I read the first book of
The Hunger Games in two sittings. In the 16 years previous, I’d read about five books total. So, when a coworker told me about this young-adult, science fiction trilogy, I was not exactly a marketable candidate. Kids fight to the death for food?
Yikes.
“But it’s
so good,” she assured me.
“No, no—I believe you.” (
I did not believe her.)
That is, until I kept getting a question that became impossible to ignore, “Have you read
The Hunger Games? You
need to read it.”
“You haven’t read it? You really need to read it.”
“I don’t understand why you haven’t read it. Read it—this time I’m not asking.”
So I did. Like a ravenous animal, I might add. And of course, I’m headed to an IMAX theater opening day, far more excited than a woman of 34 should be to go see a movie with a tween-style love triangle. But I’m not going to lie, I sort of want a T-shirt. None of that Team Gale/Team Peeta nonsense—something with flames. Gold eyeliner might also be necessary.
Seeing everything on the big screen should be a feast for the eyes (no pun intended). Because as books go, it was really packed with some intense visuals, not the least of which was the food.
Both the gluttony of the Capitol and the starvation in the 12 Districts made for some very vivid images, from squirrel jerky (not the real name, that’s just what I call it), to lavish multi-course banquets. Certainly gave me a lot to choose from in my search for
just the right recipes to represent the story.
To that end, below are some
Hunger Games-inspired recipes, guaranteed to fuel you up for the movie, especially if you’re heading to the midnight showing. (And to those people I’d like to say, Wow, you’re hardcore—good for you.)
Enjoy and eat up!
—Mackenzie Schieck
Editor,
Allrecipes.com
Lamb Stew
Katniss, the main character, was asked in the pre-games interview to name her favorite part of the events so far. Understandably unenthused by pretty much
every part—after all, she’s about to be thrown into a death match—she answered honestly, “The lamb stew.”
Bread
Bread is everywhere in The Hunger Games, but most significantly in a flashback when Katniss’s District 12 Games-mate, Peeta, “throws away” a loaf in Katniss’s direction at a much-needed time for her family.
Dandelion Salad
Just when Katniss thought she and her family would starve, she saw a dandelion and it reminded her that there was always something she could harvest or hunt, she just needed to remember where to look.
Apples
In one of Katniss’s first acts of rebellion, she shoots an arrow across the room into an apple, which just happens to be sitting in the mouth of a roasted pig the Gamemakers have been feasting on. How do you like
them apples? I recommend sautéed:
Hot Chocolate
On the train to the Capitol, Katniss tries a “brown, rich cup of something” Peeta tells her is hot chocolate. She takes a small sip, then downs the entire cup before even starting on the meal.
