Watch The Emperor’s New Groove With a Hearty Helping of Kronk’s Spinach Puffs!
I’ll just come out and say it: The Emperor’s New Groove is Disney’s best movie.
With witty one-liners, memorable characters, and bold artistic style, the story of a young emperor being turned into a llama is an underrated classic. It breaks the traditional Disney mold, which is why it stands above the rest.
Don’t get me wrong – I love love stories. But part of what makes The Emperor’s New Groove so wonderful is that the love it portrays isn’t romantic. It’s neighborly. It’s the kind of love all of us should strive to bestow on everyone we meet.
Kingdom of the Sun
Most Disney movies have folkloric roots, but the origins of this heartfelt comedy are a little less obvious. So, what exactly is The Emperor’s New Groove based on?
Initially, there was nothing too groovy about this movie at all. It was a much darker tale based on Incan mythology and entitled Kingdom of the Sun. The emperor’s murderous advisor, Yzma, had bigger goals than simply toppling a kingdom. She wanted to blot out the sun. There was also going to be a Prince and the Pauper storyline, where the emperor switched places with a llama herder. With sweeping musical numbers, romance, and just a light smattering of comedy and the supernatural, it was going to be the movie that had it all.1
However, the production dragged on for years and was rife with conflict. Finding the right balance between the many moving parts proved difficult. Ultimately, Kingdom’s co-directors had two different movies in mind. Roger Allers had grand visions of a Broadway-style hit, while Mark Dindal saw the potential for some side-splitting slapstick comedy. In the end, Allers left the project, and Dindal’s comedy-centric narrative won out. Kingdom of the Sun was rehauled into the movie we know and love today: The Emperor’s New Groove.2
Although The Emperor’s New Groove is wildly different than its original storyboards, I still think Kuzco (the young emperor in question) has one of the best Disney character transformations – and I don’t just mean spontaneously morphing into a llama. He is a changed person by the end of the movie, which is the heart of truly satisfying storytelling.
Of course, as Kuzco himself comes to learn, it’s the cast of characters around him that make his life so special. Perhaps most special of all is Kronk.
The Real Star of The Emperor’s New Groove
If The Emperor’s New Groove is Disney’s best movie, then Kronk is Disney’s best eligible bachelor.
No one’s quick as Gaston, or as slick as Gaston, or has a neck as incredibly thick as Gaston… but Kronk comes pretty close! However, unlike Gaston, Kronk is extremely loveable. Like, this guy talks to squirrels. Can I get an awww?
The Emperor’s New Groove has a serious message about turning away from one’s selfishness, but there are plenty of lighthearted scenes that actually make it one of Disney’s funniest productions. Kronk is most often the source of these great (and meme-able!) moments.
Subverting buff-build stereotypes, Kronk isn’t afraid to show a softer side. One of his passions – aside from singing his own theme music – is baking. In an iconic scene where Yzma plans to poison Kuzco, Kronk’s culinary talents are enlisted for the fateful dinner.
While Kronk is aware of the devious plan, he’s far more concerned with his spinach puffs being baked to crispy, flaky perfection. Maybe he wants Kuzco’s last meal to be a great one, or maybe he just enjoys baking for its own sake. Either way, the scene has forever linked spinach puffs to The Emperor’s New Groove. And with that in mind, we thought it’d be the perfect snack for your next movie night!
Kronk’s Spinach Puffs Recipe!
Whether you’re throwing a party or just trying to make dinner plans for the family, Kronk’s spinach puffs are a delicious addition to any evening. Buttery and cheesy spinach puffs make for excellent appetizers or a savory side dish. Although, we definitely wouldn’t judge if you just wanted to make them the entree!
We love how easy this recipe is. The hardest part is a little chopping and a little mixing. That’s it! I suppose you could make the pastry dough from scratch if you wanted to be authentically Kronkish, but we won’t tell anyone if you simply grab some frozen pre-made pastry dough at the grocery store!
Although spinach is a main ingredient, we promise it won’t feel like a chore to eat these greens. Combined with cheese and bacon, these puffs are a real treat even pickier kiddos will love!
Kronk’s Spinach Puffs
Equipment
- 1 Skillet
- 1 large bowl
- 1 muffin tin
- 1 Pastry brush (also called a basting brush)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 shallot (finely diced)
- 3 cups spinach (finely chopped)
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 3 tbsp fresh dill (chopped)
- 3 slices bacon (cooked and chopped)
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1/2 cup feta cheese
- 2 eggs (separate white and yolk)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1.1 lbs puff pastry (2 sheets of frozen premade puff pastry – thawed)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Heat olive oil in skillet. Add the diced shallot and cook until it is transparent. Next, add the spinach, garlic, and dill. Continuing cooking until the spinach has wilted.
- In the large bowl, mix together contents of skillet with cream cheese, feta cheese, bacon, one egg yolk, and salt and pepper.
- Roll out the puff pastry dough and cut into 12 squares. Put each square into a cup of the muffin tin.
- Fill each pastry-lined cup with a scoop of the spinach filling. Pinch the pastry closed around the filling.
- Mix the second egg with the leftover egg white and brush over each pastry.
- Bake spinach puffs at 450 degrees for 25 minutes.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
While this is a tried and true Kronk’s spinach puff recipe, you can feel free to get creative with the filling! Whether that’s leaving out the bacon or using different types of cheese (ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella would all be tasty options), there are so many flavorful ways to customize your puffs. You can even try different seasonings like garlic salt or chili flakes to spice things up!
While it’s best to serve and eat these fresh, you can make the filling ahead of time and store it in the fridge for a day or two before baking. Puffs, once baked, can be stored in the freezer and reheated in the oven or microwave; they might just lose a bit of that initial crisp.
We hope you enjoy making – and eating! – Kronk’s spinach puffs as much as we do.
Boom baby!
Have you tried making Kronk’s spinach puffs? Tell us all about it in the comments below! We’d love to hear your tips and tricks for making this recipe even groovier!
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