Friends – Phoebe’s Grandma’s Chocolate Chip Cookies ★★★★★

In Season 7, Episode 3 of “Friends,” Monica attempts to recreate the lost recipe for Phoebe’s grandma’s chocolate chip cookies. Phoebe claims that her great-grandmother, Neselé Toulouse had developed the recipe years ago and passed it down the family generations, but 22 failed attempts later, they realize that Phoebe’s grandma had been lying. It was actually the Nestle Toll House recipe all along. 

It’s hard to blame Phoebe’s grandma when the Nestle recipe is so perfect. It only takes 15 minutes to bake a fresh, warm batch of classic chocolate chip cookies. The chocolate to dough ratio is superb, and, depending on your preference, the cookie can be as crunchy or gooey as you desire. Overall, this recipe is foolproof and absolutely delicious. 

The Princess Diaries – Apology Pizza ★★☆☆☆

In the classic romantic comedy “The Princess Diaries,” Mia’s longtime crush Michael finally invites her out on a date. Mia agrees and jokingly asks if he’ll bring pizza with M&Ms. However, instead of going to the pizza date, she stands him up and goes to a beach party with another guy. She later realizes her horrible mistake and sends him a sincere apology pizza with “SORRY” spelled out in M&Ms.

I had always wondered if Michael actually tried Mia’s apology pizza. I can understand pineapple on pizza, but this just crosses the line. Cheese pizza is a well-loved, classic food; but pizza with M&Ms? That sounds disgusting. After trying this dish for the first time, I can confidently say I will never eat cheese pizza with M&Ms again. The taste of stringy mozzarella cheese and fresh tomato sauce paired with chocolate is nauseating.  

Harry Potter – Butterbeer ★★★★★

Butterbeer is an iconic beverage that was first introduced in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” and is described as, “a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch” in the Harry Potter books. There are several versions of butterbeer. The drink can be served foaming hot in mugs or ice cold in bottles. In both the books and movies, butterbeer is one of Harry Potter and his friends’ favorite beverages. 

After trying one of the many versions of butterbeer, I have to say, it absolutely lives up to its reputation. As I took my first sips of the cold and sweet beverage, I could taste the rich blend of butterscotch and vanilla. The butterbeer reminds me of a root beer float; thick and creamy, yet fizzy at the same time. The drink was topped with whipped cream and drizzled with melted butterscotch, making it look as delicious as it tasted. All in all, I can guarantee that this version of butterbeer will leave you craving more.  

Gilmore Girls – Sookie’s Peach Sauce ★★★☆☆

In “Gilmore Girls,” we first meet Sookie as she’s on the kitchen floor surrounded by pots and pans. Lorelai asks her what happened, but before she can say anything more, Sookie begs Lorelai to try her peach sauce. When she finally does, Lorelai exclaims that she wants to bathe in it.

After recreating her recipe myself, I’ve concluded that Sookie’s peach sauce doesn’t exactly live up to its reputation. It was grainy and lacked balance due to the peach skins and cinnamon. To be completely honest, I think the sauce would’ve been delightful if Sookie had made it instead of me.

Ratatouille – Remy’s Ratatouille ★★★★★

In the Disney animated film “Ratatouille,” a rat named Remy dreams of becoming a chef at a Parisian restaurant. At the end of the movie, Remy transforms the movie’s signature dish, ratatouille, into a culinary masterpiece, warming the heart of cynical food critic Anton Ego.

Remy’s ratatouille recipe consists of thinly sliced tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, and yellow squash on a bed of warm tomato herb stew. Although cooking this dish seemed intimidating  at first, it was surprisingly simple and fun. The end result was a rich, hearty and delicious dish.