The Unofficial Recipes of The Hunger Games (11 page)

PAPRIKA DUCK AND ROSEMARY TUBERS WITH GRAVY

SERVES 8

Katniss tubers and groosling featured heavily in
the
Hunger Games
trilogy. Both were a huge part of the survival of the characters that had the hunting and foraging skills to acquire them.

Since we've included other groosling and katniss dishes, we'll use duck and yucca here. The duck adds an interesting flavor and texture that goes very well with the starchiness of the yucca.

DUCK:

2 TEASPOONS SALT

2 TEASPOONS PAPRIKA

1 TEASPOON BLACK PEPPER

1 (5-POUND) WHOLE DUCK

1 LARGE ONION, QUARTERED

2 LARGE SPRIGS OF FRESH ROSEMARY

½ CUP MELTED BUTTER, DIVIDED

YUCCA:

1¼ POUNDS FRESH YUCCA

1 TEASPOON SALT, DIVIDED

4 TABLESPOONS SALTED BUTTER, MELTED

6–8 GARLIC CLOVES, MINCED

1 LARGE SPRIG OF FRESH ROSEMARY LEAVES

½ TEASPOON FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER

1 CUP CREAM

1 BUNCH ITALIAN PARSLEY, LEAVES CHOPPED

GRAVY:

4 TABLESPOONS FLOUR

1 CUP CHICKEN OR DUCK STOCK

DUCK:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Make a dry rub of salt, paprika and pepper and generously rub into the skin and cavity.

Put the duck into a roasting pan and stuff with onion and 2 sprigs of rosemary.

Roast for 1 hour. Then baste duck with about ¼ cup of melted butter until skin is nicely coated.

Cook for another 45 minutes.

Baste again and allow 15 more minutes in the oven. Duck should be a nice golden brown.

YUCCA:

Peel and wash the yucca. Put in a small pan and fill with water, just until yucca is covered.

Add ½ teaspoon of salt to water. Bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer, covered, about 30 minutes, until a fork goes through the yucca without effort.

Drain and leave in the colander for cooling.

When it's cool enough to handle, pull the roots and veins out of the yucca.

Melt the butter and sweat the garlic and the rosemary petals on medium-low heat until tender but not brown, then add the remaining salt and pepper.

Add the cream and bring to a soft simmer, stirring frequently so the bottom doesn't burn.

Add the yucca and mash until desired consistency (a bit lumpy).

Put the mixture into a baking dish, cover and place in oven (already preheated to 375) for 8–10 minutes.

Garnish with chopped parsley.

GRAVY:

Use drippings from the duck. Measure out ½ cup of drippings, pour into a heavy pan and bring to a boil on high heat.

Reduce heat to medium, whisk in the flour and whisk constantly until it forms a thick golden paste.

Slowly pour in stock, whisking constantly to avoid lumps.

Continue to cook over medium heat until thickened.

HAYMITCH'S HANGOVER MUFFINS

YIELDS 18 MUFFINS

One morning during the tour of the districts, Katniss found Haymitch nursing a hangover and nibbling at a muffin. It's doubtful that any muffin could have cured Haymitch, but these are at least very tasty.

These muffins are especially good as a breakfast or snack in the winter months. Try them with some cream cheese or a smear of orange marmalade.

3 CUPS ALL-PURPOSE WHEAT FLOUR

¾ CUP BROWN SUGAR

¾ CUP WHITE SUGAR

1 TABLESPOON BAKING POWDER

2 TEASPOONS GROUND CINNAMON

1 TEASPOON GROUND GINGER

½ TEASPOON BAKING SODA

½ TEASPOON SALT

½ TEASPOON GROUND NUTMEG

1¼ CUP MILK

1 CUP BUTTER, MELTED

2 EGGS, BEATEN

1 CUP DRIED CHERRIES, CHOPPED

1 CUP APPLE, PEELED AND CHOPPED

¾ CUP TOASTED HAZELNUTS, CHOPPED

½ CUP DRIED FIGS, CHOPPED

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix together all the dry ingredients minus the fruit and nuts.

Add milk, butter and eggs to mix. (Create a well in the middle of your dry ingredients to effectively combine liquids and solids.)

When batter is smooth and without dry pockets, add the cherries, hazelnuts, apples and figs.

Grease a muffin pan well and sprinkle it lightly with flour.

Fill each muffin pan cup ¾ full.

Bake 15–20 minutes.

PEETA'S MULTIGRAIN BREAD

MAKES 2 LOAVES

Peeta brought this yeasty bread to Haymitch one morning and Haymitch had the bad grace to hand him a filthy knife to cut it. Ever respectful of the work and ingredients that go into a loaf of bread, Peeta opted to clean the knife before using it.

If you've never baked bread, this is a good recipe to use for your first time. It's a very basic recipe that yields delicious results.

1 CUP WARM WATER (110 DEGREES)

1 PACKAGE ACTIVE DRY YEAST (2¼ TEASPOONS)

1 TABLESPOON WHITE SUGAR

6 CUPS WHEAT BREAD FLOUR, DIVIDED

1 CUP MILK, ROOM TEMPERATURE

2 EGGS

2 TABLESPOONS BUTTER, SOFTENED

2 TEASPOONS SALT

¼ CUP FRESH THYME, CHOPPED

¼ CUP FRESH CHIVES, CHOPPED

1 EGG WHITE

2 TABLESPOONS WATER

In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in 1 cup warm water. Let stand about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, stir together the yeast mixture with four cups of flour, milk, eggs, butter, salt, thyme and chives. Add the remaining flour ½ cup at a time.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead about 8 minutes. The dough should be soft, smooth and not sticky.

Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth and put in a warm area to rise for about an hour, or until double in size.

Grease 2 aluminum loaf pans. Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.

Knead gently for 1 minute and form into 2 ovals.

Place in loaf pans, cover with a warm cloth and let sit for another 40 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly beat the egg white and 2 tablespoons of water and brush over bread. Bake for 30 minutes.

SOOTHE MY SOUL TEA

MAKES 2 CUPS

Katniss recalled when Gale's little brother had nothing to eat for an entire week but corn syrup on bread, and tea flavored with corn syrup. This would have been trying for anyone, even someone as strong as Katniss.

This tea, made with honey rather than corn syrup, is more palatable. It's wonderful served hot or cold, so enjoy it over ice in the warmer months.

1 (2-INCH) PIECE LEMON PEEL, CUT INTO THIN SLIVERS

2 TEASPOONS BOILING WATER

¾ CUP HOT WATER

2 TEASPOONS GREEN TEA POWDER

3 TABLESPOONS FRESHLY SQUEEZED LEMON JUICE

1 TEASPOON HONEY

Put lemon peel into a large cup or mug.

Cover with 2 teaspoons boiling water and let steep for about 3 minutes to release the oils.

Stir in the hot water and green tea powder.

Add the lemon juice and honey.

Mix well and serve with a thick slice of bread slathered with honey.

MELLARK'S CINNAMON BREAD

MAKES 1 LOAF

As Katniss walked past the Mellark Bakery, she inhaled the scent of cinnamon bread baking. It reminded her of her hunger, but also reminded her of someone she may have lost.

This cinnamon bread is moist and flavorful, and will keep well in a sealed bag or container. It's delicious with cream cheese or even peanut butter as a topping.

3 CUPS ALL-PURPOSE WHEAT FLOUR

2 CUPS SUGAR

1 (5.1 OUNCE) PACKAGE INSTANT VANILLA PUDDING MIX

2 TEASPOONS GROUND CINNAMON

1½ TEASPOONS BAKING POWDER

½ TEASPOON BAKING SODA

½ TEASPOON SALT

1½ CUPS MILK

½ CUP CANOLA OIL

2 EGGS, BEATEN

1 TEASPOON VANILLA EXTRACT

2 TABLESPOONS CINNAMON SUGAR

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Spray two 5 x 9-inch loaf pans with baking spray.

In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, pudding mix, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a separate bowl, mix the milk, oil, eggs and vanilla.

Stir the milk mixture into the flour mixture until well mixed and all the lumps have been smoothed out.

Cover the bottoms of the loaf pans lightly with cinnamon sugar and pour the batter into each pan evenly.

Bake 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a loaf comes out clean.

BITTERSWEET MEMORIES DILL BREAD

MAKES 2 LOAVES

Once she truly knew Peeta and had grown to care for him, the odors of the bakery would evoke memories and fears that troubled Katniss instead of evoking an appetite.

This bread is simple to make but the flavor and texture are outstanding. Try toasting a few slices and topping with cream cheese and salmon.

3½ CUPS ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR, DIVIDED

1½ CUPS WHEAT FLOUR

½ CUP INSTANT NONFAT DRY MILK POWDER

2 (1½ TEASPOONS) PACKAGES ACTIVE DRY YEAST

2 TEASPOONS SUGAR

1 TEASPOON SALT

1 TEASPOON DILL SEED

1 TEASPOON DILL WEED

1¾ CUPS WATER

2 TEASPOONS SHORTENING

In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour,
wheat flour, milk powder, yeast, sugar, salt and the dill.

In a pan, heat water and shortening to between 120 and 130 degrees. (You can use a candy thermometer to be more precise.) Then pour into dry ingredients. Beat until blended well and the mixture is smooth.

Stir in enough remaining all-purpose flour to form soft dough.

Turn onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, adding flour as needed.

Place in a greased bowl and flip once to coat both sides.

Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes.

Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half.

Shape into 2 balls. Place on 2 greased baking sheets.

Cover and let rest in a warm place about 35 more minutes. With a sharp knife, score the bread (make several shallow slashes across the top of each loaf).

Bake at 375 degrees for 30–35 minutes, or until golden brown.

Remove from pans to cool.

PRIM'S HEARTY BEEF STEW

SERVES 4

This bowl of stew was both comforting and nourishing to Katniss as she faced the prospect of returning to the Arena. Stew wasn't often available to Katniss before her first
Hunger Games
, but her victory had changed her circumstances and diet considerably.

Beef stew is one of the most popular of comfort foods, and it's a great meal to have with a salad or chunk of bread on a cool evening.

½ CUP WATER

¼ CUP RED WINE VINEGAR

1 TABLESPOON SUGAR

1 POUND BONELESS BEEF CHUCK ROAST, CUT INTO 1-INCH CUBES

¼ TEASPOON PEPPER

¼ TEASPOON GROUND NUTMEG

¾ TEASPOON SALT

1 SMALL ONION, SLICED

2 STALKS CELERY, CHOPPED

1 BAY LEAF

1 PACKAGE EGG NOODLES, COOKED ACCORDING TO INSTRUCTIONS

2 TEASPOONS CORNSTARCH

2 TABLESPOONS HALF-AND-HALF OR CREAM

Combine the water, vinegar and sugar in a small pan and heat over medium heat.

Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved, then let cool.

Season beef with pepper, nutmeg, and salt and place in a large re-sealable plastic bag.

Add onion, celery and bay leaf to the cooled marinade.

Pour marinade into the re-sealable plastic bag and seal. Shake gently to coat and refrigerate overnight.

Reserve ½ cup marinade, and drain the rest. Remove the bay leaf.

Place the beef and reserved marinade in a pan and bring to a boil.

Cook noodles while meat simmers.

Turn down the heat. Cover and simmer until meat is tender, about 30 minutes.

Combine cornstarch and half-and-half and stir into beef mixture.

Bring to a boil, then cook and stir for 2 minutes, or until slightly thickened.

Serve over noodles.

MRS. EVERDEEN'S SIMPLE BROTH

SERVES 8

Katniss shared a cup of her mother's broth with Haymitch shortly before leaving once again for the Capitol to participate in the Quarter Quell.

This traditional recipe is probably similar to what Mrs. Everdeen would have been able to make. If marrow bones aren't a regular sight in your supermarket, ask the butcher if they're available. They often are, but only if you ask.

3 QUARTS WATER

3 BEEF MARROW BONES

1 CARROT, COARSELY CHOPPED

½ TURNIP, PEELED AND CHOPPED

2 STALKS CELERY, CHOPPED

1 LEEK, SLICED

SEVERAL SPRIGS OF FRESH THYME

SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE

½ CUP FRESH PARSLEY, CHOPPED

Bring the water to a boil in heavy-bottomed stockpot.

Add the marrow bone, carrot, turnip, celery and leek.

Add the thyme sprigs, salt and pepper.

Bring to a boil and then simmer gently over medium heat for 4 hours.

Remove the bones from the pot. Strain broth through fine mesh strainer.

Return to a boil and then stir in the parsley. Season broth with salt, pepper and fresh parsley.

Serve hot or freeze broth and substitute for beef stock in future recipes.

9

THE TRAIN TO QUARTER QUELL

“And I'm left standing at the window, watching District 12 disappear, with all my goodbyes still hanging on my lips.”

KATNISS,
CATCHING FIRE
BY SUZANNE COLLINS, CHAPTER 13

THE FIRST TIME
THAT KATNISS AND PEETA
took the train to the Capitol they were overwhelmed by not only what was ahead of them, but also by the foods that were placed before them.

On this second trip, the food was no less startling, and no less needed. Unfortunately the tension between Katniss and Peeta and the knowledge of what they were returning to in the Arena distracted them from any enjoyment they might have gotten from the meals.