Fool of a Took Podcast

For the SEASON 2 FINALE, we discuss book 4, chapter 10, "The Choices of Master Samwise", the final chapter of The Two Towers. Thanks for an amazing season! We'll be back for Season Three: "The Return of the King" in Spring, 2026! Conversation TopicsThe battle between Sam and ShelobSam's transformation into the true Ring bearerThe emotional weight of Frodo’s presumed deathThe significance of language, translation, and elvish tonguesOrc hierarchy, names, and the humanization of the enemyThe symbolism of the ring’s increasing powerThe chapter’s narrative style and Tolkien's portrayal of sufferingThe poor tale of Uftak's betrayalThe setup for The Return of the King and season threeTimestamps00:00 - Intro and season finale celebration02:50 - Recap of Shelob’s Lair (Chapter 9)04:40 - Sam’s fight with Shelob: anger, courage, and violence09:10 - Sam channels elvish language, invokes light12:04 - Sam takes Frodo’s gear, becomes the lone Ring bearer16:30 - Final ascent, surrounded by orcs, ring on finger20:44 - Orc captains’ banter, insights into Mordor’s military state24:44 - Orc discussion of Frodo’s body, Sam’s exhaustion27:46 - The orc hierarchy and their views on Shelob30:58 - Orc discovery of Frodo, Sam’s near-breakdown36:08 - The impenetrable doors, Sam’s desperate attempt to rescue Frodo37:48 - Reflection on Shelob as a creature and the emotional ambivalence43:17 - Shelob’s POV, her instincts, and Tolkien’s storytelling mastery47:30 - Physicality of Shelob’s attack and Sam’s resilience49:11 - Frodo’s presumed death, Sam’s heartbreak55:22 - The overarching war effort, the fate of Middle-earth59:56 - Reflection on Frodo and Sam’s leadership, and key themes1:02:10 - Language translation, the ring’s influence1:09:34 - Uftak’s story, the brutalities of orc life1:11:51 - Orcs’ perception of Frodo as “precious”1:13:38 - The “Shelob’s Venom” drink1:20:42 - Season finale thoughts, foreshadowing for The Return of the King1:22:24 - Announcing the next season, gratitude, and closing notesTodays "Food for Thought": Shelob's Venom CocktailAfter Sam stabbed Shelob, she had green ooze coming from her eye and left a trail of green-yellow slime. I thought it would be fun to drink it. I know it's not the same as her venom but oh well, it makes a better name! I was inspired by an "Ecto Cooler" cocktail that had the right color. Going off that recipe, the base of the drink was a tangerine/orange juice. To make it green, I added blue curacao, which conveniently happens to be orange-flavored. It turned green, but not green ENOUGH, so I did add some food coloring. -Tangerine/orange juice-Blue curacao-Vodka (or any clear liquor)-Green food coloring-Club soda/citrus flavored seltzerI made small shooters for the podcast, but you could play with proportions to make a larger cocktail. Start with about half a glass of juice, then add enough blue curacao to get it pretty green. Add food coloring until you're happy with the color. I used thick gel food coloring and mixed it with gin to thin it and make it pourable. At this point, the drink is very weak, so add as much liquor as you would like to strengthen it. It's also pretty sweet, so I cut it with some seltzer to lighten it up a bit. Cheers!----------------------------------------------------Content Warning: ExplicitSupport the pod on Youtube! @FoolofaTookPodcast Original music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:Chris (https://www.instagram.com/chrisnewhard)Robbie Jean (https://www.instagram.com/robbiejean815)Pat (https://www.instagram.com/rolling.seas2023)Laura (https://www.instagram.com/kennylaura525)Listen on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fool-of-a-took-podcast/id1770780731)Listen on Spotify Link (https://open.spotify.com/show/0e3myYq2eUbKMMtiV7qAl7)

This week we discuss book 4, chapter 8, "The Stairs to Cirith Ungol", from The Two Towers. Conversation Topics: The creepy journey through Shelob’s lair and those dark tunnelsGollum’s long game—what he’s really up toFrodo’s use of the Elven light and its deep loreThe terrifying history of Shelob and UngoliantWhat Frodo’s silent words really meanOur hilarious attempt to recreate Shelob with crab cakesThe epic showdown and Frodo’s moment of hopeThe upcoming finale of The Two Towers and what’s next for the podcastTimestamps: 00:00 – Kick off01:10 – Frodo, Sam, and Gollum’s crazy journey so far02:26 – Gollum’s sneaky long-term plans04:08 – Walking into Shelob’s lair—dark, dense, and terrifying05:50 – Facing Shelob—and her ancient evil roots07:25 – The horror of the mountain tunnels & the dark, sticky environment09:09 – Frodo pulls out the Elven light & what it really means11:37 – Gollum’s betrayal and the attack on Sam13:26 – The deep lore behind Shelob & Ungoliant’s history14:36 – Frodo’s secret elvish words 19:38 – Frodo’s shining sword scene 21:47 – Shelob’s ancient lineage & her role in Middle-earth’s dark history25:28 – How Sauron views Shelob & why she’s there27:14 – Gollum reappears & Sam’s brave fight to save Frodo30:42 – Frodo’s sense of duty & that dangerous naivety36:47 – The mysterious “Watchers” 44:12 – The lore of the great light52:43 – The deep backstory of Ungoliant & how Shelob fits into it55:28 – Tolkien’s weird words & what they really mean58:22 – Sting’s glow and how it signals danger1:06:50 – The hilarious crab cake Shelob & all our chaos1:12:06 – Wrapping up & looking ahead to the final chapter and next seasonTodays "Food for Thought": Shelob Crab CakesHonestly, I just wanted to make a Shelob model out of food. The crab legs are entirely extraneous, but they made such perfect spider legs!!I used this recipe: https://sugarspunrun.com/maryland-crab-cake-recipe/#recipe. It was FABULOUS! While they were baking, I steamed some dungeoness crab legs in the oven. To create the spider, I made one extra large crab cake and one smaller one. Once baked (the crab cakes, not me), I pushed candy eyeballs into the smaller one to make the head, and then painstakingly balanced the crab legs around the body. If you can get this thing to stand up, it looks super impressive (and hilarious)!----------------------------------------------------Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings. Content Warning: ExplicitSupport the pod on Youtube! @FoolofaTookPodcast Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/foolofatookpodcast/)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@foolofatookpodcast) Original music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:Chris (https://www.instagram.com/chrisnewhard)Robbie Jean (https://www.instagram.com/robbiejean815)Pat (https://www.instagram.com/rolling.seas2023)Laura (https://www.instagram.com/kennylaura525)Listen on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fool-of-a-took-podcast/id1770780731)Listen on Spotify Link (https://open.spotify.com/show/0e3myYq2eUbKMMtiV7qAl7)

This week we discuss book 4, chapter 8, "The Stairs to Cirith Ungol", from The Two Towers. Conversation Topics: Frodo’s mental exhaustion and the Ring’s heavy influence on himGollum’s rare moment of tendernessThe nightmare city of Minas MorgulFrodo's temptation to put on the RingThe muttering, glowing Tower of the MoonGollum’s tricky, uncertain route into MordorThe Nazgul’s silent armyFrodo’s internal battleThe mysterious "Phial of Galadriel"Frodo’s despair and Sam’s quiet strengthThe chapter’s unsettled toneTimestamps: 00:00 Introduction and chapter overview01:28 Recap of previous chapters and journey into Mordor02:50 The eerie beauty of Morgul Vale and the Tower of Sorcery07:07 Frodo and Sam’s perilous ascent and the nightmare landscape12:23 The storm of the Witch King and the army’s approach14:32 The Witch King’s presence and the power of Galadriel’s gift18:34 Frodo’s despair and the importance of hope22:58 Gollum’s vulnerable moment and complex morality26:26 The secret pass and its danger30:31 Frodo and Sam’s exhaustion and reflections on storytelling and heroism36:00 Highlights of Tolkien’s imagery of Minas Morgul and its symbolism37:59 The looming shadow of evil, the fear, and the resilience of light40:51 The mysterious eye in the sky and foreshadowing42:31 Gollum’s inner torment and duality44:07 Frodo and the Witch King; more of the epic confrontation52:29 The unspoken sacrifices and the battle of morality among the dark characters55:42 The significance of Galadriel’s gift and its symbolic meaning59:14 Frodo’s despair and Sam’s enduring hope01:00:50 The importance of storytelling, legacy, and the human spirit01:04:10 Gollum’s moments of vulnerability and internal conflict01:12:07 The enduring power of light versus darkness in Tolkien’s world01:13:14 The moral complexity of evil characters like the Witch King01:15:22 Food for Thought: glow-in-the-dark cocktails Todays "Food for Thought": Tower of the Moon CocktailMinas Ithil, the Tower of the Moon, was said to glow with imprisoned moonlight long ago. Lucky for us, tonic water happens to glow like moonlight under a black light. Therefore, a gin & tonic in a champagne flute under black light makes a perfect Tower of the Moon. Keep it pretty heavy on tonic for the glow to work well.----------------------------------------------------Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings. Content Warning: ExplicitSupport the pod on Youtube! @FoolofaTookPodcast Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/foolofatookpodcast/)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@foolofatookpodcast) Original music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:Chris (https://www.instagram.com/chrisnewhard)Robbie Jean (https://www.instagram.com/robbiejean815)Pat (https://www.instagram.com/rolling.seas2023)Laura (https://www.instagram.com/kennylaura525)Listen on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fool-of-a-took-podcast/id1770780731)Listen on Spotify Link (https://open.spotify.com/show/0e3myYq2eUbKMMtiV7qAl7)

This week we discuss book 4, chapter 7, "Journey to the Crossroads", from The Two Towers. Conversation Topics: The chapter’s fleeting nature: a breath before the chaos.Tolkien’s views on subtext and seriousness—Al Gore, internet, and culture.Gollum’s mysterious and increasingly squirrely behavior.The strategic significance of Minas Morgul and the crossroads.Themes of creation vs. destruction in Middle-earth.The symbolism behind the fallen statue and hope in darkness.Cultural customs: Faramir’s farewell kiss and Aragorn’s royal gestures.Sam’s unwavering hope and Frodo’s weariness—heroic exhaustion.Speculation about Entwives and ancient lore clues.The culinary arts of hobbits—hot cross buns and other treats!Timestamps: 0:00 – Funny heat joke; Florida visit.2:45 – Frodo convinces Faramir to trust Gollum.3:35 – Very short chapter—like a deep breath.4:50 – Map discussion: Crossroads and landmarks.7:00 – Quiet land, Gollum acting strange.8:30 – Minas Morgul: dark mountains, fire.10:00 – Morgul river, old stories, Gollum’s call.12:00 – Gollum’s strange knowledge grows darker.13:00 – Night walk, danger, Gollum’s urgency.15:00 – Earthquake vibes, Frodo’s heavy load.16:00 – Hope from Sam, exhaustion from Frodo.20:00 – Frodo sees the broken statue.22:00 – Hope fading, evil’s destruction.30:00 – Faramir’s strange peaceful silence.36:00 – A quiet moment before the storm.38:00 – Curious bushes, possible antwife clues.40:00 – Sam’s sad dream of home.45:00 – Sunset: last light fades.46:00 – Evil can only destroy, not create.50:00 – Hot Crossroads Buns; Tolkien-inspired snacks.55:00 – Hobbit hikes, tired but cheerful.58:00 – Near the end of The Two Towers!Todays "Food for Thought": Hot Crossroads BunsThere wasn't much food in this chapter, so instead of feeding my cohosts stale bread and dried fruit YET AGAIN, I did some baking. My brain pretty much screamed at me, "HOT CROSSROADS BUNS" and then I couldn't think of anything else, so I went for it. I've never made them before, and even though I had some trouble with the dough, I was super impressed with how tasty they were!I used this recipe: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/reci...I used cranberries and raisins as the dried fruit, and cranberry juice to hydrate them. My dough was probably stickier than it should have been, so I couldn't form neat round buns. Instead I got out a second baking dish, plopped sticky handfuls in, and prayed to the baking gods. They were misshapen but delicious! ----------------------------------------------------Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings. Content Warning: ExplicitSupport the pod on Youtube! @FoolofaTookPodcast Instagram: ( / foolofatookpodcast )TikTok: ( / foolofatookpodcast ) Original music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:Chris ( / chrisnewhard )Robbie Jean ( / robbiejean815 )Pat ( / rolling.seas2023 )Laura ( / kennylaura525 )Listen on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...)Listen on Spotify Link (https://open.spotify.com/show/0e3myYq...)

This week we discuss book 4, chapter 6, "The Forbidden Pool", from The Two Towers. Conversation Topics:  Gollum’s funny reaction to being caught — way different from the puppy-eyed guy in the movies  How Gollum’s actually pretty complex—big emotions behind that monster exterior  Faramir being smart and moral when it really counts  The creepy story of Minas Ithil and how the Ringwraiths came to be  What Ithil (the moon) and Minas Morgul symbolize in all this dark lore  Frodo’s internal struggle — how the Ring’s messing with his mind  Trust issues—can Frodo really rely on Gollum/Smeagol?  The scary route through Cirith Ungol and all that mountain doom talk  How Tolkien drops long-lost lore in such a smooth way  Timestamps:  01:09 – Recap of Chapter 504:25 – Frodo’s wake-up call06:12 – Faramir’s cautious watch13:50 – Frodo tries to distract Gollum15:11 – Gollum gets caught17:33 – Gollum’s defenses18:06 – Trust and oaths19:01 – Faramir’s “doom”20:15 – Gollum’s secrets21:29 – Minas Ithil’s fall23:34 – Final warning—Ungol25:07 – Moon and trust wisdom27:07 – Gollum’s split personality34:02 – Gollum’s sharp mind35:22 – Gollum like a cat39:08 – Sarcastic or broken?42:27 – Trusting treacherous Gollum45:10 – Minas Ithil’s dark lore52:37 – Palantír knowledge55:16 – Emotions run high56:30 – Fishy treat timeTodays "Food for Thought": Smeagol's Smelly SalmonSmeagol's love of fish nearly became his undoing in this chapter. So of course, I had to make fish for Food for Thought!-Salmon filets-Thai sweet chili saucePreheat oven to 400F. Line a baking tray with foil. Place salmon filets on the foil and coat with sauce. Bake roughly 15 minutes- adjust based on filet thickness. Done! This is one of the easiest and tastiest dinners Pat and I have weekly. Add some chopped broccoli or asparagus to the pan and everything is done at the same time!----------------------------------------------------Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings. Content Warning: ExplicitSupport the pod on Youtube!  @FoolofaTookPodcast  Instagram: (  / foolofatookpodcast  )TikTok: (  / foolofatookpodcast  )  Original music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:Chris (  / chrisnewhard  )Robbie Jean (  / robbiejean815  )Pat (  / rolling.seas2023  )Laura (  / kennylaura525  )Listen on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...)Listen on Spotify Link (https://open.spotify.com/show/0e3myYq...)

This week we discuss book 4, chapter 5, "The Window on the West", from The Two Towers. Conversation Topics: The story behind Faramir’s bedroom and “the Window on the West”How Faramir’s insight reveals the true nature of the ring’s curseThe lore of Gandalf’s many names (Mithrandir, Tharkun, and beyond)Boromir and Faramir’s contrasting personalities and destiniesThe mysterious ghostly boat and Boromir’s horn—visions of grief and historyFrodo’s loss and despair, and Sam’s unwavering resolveFrodo’s “Nine Walkers” nickname—echoes of the past, parallels, and hopeThe secret hideaway at Henneth Anun—facing sunset behind waterfallsThe humor, chaos, and unexpected treats—bread, wine, and silly banterThe Gollum cameo and tension beneath the surfaceThe three classes of Men in Tolkien’s world—high, middle, and darkThe significance of Tolkien’s names and linguistic layeringsTimestamps:00:00 — Opening chaos and chapter banter02:30 — The story of Faramir, Boromir, and the haunted boat11:45 — Faramir’s visions, grief, and the ghostly horn15:05 — The secretBase at Henneth Anun, behind waterfalls22:06 — Frodo and Sam’s moment of peace and Frodo’s despair25:42 — Frodo’s confession and the “Nine Walkers” reference30:15 — Faramir’s lore, Gandalf’s names, and the lore of Middle-earth33:00 — The window into Gondor’s soul and Faramir’s reflection37:00 — The contrasting hearts of Boromir and Faramir44:00 — The emotional weight of Boromir’s horn and the past47:55 — The Gollum sighting, shadows, and the mystery in the woods48:19 — The talk of Gollum’s little animal and suspicious encounters51:00 — The lineage, Stewards, and the royal blood of Gondor56:00 — The three classes of Men; Men of the West, Twilight, and Darkness58:10 — “He Who Must Not Be Named” and Tolkien’s linguistic parallels59:45 — Frodo’s heroic final revelations, Sam’s heroism, and the chaos of secrets01:07:22 — Toast to Faramir, Frodo, and all of Middle-earth: "Food for Thought"01:08:05 — Wrap-up and teaser for the next chapter, The Forbidden PoolTodays "Food for Thought": Faramir's FeastThe hungry hobbits are treated to a massive feast once they make it to the Gondor army's secret hideout behind a waterfall. Faramir's group has been eating well!For this episode, I made a charcuterie board/plate mimicking what they ate that night. It includes bread (peasant bread), red cheeses (spicy pepper cheddar and gouda), salted meat (OK, cured meat-- salami and prosciutto), and dried fruits (apricots and prunes). Can't forget the wine- a nice Sauvignon Blanc complemented our feast beautifully.----------------------------------------------------Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings. Content Warning: ExplicitSupport the pod on Youtube! @FoolofaTookPodcast Instagram: ( / foolofatookpodcast )TikTok: ( / foolofatookpodcast ) Original music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:Chris ( / chrisnewhard )Robbie Jean ( / robbiejean815 )Pat ( / rolling.seas2023 )Laura ( / kennylaura525 )Listen on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...)Listen on Spotify Link (https://open.spotify.com/show/0e3myYq...)

This week we discuss book 4, chapter 4, "Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit", from The Two Towers. Conversation Topics:The hobbits’ strategic plan for their journey around MordorGollum’s physical and psychological declineThe emotional bond between Frodo and SamThe significance of color symbolism in Tolkien’s description of armiesGollum’s forgotten skills and culinary mishapsThe intense battle scenes and strange sights—Oliphants, Mamuks, and moreThe debate over Sam’s love for Frodo: brotherly or romantic?Tolkien’s nuanced portrayal of good and evil, race, and mercyPersonal reflections on Tolkien’s wartime experience and its influence on his storytellingTimestamps:00:00 – Intro and overview of the chapter01:06 – Black Gate and Gollum’s backdoor plan03:26 – Frodo, Sam, and Gollum’s journey southward04:11 – The approach to Ithilien and the land of gardens07:15 – Conquest, war, and the shadow of Sauron11:05 – Bones, slaughter, and Gollum’s hunger12:35 – Gollum’s forgetfulness and Sam’s cooking plan16:23 – Gollum’s confused morality and scene with rabbits19:22 – The gathering suspicion and the push to escape21:15 – Encounters with Faramir’s men and the surprise of Dunedain26:26 – Racial nuance, Tolkien’s depiction of peoples, and themes of mercy35:54 – The epic appearance of an Oliphant and the end of the chapter37:01 – The rich symbolism of army colors and the landscape’s hidden depths41:11 – Pet peeves: scents that repulse or delight48:09 – Frodo, Sam, and Gollum’s relationship explored55:29 – Love, loyalty, and the complexity of Tolkien’s character dynamics1:00:04 – Reflections on war, morality, and Tolkien’s worldview1:07:06 – Food for Thought: Stew1:12:02 – Teasing the next chapter: “The Window on the West”Todays "Food for Thought": The Stew Sam Really WantedIn this chapter, Sam makes a rather sad coney (rabbit) stew with some water and herbs. I opted to include some root veggies, since Sam wanted those but didn't have any. Rabbit isn't readily available in grocery stores near me, so I used chicken instead in a rather basic stew.Recipe based on https://www.budgetbytes.com/chicken-stew/#wprm-recipe-container-58560-1 onion, diced-4 cloves garlic, minced-3 carrots, sliced-1 lb baby red potatoes, halved/quartered-1 lb chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks-4 Tblsp flour-2 Tblsp butter-1 Tblsp olive oil-Fresh herbs (Sam used bay leaves, thyme, and sage)-4 cups chicken brothToss chicken with 2 Tblsp flour.Add butter and olive oil to stockpot. Once heated, add the chicken and brown on all sides. Remove chicken.Add all veggies except potatoes to pot and saute until softened. Add remaining 2 Tblsp flour to coat, and cook 2 min longer.Add broth, potatoes, chicken, and herbs. Scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.Bring to a boil and then turn down the heat and simmer for 30 minutes, until potatoes are tender and chicken is cooked through. Add salt and pepper to taste. Now THAT'S a stew! ----------------------------------------------------Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings. Content Warning: ExplicitSupport the pod on Youtube! @FoolofaTookPodcast Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/foolofatookpodcast/)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@foolofatookpodcast) Original music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:Chris (https://www.instagram.com/chrisnewhard)Robbie Jean (https://www.instagram.com/robbiejean815)Pat (https://www.instagram.com/rolling.seas2023)Laura (https://www.instagram.com/kennylaura525)Listen on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fool-of-a-took-podcast/id1770780731)Listen on Spotify Link (https://open.spotify.com/show/0e3myYq2eUbKMMtiV7qAl7)

This week we discuss book 4, chapter 3, "The Black Gate is Closed", from The Two Towers. Conversation Topics:The boredom and despair creeping into the narrative Gollum’s complex characterThe impossibility of sneaking past Mordor’s Black Gate.The emotional depth behind Minas Ithil and Gollum’s tragic memories.Frodo’s disillusionment and the mounting presence of Nazgûl overhead.The army approaching Mordor from the south: oliphants, and all.The pet names for Gollum: Slinker and Stinker.Frodo’s subtle power moves: calling Gollum “Sméagol” vs. “Gollum.”The dark silent watchers of Minas Ithil: spirits, eyeballs, or dark magic?Sam’s whimsical poem about Oliphants: pure childhood wonder in the middle of chaos.The iconic “cutting off Sauron’s finger” brownie moment: and the symbolic snack.The pronunciation of “herb” versus “herbs.”Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to the Fool of a Took podcast and today’s focus.01:27 - Gollum compared to a lingering ex-boyfriend.02:54 - A recap of Frodo, Sam, and Gollum's predicament from the previous chapter.05:07 - Detailed description of the Black Gate and initial reactions.08:21 - Gollum hints at a secret entrance, stimulating Frodo's cautious trust.14:12 - Smeagol’s emotional moment and nostalgic tales of Gondor.21:19 - Frodo ponders, "What would Gandalf do?"25:47 - Understanding Sauron’s looming presence and the Nazgul's pursuit.28:40 - Army movements and Sam’s whimsical poem about Oliphants.31:52 - Sam's internal debate and indulgent curiosity about Oliphants.35:34 - Deeper insights into Sam’s character as the story progresses.37:29 - Discussion on Sam's upbringing and how it shapes his actions.42:08 - Tolkien's strategic mapping of Mordor; understanding the lay of the land.50:54 - The intriguing names 'Slinker and Stinker' bestowed upon Gollum.57:04 - Gollum’s warning about Sauron devouring the world.01:03:13 - Sam’s poem and its levity amid darkness.01:04:37 - Food for Thought: The Black Hand of Sauron brownie treat.01:13:27 - Wrapping up and looking ahead to "Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbits".Today's "Food For Thought": The Brownie Black Hand of SauronMy favorite part of this chapter was when Gollum said that Sauron only had 4 fingers, but they were enough. Problem is, it was unclear which finger he lost. Our team of experts and fools had to agree on which finger it was so that the brownie hand of Sauron was accurate. Did we succeed?Recipe from: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/our-ultimate-chewy-brownies-recipeI baked them in a 7x11 Pyrex pan, and flipped them onto a cooling rack after about 20-30 minutes. I recommend using some parchment paper under the batter to release easier. Once fully cooled, flip the brownie slab onto your serving platter and carve a hand out of it. Make all your friends fight over which finger to remove. Accidentally make a Sauron Shocker and go feel bad about yourself.----------------------------------------------------Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings. Content Warning: ExplicitSupport the pod on Youtube! @FoolofaTookPodcast Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/foolofatookpodcast/)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@foolofatookpodcast) Original music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:Chris (https://www.instagram.com/chrisnewhard)Robbie Jean (https://www.instagram.com/robbiejean815)Pat (https://www.instagram.com/rolling.seas2023)Laura (https://www.instagram.com/kennylaura525)Listen on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fool-of-a-took-podcast/id1770780731)Listen on Spotify Link (https://open.spotify.com/show/0e3myYq2eUbKMMtiV7qAl7)

This week we discuss book 4, chapter 2, "The Passage of the Marshes", from The Two Towers. Conversation Topics:The brutal brutality of The Passage of the Marshes and Tolkien’s masterful misery craftingGollum’s animalistic guide mode and his dual personalities of Smeagol and GollumThe haunting imagery of corpse candles and battlefield ghosts in the Dead MarshesFrodo’s shifting psyche under the Ring’s weight and the growing darkness in his mindThe terrifying Nazgûl flyby and the land’s transformation into Sauron’s dread domainSam’s unwavering suspicion of Gollum and his unwise yet brave actionsThe emotional impact of the land’s existential despair and Tolkien’s war traumaGollum’s songs, the callbacks to riddles, and the sinister gleam in his eyesThe humorous chaos of dry ice, strange drinks, and fantasy-themed food and drinksImaginary reimaginings of Aragorn’s strategies versus hobbit foolishnessThe impending closure of the Black Gate and the ominous journey into MordorTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to poison ivy00:29 Discussion shifts to an analysis of Book 4, Chapter 2 - "The Passage of the Marshes"01:41 Frodo and Sam's perilous journey through desolate terrain03:44 Gollum as the reluctant guide and Sam's growing suspicion09:30 The haunting imagery of marsh lights and their symbolic meaning12:08 The chilling revelation of corpses from an ancient battle20:13 Frodo's perception of the ever-searching Eye of Sauron25:07 Gollum's sinister conversation with himself about the "precious"28:47 Frodo wakes up mysteriously refreshed after a heavy dream43:12 Detailed analysis of Tolkien's swamp description and its symbolic despair56:52 "Food for Thought" Today's "Food For Thought": Chunky Swamp JuiceThis recipe evokes the foggy, green bogs and marshes that our heroes had to cross to get to Mordor. Based on: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/bubbling-cauldron-punch-3853940-1/2 can of limeade concentrate (thawed)-2 cans of ginger beer-1 can of seltzer-1/2 to 1 cup of white rum or vodka-1 quart of green tea ice creamCombine all ingredients in a punch bowl. Add the ice cream last and in spoonfuls, as it will fizz up and look chunky and gross. If you want to go all out, place your punch bowl inside a larger bowl with some water in it. Add some chips of dry ice, and the entire bowl will smoke and mist. ----------------------------------------------------Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings. Content Warning: Explicit

Kicking off Book 4 in our brand new podcast set, this week we discuss book 4, chapter 1, "The Taming of Sméagol", from The Two Towers. Conversation Topics: The crew humorously shares their moving day antics and new recording space vibes.How Frodo and Sam cope with being alone in the wilderness.An analysis of Gollum versus Smeagol and the complexity of his character.Delving into Tolkien's philosophical themes through Frodo's choices.Sam’s heroic yet chaotic moments and deep loyalty to Frodo.How geographical proximity to Mordor impacts characters.Integrating humor into high-tension moments, Tolkien style. The marshmallow "elvish rope" as both treat and tactile excitement.Timestamps:00:00:00 – Hello from the new studio00:01:22 – Gathering in the new space; the chair saga.01:22 – Frodo and Sam embark on their daunting chapter.04:48 – Refuge and challenges in the Emyn Muil10:04 – The edge of a cliff dilemma.13:39 – Galadriel’s Rope - a glimmer of hope.21:51 – Enter Gollum: our little spider monkey.25:47 – Knife problem or knife solution31:45 – Gollum's plea and a precarious alliance.43:55 – Sam’s emotional evolution and role.57:47 – Catchphrases: Humor, Violence, and Tolkien01:14:46 – Gollum’s acrobatics and a fall from grace.01:15:11 – “Food for Thought” Treat Section: Marshmallow "Elvish Rope".01:20:35 – Next week's teaser: "The Passage of the Marshes".Today's" Food for Thought": Sam's Marshmallow RopeThe real hero of this chapter was a bit of rope, so we celebrated with some marshmallow rope!I used this recipe for the marshmallow: https://www.sprinklebakes.com/2013/04/homemade-marshmallow-ropes.htmlIt instructs to make the recipe 3 times in 3 different colors, but I stopped after one and left it white. In fact, I added a drop of purple food coloring gel to make it appear whiter. Go ahead and pipe those ropes pretty thick, because I made them too thin and they broke very easily. Finally, I added some edible silver shimmer to some of the powdered sugar/cornstarch mixture and also painted some directly onto the finished ropes for some Elven magic.Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings. Content Warning: ExplicitSupport the pod on Youtube! @FoolofaTookPodcast Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/foolofatookpodcast/)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@foolofatookpodcast) Original music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:Chris (https://www.instagram.com/chrisnewhard)Robbie Jean (https://www.instagram.com/robbiejean815)Pat (https://www.instagram.com/rolling.seas2023)Laura (https://www.instagram.com/kennylaura525)Listen on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fool-of-a-took-podcast/id1770780731)Listen on Spotify Link (https://open.spotify.com/show/0e3myYq2eUbKMMtiV7qAl7)

This week we discuss book 3, chapter 11, "The Palantír", from The Two Towers. Dive into the thrilling conclusion of Book Three with the Fool of a Took Podcast as Pippin's curiosity leads to a dire encounter with the enemy. Conversation Topics: Mispronunciations and playful takes on the word "Palantír"Recap of Saruman's foiled attempts at manipulationPippin's insatiable curiosity and humorous anticsThe powerful and perilous nature of the PalantírThe detailed lore of the Palantír and its connection to GondorPippin's encounter with Sauron and the underestimated role of HobbitsGandalf's revelations about the seeing stones and Sauron's methodsRiveting discussion of Gandalf's transformation and historyMerry and Pippin's continued misadventures and relationshipsThe poem of the Palantír: unraveling its metaphorical significanceThe role of Shadowfax and the mythos surrounding magical creaturesTimestamps:00:00 - Playful mispronunciations and the significance of the Palantír02:07 - Recap of previous encounters and the defeat at Isengard03:28 - The journey of "dirty balls" and the possession of the Palantír06:38 - The humorous imagery of Theoden intercepting Wormtongue's actions08:39 - Pippin's sleepless obsession and the theft of the Palantír13:01 - Pippin's terrifying encounter with Sauron via the Palantír17:07 - Gandalf reveals the history and function of the Palantír18:45 - The connection between the Palantír and Sauron's influence21:29 - Debating the potential fallout of Saruman's defiance26:25 - The Nazgûl's dramatic flyover and the immediate call to action28:00 - The urgency of departure and the plan to protect Pippin32:32 - Pippin's realization of his role in the broader conflict34:24 - Final reflections on Book Three's tone and the anticipation for Book Four36:32 - Reflections on Hobbits' unique strengths and roles40:15 - The linguistic charm of Hobbit dialects and hilarious curses43:11 - Sauron's chilling first words and his manipulative presence47:41 - Gandalf's personal intrigue with the history of the seeing stones51:07 - The depth of Hobbit capacity for emotional complexity and trauma54:17 - Gandalf's assertive rise to power compared to Saruman58:02 - Shadowfax and the challenges of Tolkien's fantastical physics1:04:48 - Journey's end: lore-filled meatball celebration1:12:28 - Foreshadowing for Book Four and Frodo and Sam's awaited adventures1:14:43 - Sneak peek at the next chapter: "The Taming of Sméagol"This weeks "Food for Thought": A Meaty OrbThe Palantir was described as being dark in color with red coming from within. You know what's exactly the same? A meatball. No? OK shut up this was a hard one.I used this Food Network recipe with 41 five-star reviews, and it did not disappoint: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/beef-meatballs-7231472I doubled the garlic, added some Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes to evoke the fires of Mordor, and served in a nice marinara sauce.

This week we discuss book 3, chapter 10, "The Voice of Saruman", from The Two Towers. Conversation Topics:Understanding the power and magic of Saruman's voiceGandalf's diplomatic showdown with Saruman at IsengardThe role of manipulation and perception in Tolkien's worldThe complexity of Gandalf’s character and his strategic restraintPippin's unexpected growth and relevance in the chaosThe literary symbolism of Saruman's downfall and loss of powerDeep dives into Tolkien’s language choices, including "hewed" and "gibbet"Tolkien's narrative style and use of language in fantasy storytellingThe significance of the Ents and Treebeard's plan for IsengardForetelling themes of pride, power, and their consequencesTimestamps:00:00 - Saruman’s chapter opening, humor with Wormtongue and Old Greg01:05 - Celebrating the perfect chapter name, "The Voice of Saruman"01:26 - Saruman’s voice as the epic focus, a new and surprising turn02:22 - Recap of the previous episode and the fellowship’s journey03:05 - Explanation of "penultimate" and childhood stories about words06:11 - Saruman’s deceitful parlay, Gandalf’s warnings, and comparisons to modern politics08:05 - The subtlety of Saruman’s power and his magical influence10:23 - Gaslighting and psychological manipulation as Saruman’s weapon15:20 - Saruman’s kindergarten teacher tone with Gimli and the mockery of authority17:00 - Theoden’s resilience and refusal to buy into Saruman’s lies28:26 - Saruman’s furious rejection, Gandalf’s final blow, and the staff explosion30:47 - Gandalf’s ultimatum and Saruman’s rage, the tower’s chain reaction34:00 - The destruction of Saruman’s staff and the fall into chaos40:04 - The endless patience of the trees, Saruman’s fate sealed44:26 - Pippin’s growth, humor, and chaos-making in the chaos56:32 - Gandalf and Saruman’s contrasting powers of influence1:04:44 - The significance of Gandalf’s staff and its mythic origins1:12:40 - Food for Thought: The Sweet and Sour Voice of Saruman1:17:12 - Teasing the next chapter: "The Palantír"Today's "Food For Thought": The Sweet and Sour Voice of SarumanWe finally heard Saruman's powers of persuasion, and he always started out sweet but couldn't stifle his true feelings. This week's treat asks the question: Is Saruman sweet & sour, or sweet & salty?No recipe- just set up a plate with an assortment of sweet & salty and sweet & sour treats. I used:-chocolate-covered pretzels-sour patch kids -glazed salted nuts

This week we discuss book 3, chapter 9, "Flotsam and Jetsam", from The Two Towers. Today's "Food For Thought": Pippin's Power PicnicWe finally have a meal in the chapter!! Here is my recreation (surprisingly accurate) of the lunch Pippin prepared for Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli.-Several slices of toast-Butter-Honey-Some slices of cooked bacon-Cubed and fried salt porkEven though I rinsed the salt pork before cooking it, it was insanely salty. I think you can soak it for a bit to get even more salt off. To be honest, it belongs in a soup or baked beans rather than eaten by itself, but here we are. The toast with butter, honey, and a slice of bacon was heavenly though!----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

This week we discuss book 3, chapter 8, "The Road to Isengard", from The Two Towers. Today's "Food For Thought": Isengard SoupWhen I pictured the bowl of Isengard all flooded out with wreckage and debris floating everywhere, it reminded me of soup. So I made vegetable soup and assembled some breadsticks into a 4-sided Orthanc to stand in the center. The tower was not super sturdy, but it was delicious.Jamie's Vegetable Soup-1-2 tblsp veg oil-1 onion, chopped-3-4 carrots, chopped-3 celery stalks, chopped-4 cloves garlic, minced-2 cans diced tomatoes-4 cups water-1-2 large potatoes, cubed-1 cup frozen peas-1 tblsp parsley-2 bay leaves-1/2 tsp thyme-1 tsp salt (to taste)-ground pepper to taste-1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)-1 can green beans-1 can cornHeat the oil in a large soup pot and add onions, carrots, and celery. Saute for 4-5 min and then add garlic, cooking for 1 minute.Add tomatoes, water, spices, potatoes, and peas. Bring to a boil.Lower temp and simmer for 20-40 min. Test veggies for doneness.Add green beans and corn, simmer another 10 min.This is a flexible recipe- use what you have! Add frozen stuff before the long simmer and canned stuff after. You can also substitute broth for half of the water if you want more flavor. ----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

This week we discuss book 3, chapter 7, "Helm's Deep", from The Two Towers. Today's "Food For Thought": Charcuterie Helm's DeepThis chapter needed a map so badly... so I made one. Out of bread, meat, and cheese. You can really go wild with this one- here's what I used.-Cut up bread for the mountains and rock base of Hornburg-A salami stick for the tower of Hornburg-Cheese slices for the wall-Prosciutto slices for Helm's Dike-Balsamic glaze for the stream-Broccoli florets for the Ents-Raisins and chopped olives to represent the orcs and hillfolk-Glazed nuts for the heroes on and behind the wallNow, read the chapter closely and try to figure out where the heck to put everything. Then give up and consult the Internet.----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

This week we discuss book 3, chapter 6, "The King of the Golden Hall", from The Two Towers. Today's "Food For Thought": Dirt and WormtongueI couldn't get the idea of gummy worms out of my head when I was trying to figure out what to make for this chapter. Instead of simply presenting my cohosts with a bowl of candy, I jazzed it up with some homemade chocolate pudding and crushed Oreos.I used this recipe for the pudding and halved it: https://www.spendwithpennies.com/chocolate-pudding/#wprm-recipe-container-139626Then I blitzed some Oreos in the food processor and layered Oreo, pudding, Oreo, pudding, Oreo in a dessert bowl. Finally, top with a few gummy worms and you're done! Now Wormtongue is where he belongs- in the dirt.----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

This week we discuss book 3, chapter 5, "The White Rider", from The Two Towers. Today's "Food For Thought": Gandalf the White RussianWhat else would a White Rider drink? BTW, the white Russian was invented in Belgium!2 parts vodka1 part Kahlua1 part heavy cream (or half and half if you are watching your figure)Mix the vodka and Kahlua in a glass with ice. Gently pour the cream on top for a layered look- but I recommend stirring before your first sip...----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

This week we discuss book 3, chapter 4, "Treebeard", from The Two Towers. Today's "Food For Thought": Treebeard's Ent-DraughtThis one was a challenge- the drink was like water but "reminded them of the smell of a distant wood borne from afar by a cool breeze at night." Yes, of course.The internet saved me on this one. I based the non-alcoholic drink on this recipe: https://www.innatthecrossroads.com/ent-draught-the-lord-of-the-rings/It's described as a "distilled herbal infusion," also called a hydrosol. Basically you are making tea in a pot, covering and simmering it, and collecting the condensation it produces. Follow the website for the instructions. My herbal infusion consisted of jasmine green tea and about a tablespoon of an herbal blend called Starry Night with marigold, spearmint, lemongrass, rosehips, chamomile, hibiscus, peppermint, valerian root, and cornflower petals. It smelled AMAZING!Cool the distillate, whatever you want to call it, before sipping. The scent and flavors will be subtle, but I think it accomplished our goal!----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

This week we discuss book 3, chapter 3, "The Uruk-Hai", from The Two Towers. Today's "Food For Thought": Ugluk's Orc-DraughtThis drink was described as burning the mouth and giving an unbelievable burst of energy to the hobbits. My best attempt at an unpleasant drink to meet these requirements was a mix of Red Bull and Fireball cinnamon whiskey. Turns out it wasn't as gross as I had expected. Someone suggested adding Jaeger to finish the job and I stood up and walked away from them. ----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

This week we discuss book 3, chapter 2, "The Riders of Rohan", from The Two Towers. Today's "Food For Thought": The Blondies of RohanListen, I wasn't feeling particularly inspired this week, OK? The riders are blond... right...?Honestly, just follow this recipe as written, it is perfect. https://smittenkitchen.com/2006/11/blondies/For the mix-ins, I used toasted pecans, chopped up soft caramels, white chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips, and dark chocolate chips. DECADENT!Oh, also, ignore the 10 minute cooling in the pan comment. They are still MOLTEN at this point and if you attempt to move them you will create a giant mess. I am still finding bits of these things under coffee makers and in corners. They will be just fine if you let them cool in the pan and then flip them out onto a cutting board.----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

*FYI - This episode is AUDIO only*A special BONUS EPISODE of Fool of a Took Podcast for the season 2 premiere. We sat down and analyzed Peter Jackson's 2001 Oscar winning adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring (the extended versions). We discuss the movie's triumphs, what we loved about it, and what we didn't love so much.Today's "Food For Thought": Movie Theater Popcorn----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

This week we discuss book 3, chapter 1, "The Departure of Boromir", from The Two Towers. Today's "Food For Thought": Boromir's Cream HornYes, that name was meant to be gross. Anyway, a cream horn is a real dessert and it felt right to honor Boromir.Recipe adapted from https://stressbaking.com/cream-horns/#recipeThaw a sheet of puff pastry and slice it into 1/2 inch strips.Grab either pastry cones or some abomination of a DIY pastry cone. Spay with non-stick spray and gently wrap a strip of pastry around it, overlapping slightly. You can add a second strip if the cone is not large enough after one.Freeze all the pastry horns for 20-30 min so they hold their shape.Place horns on a baking sheet and brush with egg wash.Bake at 400F for 15 minutes until the pastry is golden brown. Cool on the baking sheet and remove the cones.Whip about 1 cup of heavy cream until it forms soft peaks, then add 1 tsp vanilla and 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Whip again until stiff peaks form.Use a piping bag to squeeze the cream into the pastries.Dust with powdered sugar if desired.----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

June 25th - Season 2 - THE TWO TOWERS  ----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

As season one concludes, Frodo does an exposition dump, Chris nearly dies, and Sam forces Frodo to relive this childhood trauma. This week we discuss book 2, chapter 10, "The Breaking of the Fellowship", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought":  The Eye of SugarI've been waiting a whole book to make these, so the final episode of season 1 felt like the right time! Use any cupcake recipe you like- I did a white cake from scratch but a box mix would be fine.Once cupcakes have cooled, mix up some red jam with a bit of red food coloring. I used a long piping tip to fill the cupcakes; you could also just cut out a little hole in the center.For frosting, again you could use homemade American buttercream or white frosting from a can. Mix up some dark yellow, orange, reddish orange, and black. Use an offset small metal spatula to apply a smooth layer of yellow to the cupcakes. Use a toothpick to draw where the black pupil will go. Then use a piping tip to make orange lines coming away from the pupil. I squeezed the leftover orange frosting out and added red to get the reddish orange color. Once you have those on, pull a toothpick through the fire colors to create a jagged, flame effect. Finally, pipe the black in a cat-eye pupil shape. If you want to smooth it as I did, run your spatula under hot water and gently smooth the black icing with it. Then have your husband attempt to create a tower for it out of graham crackers and your leftover frosting. Act surprised when it falls over due to no structural integrity and makes a giant mess.----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

Sam has a "crappy" time on the boat, Pat can't tell what color his shirt is, and Boromir gaslights the fellowship. This week we discuss book 2, chapter 9, "The Great River", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": Mini Swiss Rolls with Eyes (What Sam Saw)The Cake: 6 large eggs, separated, room temp 1/4 tsp cream of tartar, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1 tsp vanilla, 3/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-process) 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp saltPreheat oven to 375F. Spray an 18x13 rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray,  line the bottom with sprayed parchment paper. Whisk egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add 1/4 cup of the sugar slowly, and increase the speed and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Mix egg yolks with the other wet ingredients and remaining 1/2 cup sugar. In another bowl, sift/whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Whisk dry mixture into the egg yolk mixture until smooth. Add about 1/3 of egg whites into the batter and mix in well. Then add another 1/3 and FOLD. Add the last 1/3 and FOLD into the batter. Spread out the batter in the baking sheet and bake 10 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Loosen the edges of the cake from the baking sheet and sift a layer of cocoa powder on top of the cake in the sheet. Lay a kitchen towel over and invert to free the cake. Remove the baking sheet / parchment paper, and sift a layer of cocoa powder onto the other side of the cake. Using the towel, roll the cake into a log starting at the long end. Place the log seam-side down on a cooling rack and fully cool. The Filling: 1 cup heavy cream 1/3 cup light corn syrup 1/2 tsp vanilla. Whip the ingredients together until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate until ready to assemble. Outer Coating: 8 oz semisweet chocolate (chips or chopped) Candy eyeballs I deviated from the recipe here because I didn't have any coconut oil, which would have helped the chocolate glaze harden. I simply melted some chocolate. Unroll the cake and spread your filling on top. Slice the cake into 6 strips parallel to the short edge. Then slice it in half vertically for 12 strips. Roll into logs. Chill for 15 minutes. Place the logs onto a cooling rack and pour/spoon the melted chocolate/glaze over them until fully covered. After chocolate coating has had a few minutes to set, place the candy eyeballs on top. Chill for 15 minutes. Use a fork or toothpick to scratch some bark-like lines into each log. ----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

Figuring out our Lembas bread equivalents, Gimli has his first crush, and Pat gives out presents for his birthday. This week we discuss book 2, chapter 8, "Farewell to Lorien", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": Elven Lembas BreadYes!! I finally get to make Lembas bread! Probably one of the most recognizable foods from LOTR. I reviewed probably 15 different recipes before I found one that felt right: https://insanelygoodrecipes.com/lembas-bread-from-lord-of-the-rings/#wpzoom-premium-recipe-card. Spoiler: they're cookies. Also, I made a 2nd batch with half almond flour which was EVEN BETTER!2.5 cups flour1 tsp baking powder1/2 tsp baking soda1/2 tsp salt1 tsp cinnamon1/2 tsp nutmeg1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temp1/3 cup brown sugar2/3 cup heavy whipping cream1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp almond extractPreheat oven to 425F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.Sift or whisk dry ingredients together in a large bowl or stand mixer bowl.Add the butter and sugar, and beat into the dry ingredients until crumbly. Be prepared for a huge mess if you don't start slow and/or cover the bowl.Add the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.Roll out the dough about 1/2" thick. I put down some parchment paper and floured that to avoid making a huge sticky mess on my table. Then I added more flour, another sheet of parchment, and rolled over the parchment. Mess averted (mostly)!Cut out 3-inch squares of dough, transfer to cookie sheet, and press two diagonal lines across the top of each to make an "X".Bake for 12 minutes. Breads should be set and golden in color. Cool before serving. Wrap in banana leaves? Or green paper?Notes: These tasted fabulous and held their shape but were very dry, likely by design. I wanted to make another batch subbing some almond flour for some of the wheat flour to make them a little more flavorful. I used half of each flour, but I didn't reduce the liquid (cream) to account for less wheat flour to absorb it. My almond flour dough was too wet and the breads spread out when I baked them... but the taste was amazing. I suggest reducing the cream by half, but I haven't tested this yet.----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

Deciding our new addresses in Lorien, uncovering each others banes, and  role-playing J.R.R. Tolkien's editor trying to reduce the amount of proper nouns per chapter. This week we discuss book 2, chapter 7, "The Mirror of Galadriel", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": Galadriel's Mirror GlazeI've been watching too much Great British Bake-Off, so for this episode I learned how to make mirror glaze! Normally you would pour this over a cake or fancy mousse dessert for a smooth, shiny finish... but we work with what we have, and I had pound cake slices. 1 packet (or 2.5 tsp) powdered unflavored gelatin1/4 cup water, for blooming gelatin1.5 cups granulated sugar3/4 cup water, room temp2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk2 cups white chocolate chips Mix the gelatin with the 1/4 cup of water and set aside to bloom. In a microwaveable bowl, combine granulated sugar, 3/4 cup water, and sweetened condensed milk. Microwave for 90 seconds and stir. If the sugar is not fully dissolved, give it 10 second increments until it dissolves.Add the bloomed gelatin to the warm mixture and whisk until combined. Melt white chocolate chips in a microwavable bowl (or over a double boiler). I typically start with 30 seconds and stir, repeat, and then do 15 or 10 second increments, stirring after each, until there are a few lumps remaining. A good stir will spread the heat and melt the final lumps. Pour the melted white chocolate into the gelatin mixture and whisk until smooth. Pour through a sieve to remove any chunks.Use as is for a milky white glaze, or separate into bowls and add food coloring to get your desired effect. I used black, blue, and purple to get a galaxy effect. I also added some edible shimmer to the black for some glitter. Stir the glaze frequently, and it will thicken as it cools. If it's too warm, it will run off the cake. If it's too cool, it will be thick and not smooth when you pour. In my case, around 80-85F was the ideal temperature to pour it over the pound cake slices. If you are using cake like I did, you must frost it first. Otherwise the glaze will simply soak into the cake.Place your dessert on a cooling rack over a baking pan lined with anything to catch the drips. Pour over your dessert, alternating colors for a cool design. I used a spoon for the pound cake and made sure to cover all the edges. Let the glaze dry for at least 10 minutes. It may not fully set - mine didn't.----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

The fellowship traverse the magical lands of Lothlorien, an accident from Chris' past resembles Sam's tree predicament, and how "The Brave Little Toaster" might play a significant role in Tolkien's multiverse. This week we discuss book 2, chapter 6, "Lothlorien", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": Lothlorien FizzIntended to evoke vibes of a never-ending summer, even in the depths of winter. 2 parts Limoncello1 part gin1 part strawberry gin (I used Gordon's)1 part fresh squeezed lemon juicetop with club soda until it's as mellow as you likeIt's like a fizzy, boozy lemonade. The tiny hint of strawberry really sets this apart. If you can't find Gordon's Strawberry gin, try a sweet fruit liqueur. If you want to be extra magical, add some edible cocktail glitter!----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

Pat makes Robbie Jean cry, Chris plays with a sword, and Laura purposely tries to ruin everyone's night. This week we discuss book 2, chapter 5, "The Bridge of Khazad-dum", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": The Fires of Moria SalsaIt's getting hot in here... sorry. This week's recipe came from https://www.aspicyperspective.com/best-homemade-salsa-recipe/#recipe and was a really flavorful salsa with an adjustable heat level. I highly recommend using a food processor, which made this incredibly fast to prepare!4 ripe tomatoes (I actually used frozen tomatoes from last summer's garden... probably better with fresh)1/2 red onion3 garlic cloveshot peppers! your choice- I used jalapeno and habanero1/3 cup fresh cilantrojuice of 1 lime2 tsp ground cumin1/2 tsp sugar (no idea if this did anything, I just added a bit cause it was in the recipe but 2 tsp seemed like a lot...)1.5 tsp salt15 oz can crushed tomatoes4.5 oz can diced green chiliesRoughly chop tomatoes, onion, garlic, peppers, and add to food processor. Add cilantro, lime juice, cumin, sugar, and salt. Pulse on "chop" mode until everything is chunky. If you prefer smooth salsa, use the puree mode.Pour into a bowl and add diced green chilies and crushed tomatoes until it's the consistency you like. Taste and adjust seasonings if desired.Note: This made A LOT of salsa. I started with the full recipe and 1 jalapeno to make mild salsa. Once I removed a Pyrex full of mild, I then ladled some back into the food processor with another jalapeno and 1/4 of a habanero. Once chopped, I mixed this back into what remained for the medium and took out a Pyrex full. Finally, I ladled another scoop into the food processor and added 1 habanero and what was left of the last habanero. I wanted this to be FIRE so I did not dilute it too much with the medium salsa that was left in the bowl. It was definitely a slow build kind of heat.Also: I have a habit of rubbing my eyes a lot, so I wore gloves to handle the peppers and HIGHLY RECOMMEND!----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

The fellowship make their way into the Mines of Moria, Chris learns the etymology of the word "midnight", and Gandalf finally goes full Boomer. This week we discuss book 2, chapter 4, "A Journey in the Dark", from The Fellowship of the Ring.Today's "Food For Thought": A Journey into Dark Chocolate and WineThere was little food to be had in this chapter, and certainly nothing exciting. So- another play on the chapter title!Wine and chocolate pairings are great; in this episode I did a dry, full-bodied red (Bordeaux style) with dark chocolate- both 72% and 86% cocoa. Try with some other dry reds like Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, etc., and see how each melds with the chocolate flavors and brings out other subtle flavors.----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

The gang travels to Ireland for New Years, the Hobbits aren't the only ones to freeze to death, and Chris buys a bootleg Tin Whistle. This week we discuss book 2, chapter 3, "The Ring Goes South", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Special thanks to the amazing staff at Montenotte Hotel in County Cork for letting us record a podcast in your fine establishment.Today's "Food For Thought": The One Ring TossThere is no recipe for this episode. Grab a bottle with a narrow neck (bonus points if it's Mead) and some ring-shaped pretzels. Make an ENORMOUS mess while attempting to toss the pretzels around the bottle. HAPPY NEW YEAR!----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

Chris' counterfeit Amazon book is starting to really affect Tolkien's story, Gollum eats all the spies and the gang consumes the fellowships bodies.This week we discuss book 2, chapter 2, "The Council of Elrond", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": The (Gingerbread) Council of ElrondThis recipe is from https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/best-gingerbread-cookies/#tasty-recipes-71005 and it was wonderful as is!3.5 cups all-purpose flour1 tsp baking soda1/2 tsp salt1 tbsp ground ginger1 tbsp cinnamon1/2 tsp allspice1/2 tsp cloves10 tbsp softened, unsalted butter3/4 cup packed brown sugar2/3 cup dark molasses 1 large egg at room temp1 tsp vanilla extractWhisk together dry ingredients. Using a mixer, beat the butter until creamy. Add brown sugar and molasses and beat until well-combined. Add egg and vanilla and continue to beat for 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients (slowly or you'll have a mess) and beat on low speed until just combined. Divide dough in half and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours.Preheat oven to 350F.Flour your work surface and roll out dough into 1/4 inch sheet. Cut into shapes and re-roll dough as needed.Place cutouts 1" apart on a cookie sheet with parchment paper and bake 8 minutes for smaller cutouts and 11 minutes for larger cutouts (4" or more). They should look dry and puffed, but not browned on the edges.Cool for 5 minutes on the sheet and then transfer to cooling rack.If you want to decorate your cookies with an icing that will harden, you'll need to make royal icing. I use the Wilton recipe using meringue powder and powdered sugar (https://wilton.com/royal-icing-with-meringue-powder/wlrecip-50/), and I cut it in half though I still had A TON of icing leftover from 13 cookies. It takes some practice to find the right consistency (amount of water) for cookie piping.----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

Gandalf is back, Chris confuses Snow White for Lord of the Rings and Pat's coffee mentality is problematic. This week we discuss book 2, chapter 1, "Many Meetings", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": Elven Tea BloomsBlooming tea or flowering tea feels super fancy and like something high elves would serve at a feast. If you've never heard of it, it's a small dried ball of usually herbal tea ingredients that expand into a lovely flower shape when steeped in hot water. My only complaint is that they float, so you don't get the full effect!You can purchase a glass teapot and dried tea balls online. They make great holiday gifts 🙂----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

The Hobbit's get drunk, Chris gets a lisp, and a deep dive on the history of trolls. This week we discuss book 1, chapter 12, "Flight to the Ford", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": Eggless Bread PuddingThis episode's recipe uses the stale bread and dried fruit mentioned in the chapter. It is based off https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/dessert-pudding/eggless-bread-pudding.html. I used an eggless recipe because Chris is allergic to eggs- bread pudding usually has eggs in it. If you want a more traditional bread pudding recipe, try one of my favorite baking sites, www.kingarthurbaking.com. 1 loaf Italian bread, stale. You can cut it up and let it sit out overnight to dry out a little, or you can bake slices on a baking tray in the oven for a few minutes until they're not as moist.butter3 cups whole milk1/4 cup + 1/8 cup sugar3.5 tblsp cornstarch2 tsp vanilla1/2 tsp nutmeg1 tsp cinnamon1/2 cup raisins1/2 cup dried cranberries1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans1/4 cup brown sugarPreheat oven to 350F and grease a casserole dish.Butter your bread slices and cut into squares. Make a layer of butter side up bread cubes in the casserole dish. Sprinkle half your dried fruit and nuts over this layer and repeat.In a medium saucepan, combine milk, sugar, cornstarch, and spices with a whisk. Turn heat to medium and cook while whisking continuously. You should have no lumps. After 5-10 minutes, your milk mixture should thicken noticeably. Continue to cook for 1 min after it thickens, still whisking.Add vanilla and about 1/2 tsp butter and whisk until melted.Pour the milk mixture evenly over the bread and add a few small pats of butter on top. Sprinkle brown sugar over the top and bake for 40-45 minutes.Let it cool and enjoy! I love it with some caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream.----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

Rj takes back her empathy for Butterbur,  Pat's memory of Sam's song is ruined by Les Miserables, and Chris makes a terrible bet. This week we discuss book 1, chapter 11, "A Knife in the Dark", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": A Knife in the Dark Chocolate MousseAdapted from https://www.cookwithmanali.com/easy-chocolate-mousse/8 oz chocolate chips (I used a combo of dark chocolate and semi-sweet. Use good quality chocolate here.)1/2 tsp instant espresso powder (optional)pinch of salt1/2 tblsp butter2.5 cups heavy cream 1 tsp vanilla extractAdd chocolate chips, espresso powder, salt, and butter to a bowl.Bring 1 cup of heavy cream to a simmer- it should be steaming and jsut starting to foam around the edges. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let sit for about 5 minutes.Whisk the chocolate mixture together until smooth. Add vanilla and whisk in. Let cool to about room temp.Whip 1.5 cups of heavy cream until it forms soft peaks. When you remove the whisk, the cream should hold a peak but it can flop over. Don't overwhip- stiff peaks don't work as well.Fold the whipped cream into the cooled chocolate mixture in 3 additions. Each time, fold gently until there are no more white streaks before adding more whipped cream.Pour into serving cups/bowls and refrigerate for a few hours until set.Ram a knife into that sucker for dramatic effect.----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

Butterbur realizes how badly he screwed up, Harry is the worst gatekeeper of all time, and Robbie Jean has a glue trap of a mind. This week we discuss book 1, chapter 10 - "Strider", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": Stout Beer for Stout PeopleBUY STOUT BEERDRINK STOUT BEERNOTICE THAT IT WAS 11% AND GET A HANGOVER----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

Frodo chooses the worst time to do a singing jig, Strider definitely doesn't work for the Middle Earth Parks Service, and finding the truth about Tolkien's love affair with tramps. This week we discuss book 1, chapter 9 - "At the Sign of The Prancing Pony", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": The Prancing Pony's Blackberry TartThis recipe is based on https://simplyscrumptiouseats.com/easy-blackberry-tart/ I picked this recipe because it looked easiest, but had to make some adjustments.Crust:1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour1/4 cup sugar1/2 tsp kosher salt10 tbsp unsalted butter, melted1/2 tsp almond extractFilling:4 cups blackberries1/4 cup sugar1/4 cup flour1 tbsp lemon juicePreheat oven to 400F.Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. Add melted butter and almost extract and stir until a dough forms.Press the dough with your fingers into a 9-inch tart pan and spread it across the bottom and up the sides. Bake it for 15 minutes.Stir together blackberries, sugar, flour, and lemon juice.When the crust is done, lower the oven temp to 350F and add the filling. Bake for 30 minutes.  If you are using giant grocery store blackberries like I did, you will need to mush them up a bit with a fork to get them to release the juices. Once the filling is bubbly, remove the tart and cool.Notes: I used a tart pan that was bigger than 9" (that's what he said) and the filling barely covered the bottom. It also would have helped to use smaller blackberries.----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

Laura changes her mind about Tom Bombadil, the Hobbits kill time doing naked cartwheels and Pat chokes on a donut. This week we discuss Chapter 8, "Fog on the Barrow-Downs", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": A Donut Diorama of the DownsThere is no recipe for this one. Combine donuts and various candies to represent the Barrow-Downs and our hobbit heroes as they need rescuing yet again. Here's what I used:Chocolate glazed donuts for the hillsGreen buttercream to glue everything together and a frosting tip to make grassCookies n cream bars for the stonesGummy bears as hobbitsPocky as the sword across their necksNerds as the treasure----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

Sam sleeps like a log, rain is mostly pee, and Pat struggles to articulate his hate for Tom Bombadil. This week we discuss book 1, chapter 7 - "In the House of Tom Bombadil", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": Tom Bombadil's Dinner SpreadThis episode's Food for Thought was simply a recreation of what Tom fed the hobbits at his house. This included white bread, butter, yellow cream (clotted cream?), honey, cheese, ripe berries, and green herbs. I bought most of the items, but did make a loaf of my favorite Peasant Bread recipe from King Arthur Baking. This is the easiest and fastest no-knead bread EVER.17 oz/480 g King Arthur all-purpose flour2 tsp sugar2 tsp kosher salt (or 1.5 tsp regular salt)1 packet or 2.25 tsp active dry yeast or instant yeast (I use SAF red instant yeast and keep it frozen)16 oz (2 cups) warm waterbutter for greasing pans  Measure out 17 ounces (1 lb 1 oz) of KAF all-purpose flour. Yes, it has to be this flour. Yes, you really need to measure it. We've tried with other flours and it's not as good. If you want to take a risk, it's 4 cups of this flour. Other flours have different densities and protein levels. Take it from a hobbit- baking is a science.Add sugar and salt. Mix well before adding yeast.Add yeast and mix well.Add warm water (shouldn't feel hot- just warm) and mix well.Cover mixing bowl and let the dough rise for about 1-1.5 hours, depending on how warm your house is.When dough has doubled in size and looks bubbly, push it down and squish the air out. I use forks.Grease a bowl or baking dish. This dough is very soft and needs to be baked in a vessel that will hold its shape- it will not form a loaf. I use either two 2-qt Pyrex dishes or one 3-qt. You can use any grease you want, but salted butter gives the bread a delicious crust.Turn on your oven to 450F while the dough rises a second time. Put it in the oven when it has again doubled, or at least reached the tops of your bowls. This takes about 20-30 minutes for me.Bake at 450F for 15 minutes, then turn down the heat to 375. If making two small loaves, base for 17-20 minutes more. If making one big loaf, bake for 25-30 minutes more. Let loaves cool in the pans for about 10 minutes and then turn out onto a cooling rack. I cool mine upside down because once when I cooled them right side up, they collapsed a bit. Cool for at least an hour- they'll still be warm.These loaves are best eaten on the same day they are made.----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

Laura accidentally roofies the group, Merry gets aroused by Tom Bombadil, and Pat & Rj attempt a sea shanty. This week we discuss book 1, chapter 6 - "The Old Forest", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": Magic Willow's Mandatory Naptime TeaGet yourself some chamomile tea or other herbal tea. Drink it and take a nice nap. Do not spike your friends' tea with sleep aids.----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

The hobbits take a bubble bath, Laura learns about Papa Smurf's secret, and saving Merry at BuckleBerry Ferry makes Pat throw up his drink. This week we discuss book 1, chapter 5 - "A Conspiracy Unmasked", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": Fatty's Stuffed Mushrooms4 Portobello mushroom caps1 cup cooked crumbled sausage1 medium onion, chopped1 clove garlic, minced1 teaspoon Italian seasoningpinch red pepper flakesSalt & pepper to taste1/2 cup dried breadcrumbs 1/2 cup shredded mozzarellaWash the mushroom caps and remove any stem.Saute the onion and garlic with butter or oil until soft. Add seasonings.Combine sausage and onion mixture in a bowl. Add breadcrumbs bit by bit until it holds it shape loosely. Add mozzarella, reserving some for the tops.Press the mixture into the mushroom caps. Add the remaining mozzarella on top. If needed, use a toothpick to hold the caps together and then forget to tell your husband that it's in there.Bake at 350F for 20 minutes.Notes: This recipe was adapted from An Unexpected Cookbook by Chris-Rachael Oseland. After learning that Chris is allergic to eggs and that I almost killed him with last week's quiche, I omitted an egg from this recipe and then had way too much breadcrumbs and had to moisten the mixture. Therefore, you can choose to add an egg or not, but either way add the breadcrumbs gradually so it's not too dry.----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

Chris pulls a rain man, the hobbits get roofied, and J. R. R. Tolkien's real name is revealed - it's not what you think it is. This week we discuss book 1, chapter 4 - "A Shortcut to Mushrooms", from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": Mrs. Maggot's Hearty Mushroom & Bacon QuicheFrozen or homemade pie crust (deep dish)1/2 lb bacon (extra thick cut recommended), chopped1 tsp veg oil1 quart baby bella mushrooms, sliced1 onion, diced4-6 large eggs, beaten (depending on how deep your pie dish is)3/4-1 cup milk (same as above)1 cup grated cheddar cheese (or cheese of choice- gruyere or smoked gouda would have been great)1 bunch green onions, chopped (keep greens separate for garnish)salt & pepperPreheat oven to 375F. Prepare pie crust in the pie dish as needed.Add oil to large pan and add bacon. Cook for about 1 minute.Add onion and mushrooms to pan. Cook until soft, about 8 minutes. Drain.Whisk together eggs and heavy cream. Add salt, pepper, and any other desired seasonings (I used some Italian seasoning and garlic powder).In a bowl or in the pie dish, combine the bacon mixture with cheese and green onions. Once in the pie dish, pour the egg mixture over your fillings until the pie dish is full.Bake until temperature reaches 160F, about 35 minutes but may vary depending on the size of your pie dish.Sprinkle some extra cheese and the green onion greens on top, allow to cool for 5-10 minutes and serve.Notes: This recipe was based on https://addapinch.com/bacon-and-mushroom-quiche-recipe/ but I bumped up the filling to make it more hearty, like a dinner for some hobbits who need comfort food before embarking on a terrifying journey. Bon appetit!----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

Rest in peace Otho, fat shaming, and Ted Sandyman ruin's Pat's dream of being Gandalf. This week we discuss book 1, chapter 3 - "Three Is Company" from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": Mrs. Maggot's Hearty Mushroom & Bacon QuicheFrozen or homemade pie crust1/2 lb bacon (extra thick cut recommended)1 tsp veg oil----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

A typo breaks the silence, the gang give each other travel names and Aragorn turns RJ on. This week we discuss book 1, chapter 2 - "the Shadow of the Past" from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": A Snack for GollumSmoked salmonCheese of choice (recommend chive cream cheese and smoked gouda)CrackersSwedish fishThis snack does not need a recipe. Please don't make me explain how to put cheese and fish on a cracker. If you hate fish, eat candy instead.----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura

Gentle (and not so gentle) hobbits, Gandalf's a jerk, and a good old fashioned Ham Sam-which. This week we discuss book 1, chapter 1 - "A long-Expected Party" - from The Fellowship of the Ring. Today's "Food For Thought": A Toast to Bilbo's Birthday BashDrink of choice (sweet wine and mead are good options)HoneyPop Rocks-Line the rim of your goblet with honey. Pour the pop rocks into a plate and press the rim of the goblet into it. Fill the glass with your drink and enjoy the fireworks!----------------------------------------------------Welcome to the Fool of a Took Podcast — the show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense! Here's the catch - 2 of the 4 hosts have never read the books before! Join Chris, RJ, Pat and Laura as they dive headfirst into the world of Tolkien.With chapter snacks, fresh grog, and plenty of tongue wagging, Fool of a Took Podcast is like sitting in a pub in Bree, if everyone in the pub had ADHD and a microphone. Content Warning: Explicit Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings.Watch the podcast on Youtube! InstagramTikTokOriginal music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:ChrisRobbie JeanPatLaura