As I stepped off the conveyor, the HR computer directed me to a nearby cafeteria that looked like something out of an old prison movie. I was given a lime green tray of food. A tasteless soy burger, a lump of runny mashed potaotes, and some unrecognizable form of cobbler for dessert. I devoured it all of it in a few minutes. The HR computer complimented me on my healthily appetite.
READY PLAYER ONE, ERNEST CLINE
While no food was really mentioned in the movie, Ready Player One, there were a few mentioned in the book. This recipe for soy burger, mysterious fruit cobbler, and runny mashed potatoes is inspired by a scene in the book when he was indentured at IOI.
This really doesn’t need any recipe but I thought the scene was quite memorable and something I wanted to include to the series. The recipes for the cobbler and mashed potatoes are quite simple and easy to whip up. As noted in the recipe, I purchased the soy burger patty. You can find soy patties at most grocery stores now so pick which ever suits your flavor profile.
Ready Player One: Soy Burger
Ingredients
Soy Burger
- 1 burger bun
- 1 soy burger patty
- 1 roma tomato 1/4" sliced
- 2 leaves iceberg lettuce hand torn
Runny Mashed Potatoes
- 1 large russet potato cleaned and peeled
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- salt and pepper to taste
Blueberry Cobbler
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar divided
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 small whole egg
- 1/4 cup whole milk
Instructions
Blueberry Cobbler
- Preheat the oven to 350F. In a saucepan over medium heat, mix together the blueberries, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a boil and remove from the heat.
- Place 3 tbsp of butter in a 4.5x7 baking dish and place it into the oven to melt. Meanwhile, mix together the 1/2 cup sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. In another bowl, whisk together the egg and milk until well combined. Add the wets to the dries and mix until you get a smooth batter.
- Take the baking dish out of the oven and pour in your batter. Spoon the blueberries on top and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Mashed Potatoes
- Slice the potatoes into 1/2" rounds. Place the potatoes into a pot of cold water and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until a knife is easily pierced in the potato. Drain and cool. Mash the potaotes with a ricer or potato masher.
- Meanwhile, heat the butter and cream in a saucepan over medium heat. Mix the cream into the mashed potatoes and mix to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
Assembly
- Heat your soy burger patty according to package directions. Lightly toast your buns in a oven. Serve the burger with lettuce and tomatoes along side the mashed potatoes and cobbler.
