Every gardener, homesteader, and hobbit hobbyist knows how frustrating it is to lose a crop to marauding birds, but did you know that you can still use the damaged fruit? Join Kili and her fearless warg Mischief (or Missy) to learn how to salvage bird-pecked plums to make a delicious sweet and savory sauce perfect for any hobbit to bring to Bree and trade with a Dwarf… that is, if you have any left! 😋 Watch the new episode here and check out the recipe below!

Sweet & Savory Plum Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds plums, pitted and chopped
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons freshly grated ginger
  • 2+ garlic cloves (I think I used 7)
  • 1 star anise (optional – I didn’t have one, so I excluded it in the above video)

Instructions:

  1. Prepare your plums by washing and inspecting them, chopping them up, and removing the pits and any yucky bits. You can give those to your Sauron-excuse me-worm bin, or compost.
  2. Combine the plums, vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and star anise in a large nonreactive pot, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, 20 to 25 minutes. Fish out the star anise (if using) and discard. Purée the sauce with a stick immersion blender if your warg bounder allows. You could also use a regular blender or food processor once the sauce has cooled a bit.
  3. Ladle into bowls, jars, or bags. Cool, cover, and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks. Note: I set aside the sauce I thought we would use that meal, then portioned the rest into freezer-safe bags, labeled them, and placed them in the freezer for future deliciousness.
  4. Alternatively, you can use the boiling-water method for canning. Ladle into clean, hot 4-ounce or half-pint canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace. Release trapped air. Wipe the rims clean; center lids on the jars and screw on jar bands. Process for 10 minutes. Turn off heat, remove canner lid, and let jars rest in the water for 5 minutes. Remove jars and set aside for 24 hours. Check seals, then store in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.

Modified from a recipe by Caroline Russock

Happy Hobbit has brought Middle-earth to its viewers’ daily lives since 2012! Learn more hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 10+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. đŸŒ» New episodes debut every other Saturday, so be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit so that you don’t miss out!

Get even more slow-living hobbit content by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy.

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at stocking your hobbit larder with some deliciously crunchable dill pickles, but didn’t want to fuss with the mess of canning them? Then you’re in luck! Whether you use homegrown cucumbers or those you have purchased at your local market, learn how to pickle them with this quick and easy recipe! Watch the new episode.

Quick Refrigerator Dill Pickles

To begin: Wash your cucumbers and chop off their heads and tails before measuring them against your jar and cutting them down to size. Next, slice your cucumbers into spears, chips, or both! I recommend placing the solid ingredients into the jar before stuffing the jar with cucumbers. You can even prepare a cute little jar just to bring on a picnic! Feel free to experiment with the ingredients.

Brine:

  • 1ÂŒ cups distilled white vinegar (5% acidity)
  • 3 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 cups cold water
  • 1Ÿ to 2 pounds Kirby cucumbers (about 6), cut into halves or spears
  • 2 tablespoons coriander seeds
  • 6 large garlic cloves, peeled and halved
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 16 or so dill sprigs

Instructions:

  1. Combine the vinegar, salt and sugar in a small non-reactive saucepan (such as stainless steel, glass, ceramic or teflon) over high heat. Whisk until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Transfer the liquid into a bowl and whisk in the cold water. Refrigerate brine until ready to use.
  2. Stuff the cucumbers into two clean 1-quart jars. Add the coriander seeds, garlic cloves, mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, dill sprigs, and chilled brine into jars, dividing evenly. If necessary, add a bit of cold water to the jars until the brine covers the cucumbers. Cover and refrigerate about 24 hours, then serve. The pickles will keep in the refrigerator for up to one month or two.

Modified from a recipe by Jenn Segal

Happy Hobbit has brought Middle-earth to its viewers’ daily lives since 2012! Learn more hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 10+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. đŸŒ» New episodes debut every other Saturday, so be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit so that you don’t miss out!

Get even more slow-living hobbit content by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy.

There are many enchanting creatures living in Tolkien’s Middle-earth, including bears that can speak and walk on two legs. As such, can you blame Kili when she likewise believes the cub from Maurice Sendak’s Little Bear is real? Her sister Fili is highly doubtful, so Kili sets out to prove the cub’s existence by making his favorite dessert, raspberry marshmallow pie, to lure him out of the woods. What she sees shocks even Fili! Watch the new episode.

Raspberry Marshmallow Pie

This no-bake dessert is perfect for a hot summer’s day when you don’t want to warm up your hobbit hole by using the oven. Note: I recommend starting with the filling as it will need time to cool!

Crust:

  • 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 10 sheets)
  • 3T sugar
  • 1/3 c butter, melted
  • ÂŒ tsp salt

Instructions:

  1. Crush up your graham crackers until they are gritty like sand of the Far Harad.  You can either beat them with a rolling pin or use a food processor, provided you get along with yours.
  2. Mix in the melted butter, sugar, and salt.
  3. Press evenly onto the bottom and sides of your 9” pie plate.
  4. Place in the refrigerator to cool.

Filling:

  • 48 large marshmallows or 5 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
  • 2/3 c milk
  • 1 1/3 c whipping cream
  • 1 T sugar
  • 4 cups fresh raspberries, divided

Instructions:

  1. Heat the milk and the marshmallows in a large saucepan over low heat until the marshmallows have completely dissolved, and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
  2. Using a hand or stand mixer, beat the heavy cream and powdered sugar until it thickens into stiff peaks.
  3. Fold the whipped cream into the cooled marshmallow mixture.
  4. Spoon about half of the marshmallow mixture onto the crust. Top with raspberries, and repeat. Garnish the top of the pie with more raspberries.
  5. Chill in the refrigerator until firm: about 3 hours.
  6. Serve, enjoy, and meet a Beorning!

Happy Hobbit has brought Middle-earth to its viewers’ daily lives since 2012! Learn more hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 10+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. đŸŒ» New episodes debut every other Saturday, so be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit so that you don’t miss out!

Get even more slow-living hobbit content by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy.

Most hobbits grow their own fruit for baking and, if not, are certain to have a good relationship with their orchard-loving neighbors! Kili was hoping to bake her own delicious sweets when cherries started forming on the cherry tree at her hobbit homestead. Alas, the bluejays had other plans, and one by one, flew off with the ruby red treats! Thankfully, the market at Michel Delving was having a sale on frozen cherries (grown by a hobbit with plenty of scarecrows, no doubt).

This new episode of Happy Hobbit follows Kili as she bakes that quintessential symbol of summer every halfling enjoys on a picnic: cherry pie! Making tasty desserts from scratch means a fine hobbit like yourself gets to enjoy a multitude of flavors otherwise unknown, so what are you waiting for? Watch the video below to learn how you, too, can bake like a hobbit!

While you may expect to find Kili at home in the kitchen of her hobbit hole, she is actually currently attending San Diego Comic Con International! If you happen to be at the convention, please be sure to pop by TheOneRing.net’s booth #1934 to say hello, grab a Happy Hobbit freebie, and check out the first ever Happy Hobbit shirt featuring Kili’s artwork, amongst the many other fine offerings at the TORn booth this year (you can learn more about them and a multitude of other happenings to do with TORn at SDCC here).

This afternoon (July 27th) at 5:30 PM PST in Room 5AB, Kili (Kellie) is also moderating a panel on behalf of TheOneRing.net called I Am No Man: The Creative Women of Middle-earth! The panel features four fantastic women: Lisa Birchall of Wētā Workshop, Fredrica Drotos of Middle-earth Enterprises, Harless Snyder of Wizards of the Coast, and Margaret Mauvais EA Games, all of whom have helped bring Middle-earth to life. The panel promises to be an insightful, empowering discussion that you won’t want to miss!

You can find out a bit more in the announcement video below.

Happy Hobbit has brought Middle-earth to its viewers’ daily lives since 2012! Learn other hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 10+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. đŸŒ» New episodes debut every other Saturday, so be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit so that you don’t miss out!

Get even more slow-living hobbit content by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy.

The new episode of Happy Hobbit takes a break from baking to explore fermenting food. While all hobbits love growing things, those with a vegetable patch are faced with an age-old conundrum: how to store what can’t be eaten before it rots? That question may sound irrelevant to Shire-folk who are renowned for their ability to put away food, but even old Lalia Took, otherwise known as Lalia the Great because of her enormous size, can’t eat several pounds of cabbage in one sitting (and we pity her already oft suffering relations if she were to do so)!

When a midwinter heatwave forces Kili to confront this problem, she decides to try her hand at fermenting some Napa cabbage into sauerkraut… with very mixed results! Watch the episode below to see how she made it, what color(s) it turned, and if she recommends this tactic to other hobbits!

As stated above, many episodes of the webseries demonstrate baking or cooking. This past Independence Day, Kili discovered social media “tech” took down her post containing “behind the scenes” images of cinnamon rolls being made. She immediately grabbed her camera and filmed a fun, satirical video over the conspiracy which you can watch below.

The tongue-in-cheek clickbait title is 💀

Happy Hobbit has brought Middle-earth to its viewers’ daily lives since 2012! Learn other hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 10+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. đŸŒ» New episodes debut every other Saturday, so be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit so that you don’t miss out!

Get even more slow-living hobbit content by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy.

Time for another new episode of Happy Hobbit, the webseries that has brought Middle-earth into your daily life since 2012! For some time now, the YouTube series has threatened to become a cooking show, prompting the girls to joke they should rename it “Hungry Hobbit,” and this episode is no exception!

Fili has had it with summer and wants a tasty reminder of wintertime, so it is up to Kili to find a way to lure her sister out of her summer blues by baking a Yuletide treat! Watch the video below for a fun DIY recipe that will hopefully inspire you to try your hand at making cinnamon rolls yourself!

Have a bread machine? Ready to try this recipe yourself? Then you’re in luck as you will find it below! Learn other hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 10+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. đŸŒ» New episodes debut every other Saturday, so be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit so that you don’t miss out!

“Christmas Two” Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients

Dough:

  • 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • ⅓ cup margarine, melted
  • 4 œ cups bread flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • œ cup white sugar
  • 2 œ teaspoons bread machine yeast

Filling:

  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 œ tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • ⅓ cup butter, softened

Icing (Kili recommends doubling these quantities):

  • 1 œ cups confectioners’ sugar
  • Œ cup butter, softened
  • 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • œ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. Prepare dough: Place milk, eggs, margarine, flour, salt, white sugar, and yeast in the pan of a bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press Start.
  2. When the dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Cover it with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let it rest for 10 minutes.
  3. Roll dough on a lightly floured surface to a 16×21-inch rectangle. Kili likes to use her silicone mat on the countertop.
  4. Prepare filling: Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Spread softened butter over the dough, then sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over top.
  5. Starting at the longer end, roll up the dough; cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9×13-inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes (at least! Usually it takes about an hour).
  6. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  7. Bake rolls in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
  8. While rolls are baking, prepare icing: Beat confectioners’ sugar, butter, cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and salt until creamy.
  9. Spread icing on warm rolls before serving.

Get even more hungry hobbit content by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy.