had to cook the bacon all the way until crispy instead of just slightly browned.

I didn’t have enough rendered fat after cooking for the 2 ½ tbps. required in the next steps. To make up for it, I supplemented the missing amount with a neutral-tasting oil (like vegetable, canola, safflower, and grapeseed).

For the vegetable mixture, I first cooked the potatoes in 1 ½ tbps. of the reserved fat over medium-high heat. This took about 7 minutes, stirring frequently (above-left image).

Next, I added 1 tbsp. reserved fat, leeks, thyme, and ½ tsp. salt to the potatoes and cooked them for about 4 minutes. Then, I added the garlic and stirred it in until fragrant - about 1 minute.

Finally, I transferred it to a bowl, wiped out the pan, and returned it to medium-high heat.

For the beef mixture, I cooked the ground beef until it started to lose its pink colour (4-5 mins). You want to make sure you’re breaking up any large clumps as it cooks.

Next, I turned down the heat to medium and added the flour, stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes. After, I added the broth and ¾ tsp. salt, scraping the skillet to dissolve anything that got stuck to the bottom. The above-right image is what the beef mixture looked like after cooking it for 2 minutes. It shouldn’t be super liquidy.

Above is what the hand pie mixture looked like when I combined the vegetable and meat mixtures. After combining, I allowed the mixture to cool for about 20 minutes (barely warm).

When the mixture cooled, I incorporated the crumbled bacon and parsley. Finally, I covered it with cling wrap and put it in the fridge.

NOTE: To adjust the seasoning at this point, I would recommend only using pepper. I found the mixture was plenty salty.

Constructing the Pies:

First, I preheated the oven to 375℉ and lined two baking sheets with parchment paper. You could also use nonstick silicone liners.

Since I was using a homemade pie crust, I divided my dough into quarters then rolled them out on a lightly floured work surface until I could see the surface through the dough. I lightly floured the top of the dough and my rolling pin to keep the dough from sticking to it. Follow the same method if using store-bought dough.

To prevent the dough from breaking while chilled: start by rolling it out a little in one direction, rotate 90°, roll it out a little, and repeat. This way, you’re not just stretching the dough in one direction.

As you work with the dough, try not to let it get too warm! The chilled butter is what gives the pie crust a flaky texture. If you feel the dough start to warm up too much as you work with it, cover it with a clean, damp kitchen or damp paper towel and place it in the fridge for a few minutes before continuing.

If you notice any tears appear while you roll out the dough, overlap a bit of the dough in that area and roll over it using the rolling pin. If the tear is too large to do this, patch it up with some dough scraps and roll over it to seal it.

To create envelopes for the filling, I used a stencil to create 10 by 8-inch ovals for the large ones and used a ~3 ¾-inch diameter circular cookie cutter.

From my dough, I was able to get two large pies and 15 smaller ones (not using all the dough scraps will net you about 12).

NOTE: A bench scraper and/or a thin metal spatula is your friend while working with the dough. To make the pies easier to fold and transfer, make sure to go around and lift up all of the dough from the work surface.

For the large pies, I placed one cup of filling on the bottom third of the dough and left ~1 ½ inches for the border (above-left).

For the small pies, there are a few changes I would make with how I constructed them (above-right). Although using only a ½ tbsp. of filling made them easier to handle, you should absolutely use between ¾-1 tbs. instead. You may not get as clean of a seam, but it will help the pies stay juicy and have a better dough-to-filling ratio.

Also, I would consider using a slightly larger cookie cutter (4-inch diameter) and shaping the dough to be more like an oval. I think this would help with the difficulties when using more filling.

Finally, be mindful of how much filling you’re making/using. The amount of filling called for in the recipe is great when making four large pies but significantly less is needed when constructing the smaller ones. Out of the 15 made, adjusting for the recommended increase in filling would mean just barely 1 ½ cups is needed!

To ensure minimal food waste when only making the mini-pies, either make 2.5 times the amount of dough or make ¾ the amount of filling.

Put the filling for the little ones on the bottom half of the circle/oval leaving room for sealing and crimping.

To seal the pies, I started by dipping my finger in water and going around the seam to moisten it. Next, using my bench scraper, I folded the dough over the meat filling. Finally, I used a fork to crimp the edges closed.

If you notice any breaks in the dough while you’re folding/crimping, don’t worry! Use any spare scraps of dough to cover the tears. If a tear appears when crimping the edges, cover it with scrap dough and crimp it down.

Each regular-sized hand pie took about 8 mins to assemble from rolling it out to sealing it. So, it will take you around half an hour to do all four (at least the first time).

The snack-sized pies took about 8 minutes for 4 of them. Therefore, it will take you just under half an hour to make 12 of them. When I put together all of my dough scraps for the little ones, I was able to make 3 extra snack pies - 15 in total.

Always use your bench scraper or flat metal spatula when working with or picking up the pies.

TIP: Because each pie takes time to construct and because we want the pie crust to stay cool, place each fully constructed pie in the fridge after sealing it. For the smaller ones, place each batch of 4 in the fridge as you finish them.

TIP: If you’re running out of space in your fridge for the baking sheets, use a cooling rack to place one tray on top of the other.

TIP: Wait until the pies have chilled in the fridge to score the X. It’s much easier to cut into the firm dough than the softer one.

Above is what the pies looked like before and after baking in the oven for about 40-45 mins. Be generous with the egg wash to give each pie a nice golden brown colour.

Above is what the pies looked like as they cooled - about 5 to 10 mins. Be mindful when transferring the large ones to the wire rack. They are very easy to break.

Overall, I would give this recipe a 4.5/5. Both the regular and the snack sized hand pies were delicious. Although, I would recommend eating the larger pies with a fork. They were a bit too flimsy to be eaten by hand. However, the filling to pie crust ratio was perfect.

As mentioned in the filling step, the only changes I would make to make the snack pies better would be to use a slightly larger cookie cutter and use more filling. Other than that, they were amazing. Everyone in my house agreed that they would make for great appetizers or finger foods for a party because “you can eat them and just feel like you’re snacking”. You can even turn the assembly into a fun activity (or pass off the work to guests who like to arrive early)!

I would highly recommend not making this a one-day event. As the longest hands-on recipe so far, I would split up the work as follows: 

Make the filling the day before

Make the pie crust and construct the pies the day of

Not only will this division of work make the recipe less daunting but it will allow the filling to chill completely - making it much easier to handle.

TIP: Although the prep time seems a little daunting, you can save time by completing certain parts of it while cooking. For example:

Cut up the potatoes and leeks while the bacon cooks

Chop up the thyme while the potato chunks cook

Super Flaky All-Butter Pie Crust

No matter the filling you use, the backbone of any good pie is the light, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth crust. As such an important part of the pie experience, it can seem very daunting to make it yourself: you need to keep the dough cold, not overwork it, and why does every recipe want lard or shortening?!

Luckily, after much time searching, I have found the most amazing recipe combo that has all of the buttery-flakiness you expect from a pie crust with minimal effort!

In addition to wanting to learn how to make pie crust, I decided to give it a go because Heroes’ Feast calls for a lot of “sheets of pie crust” and no matter how hard I searched my grocery stores, I could never find it. So, I hope that all of you in a similar situation can use this for your pies! You’ll find that going back to store-bought will never be the same.

See below for my tips and tricks for making your own buttery, super flaky crust at home!

(This recipe is both inspired by and a modification of Katy Perry’s pie crust (here) and a food processor method I found (here))

Prep: ~5 mins               Cook time: ~1h 15 mins                   Overall: ~1h 20 mins

For the ingredients:

2 ½ cups (313 g) all-purpose flour

20 tbsp. (284 g) salted butter

½ cup (118 ml) ice-cold water

TIP: If you don’t have salted butter, use 20 tbsp. unsalted butter and add ½ tsp. + ⅛ tsp. of kosher salt.

If using salted butter, add 1 ½ cups (188 g) of flour to the food processor.

If using unsalted butter, combine 1 ½ cups (188 g) of flour and salt in a food processor and pulse to combine (4-5 pulses).

Scatter butter cubes over the flour mixture and process until dough or paste begins to form (above-left). This should take ~15 secs and there should be no uncoated flour.

Next, redistribute the flour-butter mixture in the food processor (above-right).

Add the remaining 1 cup (125 g) of flour and pulse until the flour is properly distributed and becomes crumbly. This usually takes me ~7-8 pulses.

Transfer dough to a medium-sized mixing bowl. To help keep the dough cool, I put the bowl in the fridge when I start preparing the ingredients.

Sprinkle 4 tbsp. of ice-cold water over the dough. Use a rubber spatula to press the dough pieces together until they start to form larger clumps.

To test if it’s ready, take a piece of dough and pinch it between your fingers (above-left). If it holds together, you’re good to go. If it crumbles, add 2-4 more tbsp. and keep combining.

Once the dough is ready keep the dough in the bowl or transfer it to a clean surface and work it just enough so that it forms a ball.

NOTE: I would definitely advise starting with 4 tbsp. of ice-cold water. I thought I had added enough after 2 tbsp. (directed in Katy Perry’s recipe) but the dough kept breaking when I took it out of the fridge to roll out. This isn’t as much of an issue when using 4 tbsp.

Cut your dough ball into two halves and press them into discs. Wrap each half in cling wrap and let it chill in the fridge for at least an hour or up to 2 days before rolling it out (it should feel super hard).

If you’re pre-making your dough, it can stay in the freezer for up to 3 months! Just remember to thaw it out in the fridge overnight before using.

Personally, I would rate this pie crust recipe a 5/5. As long as you take care to not let the dough get too warm, your pie crust will be as buttery, light, and flaky as can be!

The pies shown in this post are the Elven Maruths on p. 64. Get the book here!: https://dnd.wizards.com/heroes-feast

Dwarven Flatbread

According to folklore, these tasty flat loaves weren’t created in the kitchen, but rather at the forge as ever-industrious, hungry dwarven craftsmen utilized the only materials they had available: flour, oil, water, salt, a hearth, and a hammer.” - Heroes’ Feast, p. 103

I've been interested in making flatbread for about a year now but always felt strangely intimidated by it. It wasn’t until I found this recipe and saw how quickly and simply it could be done that I decided to give it a shot.

Simple yet absolutely delicious, this wonderfully seasoned flatbread has just enough of a spice kick for it to stand out on its own or when eaten with the Fire Lichen Spread (p. 93) or a tzatziki dip!

Previously attempted by @afinickyguide, this review looks to take their suggestions to heart while also adding some of my own!

See below for my notes on the results and for some helpful tips and tricks when making this yourself! Get Heroes’ Feast here: https://dnd.wizards.com/heroes-feast

Prep time: ~5 mins           Cook time: ~40 mins           Overall: ~45 mins

For the ingredients:

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

1 ½ tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. baking soda

1 ½ tsp. kosher salt*

2 ½ tsp. dried herb blend (such as Italian seasoning, herbes de Provence, or za’atar), crushed **

3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

⅔ cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt or whole milk***

¼ cup neutral-tasting oil, such as vegetable, canola, safflower, or grapeseed

* This is way too much salt. Use half of this amount (¾ tsp.).

** I didn’t have any Italian seasoning, so I used ½ tsp. each of dried basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram as well as ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes (modified from here)

*** I used 2% plain greek yogurt.

I use the following conversions in my cooking:

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour = 188 g

1 ½ tsp. baking powder = 6 g

½ tsp. baking soda = 4 g

1 ½ tsp. kosher salt = 8 g

½ tsp. dried rosemary = 1 g

½ tsp. dried basil = 0.5 g

½ tsp. dried oregano = 0.5 g

½ tsp. dried thyme = 0.5 g

½ tsp. dried marjoram leaves = 0.25 g

¼ tsp. red pepper flakes = 0.5 g

3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil = 44 ml

⅔ cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt = 158 ml

¼ cup neutral-tasting oil = 60 ml

Above shows the dry ingredients whisked together with a well in the center for the greek yogurt and olive oil.

Again, when I made these the first time 1 ½ tsp. kosher salt was way too much. I made them again using half the amount (¾ tsp.) and they tasted much better.

Above is what the dough looked like after combining it with a wooden spoon and then working it by hand to create a shaggy dough.

The dough will be very dry and have lots of crumbly bits. Don’t worry! As you knead it into a smooth ball, the dough will become wetter and everything will incorporate nicely.

Above is what the dough looked like after kneading to make it smooth - about 5-6 minutes. You’ll know the dough is ready when it springs back after lightly pressing into it.

Although the dough will become tackier as you knead it, try not to add any more flour. Dough, in general, will absorb any extra flour you give it and though it might make it slightly easier to handle, the bread will become denser as a result.

Personally, I found the dough didn’t stick much to my bread board and when it did it was easy enough to handle with just a bench scraper.

The following link is a great resource to develop your technique for kneading bread. With the first technique, you use the heel of your hand to press into the dough, then fold it back into itself, turn it, and repeat. Using the second technique, you roll the dough with the heel of your hand in a “heart” motion.

Above is what the dough looked like after being divided into 8 equal portions and left to rest for 15 minutes under a clean kitchen towel. The smooth dough weighed around 400 g and divided nicely into 50 g portions.

Although you will notice the dough has expanded after resting, don’t expect as drastic a change as yeasted dough.

With the amount of dough in each portion, rolling it to 7 inches in diameter turned it into paper and gave it “cracker-like results” according to @afinickyguide‘s post. So, I opted to roll them to 5 inches in diameter and just under ¼ of an inch thick.

If you’d really like some larger flatbread, I would recommend taking @afinickyguide‘s suggestion and doubling the recipe to create 8 larger portions that could be rolled into 7-inch circles.

I found the cooking times in Heroes’ Feast to be way too long. When I originally tried frying it for 2.5 minutes, it turned out super burned when I flipped it - and that was before the pan had accumulated heat!

I would suggest the following cooking times for this recipe (using flatbread rolled to 5 inches in diameter):

While the pan is heating up, cook the first flatbread for ~90 secs on the first side and 60 secs on the other

For the second, cook for 30 seconds on the first side and 20 on the other

For each one after, cook for 15 seconds on the first side and 10 on the other

Also, don’t replenish the pan with 1 ½ tsp. oil for each flatbread if following my instructions! There was so much oil left after each one that it’s much better to swirl around and reuse the leftover oil in the pan. Only add ~½ tsp. more if you notice the oil level running low.

NOTE: I used a cast-iron skillet to cook my flatbread. Timings will vary based on the type of pan you use.

Overall, I give this flatbread a 5/5. After the adjustment of the salt content, these were delicious to eat both on their own, with a tzatziki dip, or with the Fire Lichen Spread (p. 93).

Although I can’t comment on how they would taste with store-bought Italian seasoning, the one I used (listed in the ingredients section) worked amazingly!

For best freshness results, wrap in plastic wrap or store in a reusable sandwich back and keep in the fridge. They will last up to a week in the fridge. To reheat, either leave them on the counter for half an hour before using or microwave them for 10 seconds at a time until soft.

Bytopian Shepherd's Bread

This spiced bread, served in thick slices, is made from grains imbued with grated carrots and rich chunks of almond [...] If you ever find yourself in possession of the rare herb known as shiftspice, sprinkle a liberal pinch into the batter to ensure that each loaf yields an unexpected flavour. - Heroes’ Feast, p.176

Carrot cake is something that many of us have grown up with one variation or another. Whether it’s a recipe passed down from your grandmother or a slice you pick up at your local coffee shop, this staple has a place in heart and home.

The Bytopian Shepherd's Bread in Heroes’ Feast certainly lives up to the legacy of this treasured treat. Amazingly spiced and not overly sugary, it is sure to be the perfect loaf to serve at breakfast or for dessert!

As a bonus, check out the results section for a delicious quick-and-easy cream cheese icing recipe to go with this carrot cake!

See below for my notes on the results and for some helpful tips and tricks when making this yourself! Get Heroes’ Feast here: https://dnd.wizards.com/heroes-feast

Prep Time: ~20 mins Cook Time: ~1h 45min (15 mix. + 1h 15 cook + 15 cool) Overall: ~2h 05 + cool to room temp

For the ingredients:

2 cups. all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. freshly ground nutmeg

1 tsp. kosher salt

½ cup currants

3 eggs

¾ cup packed light brown sugar

¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

⅓ cup buttermilk

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 lb. carrots, peeled and coarsely grated (about 3 cups)

½ cup slivered or sliced almonds

* I found that a ½ cup of sliced almonds was way too many. ⅓ cup will most likely be enough.

I use the following conversions in my cooking:

1 cup all-purpose flour = 125 g

1 tsp. baking powder = 4 g

1 tsp. baking soda = 8 g

1 tsp. ground ginger = 2 g

1 tsp. ground cinnamon = 3 g

1 tsp. ground nutmeg = 2 g

1 tsp. kosher salt = 6 g

¾ cup light brown sugar = 150 g

¼ cup butter = 57 g

⅓ cup buttermilk = 80 ml

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract = 5 ml

1 lb carrots = 500 g

½ cup sliced almonds = 46 g

TIP: If you do not have access to currants, you can substitute them for yellow raisins without altering the flavour of the loaf too much.

Above is what the dry ingredients looked like after whisking them together and then stirring in the currants.

TIP: Coating fruits/nuts in a bit of flour, or mixing them into the dry ingredients, before adding them to the wet ingredients allows for an even distribution through the loaf instead of them all sinking to the bottom!

Above is what the progression of the wet ingredients looked like as they were combined.

Picture 1: whisked the eggs and light brown sugar until well combined

Picture 2: whisked in the melted butter until well combined

Picture 3: whisked the buttermilk and vanilla extract until well combined

Picture 4: Stirred in the carrots

The batter will get progressively lighter as more of the wet ingredients are added.

TIP: I would highly recommend using an electric hand mixer to whisk the ingredients together and not just a regular whisk. Although it is possible, it will take a lot more time and energy to achieve the same result!

Above is what the batter looked like when the wet and dry ingredients folded until just combined. This will be a very liquidy batter, so don’t be too alarmed.

Do not overmix the batter! The more you mix the batter, the more the gluten in the flour will develop. If too much gluten develops, you will end up with a dense, rubbery loaf.

TIP: When folding batter, you’re essentially creating a “J” motion with your spatula around the bowl. To fold, first, scrape ~⅕ of the side of the bowl with a flexible spatula. Then, move it towards the middle of the bowl like you’re “folding” the batter. Finally, rotate the mixing bowl by the amount you scraped so that you’re always folding the batter towards you. Repeat the process until everything is combined!

Above is what the batter looked like topped with almonds before and after cooking.

I found the 55 minute cook time recommended was not enough time. The batter was very wet and although it was edible after 55 minutes, there were areas that were way too undercooked for comfort. On the other hand, it was the perfect amount of time to get the almonds to a nice golden brown.

So, how to keep the loaf cooking while not burning the almonds? First, bake as directed in Heroes’ Feast: 55 minutes on 350°C, turning halfway through. Next, tent a piece of aluminum foil shiny-side in over the pan. This will stop the top of the loaf from cooking while retaining the heat needed to cook the inside. Then, leave the loaf in the oven for another 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

TIP: To allow for easy release, cut a piece of parchment paper to fit lengthwise in the pan. This will allow you to lift the loaf out of the pan. See the pics above and below for how it looks.

Above is what the loaf looked like after removing it from the pan.

Cool the loaf as directed in Heroes’ Feast: cool the loaf pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes then remove it from the pan and allow it to cool to room temperature.

Although the cooking time in the book may have been a little bit off, only a small tweak was needed to fix it. Overall, I would give this recipe a 5/5! Everyone in my house loved this loaf and one of my housemates even said it was the best carrot cake they’d ever eaten - which I can’t say I disagree with.

This was the longest recipe so far, but like the potato leek soup, don’t be discouraged! Most of the time is hands-off baking and the taste of this cake alone is worth the time.

For best freshness results, wrap in clingfilm and store on the counter or in the fridge. Lasts up to 7 days when stored in the fridge.

BONUS: Cream cheese frosting recipe

Two of my housemates said the cake on its own was a 4.5/5 and that a cream cheese frosting would make a 5/5. So, below is a delicious yet easy-to-make cream cheese frosting to go with it!

It’s a great base and the page provides details on how to alter it so it can be used with other baked goods! Find out more here: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/favorite-cream-cheese-frosting/

Ingredients for frosting:

8 ounces full-fat block cream cheese, softened to room temperature

½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

3 cups confectioners’ sugar, plus an extra ¼ cup if needed

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

⅛ tsp. salt

The following conversions are provided for the ingredients:

8 ounces full-fat block cream cheese = 224 g

½ unsalted butter = 115 g

3 cups confectioners’ sugar = 360 g

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract = 5 ml

⅛ tsp. kosher salt = 1 g

NOTE: Be sure you are using a full-fat block of cream cheese! Not low-fat or from a tub. As the recipe points out:

The #1 reason bakers end up with runny frosting is because they’re accidentally using cream cheese spread instead of a block.

If using from a tub, there’s a good chance your frosting will be thin and runny!

Above is what the frosting looked like after creaming together the cream cheese and butter and then beating in the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla.

If you want your frosting a little thicker, beat in the extra ¼ cup of confectioners’ sugar.

For best freshness results, store in a tupperware in the fridge. Lasts up to 5 days in the fridge.

Underdark Lotus with Fire Lichen Spread

Sometimes called “fungus two ways,” this zesty duergar essential is sure to rouse the taste buds of even the most spiced-crazed tiefling. - Heroes’ Feast, p. 93

I’ve always found hummus to be a very interesting snack food. With countless possible flavour combinations, you would be hard-pressed to grow tired of this nutritious spread!

Eccentric in both name and origin, the Underdark Lotus with Fire Lichen Spread is sure to satisfy your hunger and delight your taste buds. Between the sweet taste of the carrots and the savoury taste of the cumin, it really is the perfect snack food for spring, summer, and fall!

Fun fact: this hummus has become so popular in our house during hang-out sessions that it’s one of the few recipes I’ve got memorized!

See below for my notes on the results and for some helpful tips and tricks when making this yourself! Get Heroes’ Feast here: https://dnd.wizards.com/heroes-feast

Note: The terrible lighting in this post is brought to you by me moving back into my student house from my parents’ home.

Prep Time: ~15 mins Cook Time: ~35 mins (25 roasting + 10 misc.) Overall: ~45 mins

For the ingredients:

1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 lb. carrots (about 4 large), peeled and chopped

¾ tsp. cumin seeds or sweet paprika

1 tsp. cayenne

3 tbsp. olive oil, plus more for drizzling

⅔ cup cold water, plus more as needed

¼ cup fresh lemon juice

¼ cup tahini*

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Radishes, sliced cucumbers, romaine lettuce leaves for dipping*

* I substituted the tahini for the same amount of 2% greek yoghurt.

** Use any of your favourite veggies/dippables! I used radishes, sliced cucumbers, any kind of sweet pepper, and flatbread (naan).

I use the following conversions in my cooking:

1 lb. carrots = 500 g

1 tsp. cumin seeds = 2 g

1 tsp. sweet paprika = 2 g

1 tsp. cayenne pepper = 1.8 g

3 tbsp. olive oil = 44 ml

⅔ cup water = 160 ml

¼ cup fresh lemon juice = 1 large lemon, juiced

¼ tahini/greek yoghurt = 60 ml

NOTE: I would caution against using bottled lemon juice instead of fresh lemon juice in this recipe. I found using bottled lemon juice gave the hummus an unpleasant bitterness compared to a freshly juiced lemon.

NOTE: I would caution the amount of cayenne pepper called for in this recipe. Even for the spice junkies in my house, 1 tsp. was A LOT of cayenne pepper. I would recommend starting with a little bit less than ¼ tsp. (~0.4 g) and increase it from there each time you make them.

Above is what the veggies looked like before and after roasting. Make sure to toss the carrots, chickpeas, 2 tbsp. olive oil, and spices together first. Then, sprinkle the salt and a generous amount of pepper overtop. I chopped the carrots into slices about a ½ inch (~1 cm) thick.

Although they aren’t a staple in many kitchens, I would highly recommend using cumin seeds for the hummus instead of the paprika - even if you need to buy them. They add an incredible taste to the hummus that makes them worth the extra price.

NOTE: Although Heroes’ Feast states to process the veggies right after coming out of the oven, I’ve had no problem with the flavour when storing them in the fridge and processing them cold.

Above is what the roasted veggies, lemon juice, water, greek yoghurt, and olive oil looked like in the food processor.

TIP: I highly recommend investing in a food processor with built-in side scrapers like the one above. Not having to stop the food processor to scrape down the sides of the bowl is a great time-saver!

TIP: Roll the lemon like a rolling pin before cutting it to maximize the amount of juice it contains.

Above is what the hummus looked like after being processed. Although Heroes’ Feast says to process it until smooth, I found the coarser consistency created a more rustic feel that was a better fit for a D&D setting.

To get it to this texture, I processed it on the lowest setting, continuously scraping down the sides, for 20 seconds. I then added ~1 tsp. more water and repeated the same process for another 20 secs.

Overall, I would give this recipe a 5/5. Everyone in my house thoroughly enjoyed it and it has become a staple during Monday movie nights!

For best freshness results, store any extra hummus in a sealed tupperware container in the fridge. It will keep for about a week or until the greek yoghurt is set to expire.