Cabin in the Sky

This week for Films & Foodies I'm on the road! I'm spending some time in 'Big Orange Country' with my parents. The grand ole' city of Knoxville Tennessee. Therefore I chose a movie that is so much fun to watch that I had to create a menu that was equally as much fun to make. As some may know my biggest culinary inspiration is my mom, & my dad is just as much fun to cook for. All week we’ve been watching movies, and coming up with some great ideas. We chose to watch this classic together, & she helped co-author all of these delicious recipes. Movie choice: “Cabin in the Sky”. Synopsis: God & Satan battle for the soul of a falling gambler. Sounds like some pretty heavy stuff, but really it’s a light hearted musical that will have you singing praises to the Lord! And this menu will have your friends singing your praises too.

Little Joe is a gambling man whose married to the ever so sweet Petunia. And though Joe wants to be saved, he can’t help but go back to his old ways the night he’s suppose to be giving his soul to God. Well he gets into some trouble and gets himself shot, causing Petunia to pray the most powerful prayer Heaven or Hell has ever heard. So God gives Little Joe 6 months more to change his ways, and reform himself or he won’t make it into heaven. Easy, right? Not really, because Lucifer Jr. is there every step of the way taunting Little Joe to fall again, with the help of Satan’s favorite child Georgia Brown. Ooh but don’t worry, the General (God’s solider) and the lovely Petunia work just has hard to keep Little Joe on track. So what happens? Well you just have to see the movie to find out for yourself. This classic has some great music, & an all star cast including Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Ethel Waters, Eddie Anderson, & a special appearance by the Duke Ellington Band.

To start off this meal we decided to create a dish that symbolized what this movie is; the heavy with the light, the good with the evil, the sweet with the sour. So we’re having ‘Lucifer’s Lemon Pepper Pork’ paired with ‘Petunia’s Sweet Potato Soufflé’, and on the same plate, ‘The General’s Roasted Brussels Sprouts’. We chose these dishes because the plate will be the people, & spirits influencing Little Joe. They’ll be influencing your taste buds for sure. The heaviness and spice of the fried lemon pork with the sweet potatoes you just might think they’re on the same team. And all with the very good for you Brussels sprouts, because what better authority is there than the General. Then for dessert an original McGee recipe called ‘Cabin in the Sky’; a bed of pineapple flavored whipped cream with chocolate ganache dipped angel food cake and toasted coconut. This decadent yet light dessert not only looks like a cabin in the sky, but tastes just as heavenly. So grab your trumpets & your Bibles and let’s dance (and cook) our way to that great ‘Cabin in the Sky’.


The General’s Brussels Sprouts:
One 14 oz bag of frozen Brussels Sprouts-thawed & drained
1 large yellow sweet onion- julienned thick
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. On a cookie sheet place Brussels Sprouts & julienned onion, then coat with extra virgin olive oil, & salt & pepper to taste. (The more, the better here.) Roast for about 25-35 minutes, until nice & tender.



Lucifer’s Lemon Pepper Pork:
4 boneless Pork Loins
Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Garlic Powder
1 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (For marinade) & ( 4 tbsp for searing)
Salt & Pepper
Rub down pork loins with salt, pepper, lemon pepper, & garlic powder. Then place in a zip lock bag with olive oil. Let marinate for at least 4 hours. Then, in a pan, heat the remaining olive oil. Add pork loins, turn heat down to medium, & brown on each side for 6- 8 minutes a side depending on how well you like them done.

‘Oh, Lord! Please forgive me for backsliding, but sometimes when you fight the Devil you've got to jab him with his own pitchfork!’ –Petunia Jackson

Petunia’s Sweet Potato Souflee:
4 Sweet Potaotes
2 eggs
1/3 cup of Evaportaed milk
½ cup Sugar
¼ cup honey
2 tsp orange zest
Juice of 1 whole orange
For Topping:
2 tbs melted butter
1 cup pecans
1 cup brown sugar
Peel & cut sweet potatoes into cubes. Place in salted boiling water, & boil until fork tender. Drain. Then in a large mixing bowl add potatoes, eggs, milk, sugar, honey, orange zest, & juice. Mix until fully incorporated & sweet potatoes are puréed. Then place in a greased 9x9 baking dish. Mix all ingredients for topping together & sprinkle over soufflé. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes, until set but still airy. (Tip: for presentation, scoop soufflé with an ice cream scoop.)

Cabin in the Sky:
You’ll need a store bought angel food cake cut into 1 inch squares, & toast some coconut. Also, 1 pineapple, half for the glaze & the other half sliced for garnish. Then follow the steps below:
Pineapple Glaze:
1 half pineapple diced
Enough water to cover pineapple in sauce pot
3 cups sugar
Bring all ingredients to a boil for 20 minutes. Strain out pineapple (keep the liquid!). Bring water back to the stove over medium heat and reduce liquid to half until a nice thick glaze. Remove from heat & allow cooling before use.
Pineapple Whipped Topping:
1 pint heavy whipping cream
3 tbsp sugar
Pineapple glaze
Whip together cream & sugar until a soft peak forms. Then, while still mixing, slowly drizzle in some of the cooled pineapple glaze. Continue to whip until stiff peak, but not so much that u end up with pineapple butter! You’ll want to use enough of the glaze that you can taste the pineapple in the whipped cream (it’ll be about ¼ to half a cup). ‘There may be a cabin in the sky, Lady, yet I am a boy who's headed for joy below’ –Little Joe Jackson
Chocolate Ganache:
1 regular size bag semi sweet chocolate chips
2 tbsp cold butter
½ cup heavy cream
½ tbsp corn syrup
In a double broiler melt the butter in the cream. Then add chocolate chips, & continue to stir until fully melted. Take the cut angel food cake & dip the pieces into the ganache until coated & place on a lined cookie sheet. Then place the sheet in the cooler for about 20 minutes until chocolate has set. In a nice clear dish, add the pineapple whipped topping (the sky) then add the set angel food cake (about 3-4 pieces or as many as can nicely fit (the cabin), then some toasted coconut for garnish. Then add a pineapple slice (for the sun). And there you have it, a sweet & heavenly ‘Cabin in the Sky’. Enjoy!





P.S. Make sure you top off this meal with a cup of "Little Joe"!



‘Cabin in the Sky’ produced by MGM. Released in 1943. Starring Ethel Waters (Reprising her role from Broadway), Eddie Anderson, Lena Horne, Rex Ingram, Kenneth Spencer, & Butterfly McQueen. Directed by Vincent Minnelli, Based on the Broadway Musical of the same name by Lynn Root. Screenplay by Joseph Schrank. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song ‘Happiness is a Thing Called Joe’ written by Harold Arlen & E.Y. Harburg. Genre: Musical, Fantasy.

*Fun fact! During filming Ethel Waters disliked Lena Horne…& made sure everyone knew it.*

*Photos taken by Rev. Billy Thomas McGee. All recipes co-authored by Barbara Jean McGee