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Makes a great gift for Food and Film lovers alike

Film Released: 2004

Genre:  Sci-fi,  Thriller,  Action, Mystery
Starring:  Will Smith,  Bridget Moynahan,  Alan Tudyk ,  James Cromwell
Directed by:  Alex Proyas

I Robot is set in Chicago USA in the year 2035- a time when robots have become commonplace  both in the workplace and in homes with most people owning one.  All robots are programmed with the Three Laws of Robotics:

1.     A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2.     A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3.     A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
 

Chicago Police Detective Del Spooner played by Will Smith, is sent to investigate the apparent suicide of  Dr. Alfred Lanning played by James Cromwell, and an old acquaintance of Spooner.  However, having viewed a hologram  which Lanning left specifically for him, he soon comes to the conclusion that Lanning was murdered . . . . .by a robot.  This doesn't surprise Spooner, who  hates and distrusts robots with a passion, a  characteristic in keeping with his other old-fashioned tastes such as wearing 2004 Chuck Taylor Leather Converse shoes,   owning and riding a motorcycle, which is unheard of  and eating his grandmother's home cooking.

Suspicion soon falls on a prototype robot built by Dr. Lanning called Sonny  (played by Alan Tudyk), and so begins Spooner's search for the truth behind Lanning's death and his mysterious messages contained in the hologram., during which he gets the help of psychologist, Dr. Susan Calvin (play by Bridget Moynahan), who works at the Robotics' head office  and specialises in the psyches of robots.

So, to our recipe. As mentioned above, Detective Spooner loves his grandmother's home cooking - in particular her sweet potato pie which he is see devouring at the beginning of the film.  It makes a further appearance much later in the film when his poor old granny, fed up with making her own pies, gets her new robot to make one although she doesn't tell Spooner that until he's tasted it and confirmed it's excellent.

Below is a dessert recipe for Sweet Potato Pie so you can try it for yourself.

Happy Cooking!

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Sweet Potato Pie    Veg  CD  DP  60mins plus cooling

Makes 1x9-inch flan     Cold  Vegetarian  Nuts  Spices  Dessert Pudding

Ingredients
250g/9oz Shortcrust Pastry
400g/14oz cooked Sweet Potatoes, peeled
120ml/4fl.oz. Double Cream
100g/4oz Light Brown Sugar
2 large Eggs, lightly beaten
1 teasp Vanilla Extract
1 teasp Ground Cinnamon
1 teasp Ground Ginger
A pinch of Salt
2 tbsp Orange Juice
50g/2oz Unsalted Butter
120ml/4fl.oz. Golden Syrup
50g/2oz Walnut Halves

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C, 400°F, Gas Mark 6.

2. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to approximately 6mm/1/4 inch and use to line a 22cm/9-inch flan tin.

3. Lightly prick the base of the pastry with a fork and line with greaseproof paper and fill with baking beans.

4. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove the greaseproof paper and baking beans and set aside. Turn the oven down to 190C, 375F, Gas Mark 5.

5. Meanwhile, place the mashed sweet potato, cream, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, spices and orange juice in a large mixing bowl and beat until fluffy.

6. Pour the mixture into the partially baked pie crust, level the top and bake for 20 minutes.

7. Place the butter, golden syrup and walnuts in a small saucepan and heat gently, stirring.

8. After the initial 20 minute cooking time, sprinkle the golden syrup mixture evenly over top of the pie then return to the oven and continue to bake for a further 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.

9. Allow to cool in the tin and serve with cream.

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