By Steve Younis
Whether you’re handy in the kitchen or just like to try new recipes, you have to check out “Superman: The Official Cookbook”!
Basically, it’s a cookbook that Ma Kent put together for Clark. The idea is to give him “a little taste of home” no matter where he is, even “in galaxies I could never imagine”. She says she started it ages ago, even before sewing his first cape, but his adventures went “well beyond Kent Farms,” so she needed help. And guess who helped her? Kelex! Clark’s “thoughtful Kryptonian caretaker droid”. Kelex apparently helped organize her thoughts, transcribed pages, and even got in touch with some of Clark’s more “elusive friends” for recipes.
The book is a gift not just to Clark, but also to Lois, their son Jonathan, Kara, Conner, and the rest of their extended family. Ma Kent adjusted some of the “less terrestrial recipes” so they’re easier to make with earthly ingredients and can be shared with guests.
It’s structured into chapters based on different parts of Clark’s life. “Smallville” is the first chapter, starting at their beginning, where he grew up. Ma Kent talks about how Jor-El and Lara trusted her and Pa to raise him right there, and how the town was more than a town, it was a home. The recipes in this section bring back memories of their “simpler time”.
There’s her Martha Kent’s Waffles, which his friend Pete Ross always “happened” to stop by for on Saturdays. Pete’s the one who recommended she include the recipe, actually. She also includes Steak and Eggs, which Kelex transcribed. Apparently, she always knew feeding him a “hale and hearty diet” would give him strength.
Martha also shares a story about Clark’s X-ray vision kicking in and finding the lost index card for her Corn Bread Muffins wedged behind the counter. She says she used to remind herself of that every time he used his vision to sneak peeks at birthday presents. There’s even the Coleslaw recipe from the Smallville diner where he used to study and listen for trouble.
She also talks about the time he got sick for the first time when he was seven, after Pa found a “weird green rock,” and she made Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. She knows now the soup didn’t help the Kryptonite sickness, but it felt good to take care of him. There’s also a Barbecue Chicken dish that Lana Lang brought over as a “peace offering” when Clark eventually told her about his powers in high school.
Moving on to the “Metropolis” chapter. Ma Kent talks about how proud she is of Clark making a home in the big city as a reporter. This chapter includes recipes from his Daily Planet colleagues and places she visited. She even includes a Donut Breakfast Sandwich inspired by a place called Karl’s Pump & Brew, where Bibbo took her and Pa for breakfast. And there’s Perry’s Pastrami Sandwich, inspired by what Perry White eats from a deli near the West River. She even has a recipe for Quickie Pickles, because Perry’s recipe called for them, and it reminded her of Clark’s “quick changes” in phone booths.
She mentions his disguise as “Metropolis Clark” and how he had a greasy souvenir from the Original Red Hots cart on his shirt during his first interview. There’s a recipe for that, too! And Jimmy Olsen, who she calls the “unofficial food truck guru of Metropolis,” contributed a “What’s a Wrap” Gyro recipe he loves.
Ma Kent got the recipe for Veggie Baked Ziti from a restaurant Clark helped save with an exposé and his weekly takeout visits. She includes a homemade version of the famous patty-and-cheese tower from Big Belly Burger, where Clark and Jimmy used to meet after work.
Martha even includes LEXMIX, which was Lex Luthor’s “brain food” trail mix when he visited the farm as a kid. Kelex adds some notes about Luthor’s “irrational hatred for Kal-El” and his “robots, death traps, and genetic weapons,” which Ma Kent gently steers away from. She also created her own Hein Sauce because she prefers a homemade touch to ketchup.
There’s a Beef Bourguignon recipe because it’s the dish he had on his first date with Lois. It even became a “secret code phrase” for them in case of trouble. And John Henry Irons’s Steelwork Signature Meatloaf is in there, which was a highlight at a potluck. Bibbo’s signature Ribs from The Ace O’ Clubs are included too, which is the restaurant Ma Kent describes as having “gritty charm” but where Bibbo is a kind man.
The “Hall of Justice” chapter is just as interesting, featuring recipes inspired by his teammates. Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern, admitted he couldn’t even trust himself not to burn toast, so Ma Kent came up with a Green Lantern Toast recipe as a nod to him. Alfred Pennyworth contributed Coddled Eggs with Toast Soldiers, which he made for his boys (like Damian Wayne). Alfred also shared a Mulligatawny Soup recipe he learned during his spy days, which was a comfort food for a young Bruce Wayne.
Guy Gardner, another Green Lantern, gave her a recipe for a “killer post-workout meal” he calls the Bulking Bowl. Kendra Saunders (Hawkgirl) shared an “Egyptian-style hummus” she called an “old family recipe,” which Ma Kent suspects is tied to her being an oft-reincarnated Egyptian princess.
Princess Diana (Wonder Woman) shared a recipe for Green Baked Beans, which she considers “brain food” that her sister Phillipus used to make after studying. Cyborg (Victor) contributed Game Day Potato Skins, part of a tradition he had with his mother. Manchester Black gave her a recipe for “bangers and mash,” which she renamed London Fare because the original name sounded “a bit violent”. Arthur (Aquaman) shared his father’s Ramen Bowl recipe, which he intends to keep in the family, and considers Clark an important member.
Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) was apparently very insistent that his Spicy Chili be included. Ma Kent warns it’s “awfully spicy” and includes notes on how to make a milder version. John Stewart, another Green Lantern, shared a recipe for Detroit-Style Pizza, which he asked her to include to remind Clark of its superiority to Metropolis-style pizza. Martian Manhunter (J’onn J’onzz) loved the store-bought cream cookies Clark liked as a child, so Ma Kent made a homemade version called Chocos for him.
There’s even a Tornado Peach Cobbler from Red Tornado! His daughter Traya loves it because she gets to watch him create the whipped cream with his powers. For everyone else, there are instructions for a “tornado in a jar” to make the whipped cream. Alfred Pennyworth also shared the recipe for Circus Popcorn he made for Bruce and Dick Grayson during movie nights, learning how from the old Haley Circus. And Barry Allen (Flash) contributed a Space-Iced Mocha, tied to a “Space-Time Caper” where they raced aliens through space and time.
Finally, the “Fortress of Solitude” chapter covers dishes inspired by that part of Superman’s life. She admits a huge ice castle in the Arctic isn’t what she expected, but it’s filled with Kryptonian tech, mementos, and is “all YOU”. This includes recipes for his “Super-Pets,” like Comet and Krypto Muffins. There are The Preserver Eggs, inspired by protecting creatures from an alien big game hunter who invaded the Fortress.
Ma Kent also made a special Jon’s Red, White, and Blue Hummus for her grandson at the Fortress. She designed a family-style Argo City Salad for Clark to share with Kara, meant to be nutrient-packed and remind Kara of life in Argo City.
She included two chicken recipes inspired by Clark and Jimmy’s time in miniature Kandor as Nightwing and Flamebird: Night Wings (a spicy black sauce) and Flamebird Chicken (spicy chicken).
Protesting the look of the Fortress crystals, which remind her of rock candy, she created a recipe for Kryptonian Crystals (Rock Candy). She also turned the negative experience of being stranded in the Phantom Zone into a positive with Phantom Zone Shaker Cookies. She even has a recipe for Plurb, It’s Wonderfully Awful, which Clark surprisingly missed after being in space.
Inspired by visiting the Fortress and Pa’s joke about freeze breath, she created a Freeze Breath Slushy with lime and ginger. The book ends with Lara-El’s Comfort Tea, which Kelex found in the data drive of Clark’s rocket. It was his birth mother’s favorite drink.
Ma Kent wraps up by saying the book is a scrapbook, a gift, and a reminder of his legacy. She wants to “add just a small bit of perspective and turn these lives you saved and heroes you’ve fought with into dinner buddies and lunchtime pals”.
The book also has helpful sections like Dietary Considerations (V, V+, GF notes for each recipe), Metric Conversions, and a Glossary of tools and techniques.
“Superman: The Official Cookbook” is just such a heartwarming concept, connecting all these different parts of Clark’s life and the people in it through food and memories. I highly recommend giving it a look!
Scheduled for release on July 1, the 160 page hardcover cookbook is currently available to pre-order on Amazon for US$29.99, or on Kindle for US$12.99.
