#FIRSTLOOK: PRESS RELEASE FOR “MUPPETS NOW”

How cute is this? Check-out this adorable new press release for MUPPETS NOW, coming soon to Disney+ with statements from some of our favourites!

See their Video Call:

“The Muppets are thrilled to be doing our first-ever unscripted show! It’s going to be extremely spontaneous and very surprising; almost as surprising as the fact that we ever actually used a script in the past.”

• Kermit the Frog

“This is moi unfiltered, unexpurgated, and more unbelievably fabulous than ever. If you watch only one show on Disney+ ,you really should tune in more often. But whenever you watch, make it moi on Muppets Now.”

• Miss Piggy

“For the first time ever, I’m working without a joke book, folks. It’s a new kind of totally improvised comedy I call ‘bare bear’! See what I did there? Ahh! Wocka! Wocka!”

• Fozzie Bear

“I knew Muppets Now was coming to Disney+ but I did NOT know they wanted Muppets Now  NOW, as in right away, as in “doesn’t anybody give a warning around here’!? Gotta go upload those episodes pronto! Wish me luck; I’ll need it.”

• Scooter

This season’s celebrity guests include entertainers, comedians, chefs, and more. Fans won’t want to miss all-new improvised comedy segments from their favourite Muppets including Miss Piggy, Beaker, Camilla, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo the Great, Kermit the Frog, Pepe the King Prawn, The Swedish Chef, Scooter, Uncle Deadly, among others.

MUPPETS NOW arrives on Disney+ Friday, July 31, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

#COOKING: NINJA KITCHEN AIR FRYER | ONTARIO PEACH WINGS WITH SWEET POTATO FRIES AND SRIRACHA-PEACH AIOLI RECIPE

We’re so thrilled to announce our partnership with NINJA KITCHEN to show you how awesome their Air Fryers are!

Why an Air Fryer? I think you’ll agree with me that most of us are turned-off by having to deal with all the splattering grease and mess of deep-frying on your stove-top. Above this, the amount of oil required to deep-fry some of your favourites makes it unfeasible from a health standpoint to cook like that every day. The Ninja Kitchen Air Fryer gives you the freedom to fry with very little oil, yet still get that crispy coating we love so much in deep-frying whenever you want it. Above this, it cooks super-quick and also there’s very little clean-up!

This Pandemic has awoken the inner Chef in me and I am delighted to welcome the Air Fryer into my life, giving me infinite possibilities. It air-fries, re-heats and dehydrates also, in addition to air-frying!

These next few weeks, we’ll all be about peaches as sweet, juicy Ontario Peaches are in-season through early August, but in addition to desserts (check-out our recipe for Peach Cobbler here!) or just eating them whole, peaches can be infused into your cooking to give your dishes a bright, summery splash!

We’ve partnered with Ninja Kitchen to bring Wing Night to you while social-distancing with Ontario Peach Wings with Sweet Potato Fries and Sriracha-Peach Aioli. 🍑

WINGS

2 lbs chicken wings
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp five spice powder
1 1/2 tbsps baking powder
Sea salt and pepper

Drizzle of olive oil

Instructions:

1. Preheat Ninja Air Fryer for 3 minutes at 360°F.
2. After cleaning wings, pat dry with paper towels and toss in spices, salt and pepper.
3. Divide wings in two batches, drizzle wings with olive oil and fry each batch on Air Fryer mode for about 14 minutes. At half-way mark, turn wings over carefully once. While, frying, prepare sauce.

SAUCE

2 Ontario peaches, pitted, skinned and cut into 1″ thick slices
6 tbsps organic Canadian Maple Syrup
3 tbsps organic raw cane sugar
3 tbsps rice vinegar
3 tbsps Honey Dijon Mustard
2 tbsps ketchup
1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 tbsp Gochujang (Korean Pepper Paste)

Sea salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. In sauce pan, bring peaches to boil in raw sugar and 3 tbsps maple syrup on medium-heat. Reduce to low heat. Cook till flesh is soft and broken. Once cooled, strain liquid through a sieve and reserve liquid.
2. In large bowl, whisk all other ingredients together. Add 5 tbsps of peach reduction into the mix. Reserve remainder of reduction for your Aioli.
3. Once chicken wings are cooked, toss them in sauce till coated and allow to sit for about 4 minutes before transferring to serving platter. Garnish with peach slices and serve with Sweet Potato Fries and Sriracha-Peach Aioli.

SWEET POTATO FRIES WITH SRIRACHA-PEACH AIOLI

1 large sweet potato, skinned and chopped into thin strips
2/3 cup Mayonnaise
2 tbsps Sriracha
2-3 tbsps reserved peach reduction (above)
1/2 tsp paprika
Sea salt and pepper

Drizzle of olive oil

Instructions:

1. Soak sweet potato strips in salt water for 10 minutes.
2. Pat dry completely with paper towels.
3. Toss strips in olive oil, salt, pepper and paprika.
4. Ensure Air Fryer is preheated for about 3 minutes.
5. Air-fry sweet potato strips at 360°F for about 10 minutes, shaking once at the half-way point.
6. While frying, prepare Sriracha-Peach Aioli but whisking Sriracha, peach reduction and Mayonnaise in small bowl.
7. Serve fries with Aioli.

We’re sure this will be a favourite and we can infuse different seasonal flavours into this sauce as the year progresses! Check back as we’ll be featuring more exciting Ninja Kitchen Air Fryer creations including a juicy Steak & Taters, Hainanese Roast Chicken, Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon and Maple-Bacon Doughnuts! Yes, Doughnuts!

You can find the Ninja Kitchen Air Fryer at retailers like Canadian Tire.

Don’t forget to follow them on Instagram:

NINJA KITCHEN

CANADIAN TIRE

Join the conversation using the Hashtag #ILoveNinjaCanada. We just might have an exciting opportunity coming right up for our Readers in a bit!

order here:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Air Fry Chicken Chicken Wings Fried Maple Syrup Ninja Kitchen Peach Wings

#COOKING: BLUEBERRY SCONES RECIPE

Blueberry Scones.  Delicious doesn’t have to be complicated. These scones are the perfect breakfast or teatime snack.  The fact that blueberries are so juicy and plump right now, you shouldn’t need butter or jam as these are perfect as is.

Ingredients:

2 cups flour (and more for kneading)

1 pint fresh blueberries

1 cup 18% cream

1 egg

½ cup unsalted butter, grated

6 tbsps organic raw sugar (or more if you like)

3 tsps baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp sea salt

Additional cream and sugar to brush and sprinkle on-top

Instructions:

1. In large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, sugar, cinnamon and baking powder. Cut butter in using two knives till mixture resembles peas.

2. In separate bowl, whisk egg, cream and vanilla. Pour this over flour mixture.

3. Add blueberries, mixing gently till everything is just combined into a batter.

4. Gradually add a tablespoon of flour in until your mixture reaches the consistency of a dough, careful not to add too much flour.

5. Once firm enough, transfer to a flat, clean and floured surface to knead gently into a dough. Add flour bit by bit if required. Do not over-knead.

6. Form dough into a disc and take a clean knife, cutting into 8 triangles. Clean knife if it gets too sticky for a clean cut.

7. Pre-heat oven at 400°F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.

8. Place scones on parchment paper-lined tray or dish and put into your freezer for about 15 minutes.

9. Transfer scones to baking sheet and brush with cream. Sprinkle raw sugar on-top with a sieve.

10. Bake for 25 minutes approximately or till just golden. Once cooled, store in air-tight container room temperature for up to two days. These freeze well.

Gallery:

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A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jul 14, 2020 at 2:12pm PDT

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: “STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH”

Disney+ announced earlier today that a new Animated Series will be making its way to the streaming service in 2021 from the STAR WARS universe.

STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH follows the elite and experimental clones of the Bad Batch (first introduced in “The Clone Wars”) as they find their way in a rapidly changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone War. Members of Bad Batch – a unique squad of clones who vary genetically from their brothers in the Clone Army — each possess a singular exceptional skill which makes them extraordinarily effective soldiers and a formidable crew. In the post-Clone War era, they will take on daring mercenary missions as they struggle to stay afloat and find new purpose.

(Photo credit: Disney)

#FIRSTLOOK: “RANDOM ACTS OF VIOLENCE” TRAILER

Filmed over just 20 days in Toronto and Hamilton, RANDOM ACTS OF VIOLENCE finally sees a release!

Synopsis:
What are the real consequences when life begins to imitate art?
Comic book creator Todd Walkley, his wife Kathy, assistant Aurora and best friend, Hard Calibre Comics owner Ezra, embark upon a road trip from Toronto to NYC comic con and bad things start to happen. People start getting killed.

It soon becomes clear that a crazed fan is using Todd’s “SLASHERMAN” comic as inspiration for the killings and as the bodies pile up, and Todd’s friends and family become victims themselves, Todd will be forced to take artistic responsibility.

Random Acts of Violence is an elevated slasher horror that will easily become a cult favourite; scratching the entertainment element of horror whilst searching for the deeper meaning behind the violence. The film explores the idea of legitimizing cruelty, and the fact that monsters are not merely monsters, they are broken people. Stretching from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other, it holds a mirror up to art, society and violence.

See the Trailer:

Elevation Pictures release RANDOM ACTS OF VIOLENCE on Digital and on-demand Friday, July 31, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

#NEWMUSIC: DUA LIPA – “HALLUCINATE”

The third official single off Dua Lipa‘s masterpiece sophomore album FUTURE NOSTALGIA, is Hallucinate. They’ve had to get a bit creative with the Music Video amidst the pandemic, using animation!

See the Video:

FUTURE NOSTALGIA is available now.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Music)

#COOKING: PEACH COBBLER RECIPE

Peach Cobbler. Peaches are so in-season right now. It’s really your loss if you haven’t picked some up! This recipe is so easy even the most entry-level Baker can nail this! I like to add a bit of orange in as it complements peach so well. This takes exactly like Summer should taste. I like to add a bit of texture on-top in oats and almonds, but that’s completely up to you if you want to keep that in! It’s your life! I’m just saying it’s better with crunch. Not judging you. 🍑

Ingredients:
5 large peaches, skinned and cut into 1″ thick slices
1 cup flour
1 cup whole milk
3/4 cup organic raw sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup oats
4 tbsps almond slivers, toasted
1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
a couple pinches of nutmeg
zest of one orange
2 tbsps juice of orange

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat oven at 375°F.
2. Pour melted butter into baking dish.
3. In large bowl, mix flour, 1/2 cup raw sugar, salt, baking powder and milk.
4. Pour batter over the melted better. Do not mix together.
5. In sauce pan, bring peaches, zest, juice and remaining sugar to boil. Remove from heat.
6. Pour peaches over batter mixture. Do not mix together. Sprinkle nutmeg, cinnamon, oats and almonds on-top.
7. Bake 40 minutes till golden and toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
8. Cool at room temperature. Serve with ice cream.

Gallery:

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A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jul 9, 2020 at 3:59pm PDT

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: “THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY” SEASON 2 TRAILER | GERARD WAY – “HERE COMES THE END”

We’re sure many of you are thrilled for the upcoming second season of Toronto-made THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY! Here’s a brand-new Trailer to get you pumped and also the new Gerard Way (ft. Judith Hill) track heard on the Trailer, HERE COMES THE END!

Synopsis:
Five warned his family (so, so many times) that using his powers to escape from Vanya’s 2019 apocalypse was risky. Well, he was right – the time jump scatters the siblings in time in and around Dallas, Texas. Over a three year period. Starting in 1960. Some, having been stuck in the past for years, have built lives and moved on, certain they’re the only ones who survived. Five is the last to land, smack dab in the middle of a nuclear doomsday, which – spoiler alert! – turns out is a result of the group’s disruption of the timeline (déjà vu, anyone?). Now the Umbrella Academy must find a way to reunite, figure out what caused doomsday, put a stop to it, and return to the present timeline to stop that other apocalypse. All while being hunted by a trio of ruthless Swedish assassins. But seriously, no pressure or anything.

See the Trailer:

Check-out Here Comes the End from The Umbrella Academy Creator Gerard Way (featuring Judith Hill), featured in the Trailer!

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY Season 2 streams on Netflix Friday, July 31, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix/Warner Music)

#COOKING: HELLO KITTY MAC & CHEESE RECIPE

Hello Kitty Mac & Cheese.  She’s an icon and what better way to celebrate her in a dish worthy of her greatness, Mac & Cheese? Our mind was blown that Hello Kitty Pasta exists and we found this in a Japanese Houseware Store (Oomomo). You also can find this online. Something a little fun and comforting to make your day for kids big and small!

Ingredients:

450g Hello Kitty-shaped Pasta

3 cups whole milk

3 cups Old Cheddar, grated

1 cup Gruyere, grated

6 Kraft Singles

1 cup whipping cream

¼ cup flour

6 tbsps unsalted butter

5-6 drops red food colouring (or beet juice if you’re conscious like that!)

Sea salt and pepper

Olive oil

Crust:

1 cup Panko

½ cup Parmesan, grated

4 tbsps unsalted butter, melted

½ tsp Paprika

4 drops red food colouring (or beet juice!)

Instructions:

1. Cook Pasta till al dente and set aside. Toss in a bit of olive oil.
2. Preheat oven at 350°F.
3. In large sauce pan on medium heat, melt butter, add cheeses (reserve about a cup or more), milk, cream, salt and pepper. Stir frequently till just melted.
4. In small bowl mix flour and a bit of water to make a slurry.
5. Whisk slurry into cheese sauce and drop-in colouring. If lumps form, use sieve to strain lumps out.
6. Place pasta in baking dish and pour sauce, mixing evenly.
7. Sprinkle remaining cheese on-top.
8. Mix colour into butter.  Add Panko, Paprika and Parmesan.
9. Top pasta with crust mixture and bake 30 minutes till crust is golden.
10. Allow to cool 30 minutes before serving. Serve with Sriracha or Ketchup.

Gallery:

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A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jul 8, 2020 at 10:35am PDT

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: “I USED TO GO HERE” TRAILER

From Producers Andy Samberg, Jorma Tacome and Akiva Schaffer comes I USED TO GO HERE, directed by Kris Rey and starring Gillian Jacobs and Jemaine Clement!

SYNOPSIS:

Following the lackluster launch of her debut novel, 35-year-old writer Kate Conklin (Gillian Jacobs) receives a welcome invitation from her former professor and old crush (Jemaine Clement) to speak at her alma mater. With her book tour cancelled, and her ego deflated, Kate hopes that returning to her old college as a published author will give her the morale boost she sorely needs. Instead, she falls into a comical regression—from misadventures with eccentric twenty-year olds to feelings of jealousy toward her former professor’s new favorite student. Bittersweet emotion and awkward humor abound as Kate journeys through her past to redefine her future in this big-hearted fourth feature from writer/director Kris Rey.

See the Trailer:

Pacific Northwest Pictures release I USED TO GO HERE Friday, August 7, 2020 on Digital and On-Demand.

(Photo/video credit: Pacific Northwest Pictures)