The Secret Adventures of WriterGirl

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Iris by Goo Goo Dolls.





I can't believe I'm doing this. I really can't believe I'm doing this. I'm pressed for time and I need a Hunger Games-based video (I mean really, I can't NOT put one up when Mockinjay releases in FOUR DAYS). The trailers don't thrill me, and I did interviews with Suzanne Collins last year...


*shakes fists at the internet gods*


So.. you get to see a video of... me. Really. For those of you who don't know, I invent recipes. Call it a hobby of mine or some weird affliction. I took two years of pre-professional cooking classes, and I have been creating recipes since I was six (no joke. Ask my mom). So I like to invent recipes in honor of books. And the first book everyone decided on when I opened this up to the great voice of the internet? You got it. The Hunger Games.

And it was also DEMANDED I dress up in my Halloween costume as Katniss *facepalm* So for your viewing pleasure/pure laughter is my first vlog ever, detailing how to make Katniss' favorite meal from the Capitol - the Lamb and Plum stew. (I'll also include the recipe below, in case anyone wants to make this for a HG party).

Sigh.


This is why I don't write blog posts at 11:30 at night. I get into trouble. Enjoy, everyone! My humiliation isn't all that bad. Really...







And the recipe!


Lamb and Plum Stew

1/2 large onion, cut
1 Tb olive oil
1 lb lamb, cubed (stew meat or neck meat) - it all depends if you want to cut around bones or not. Neck meat is cheaper, but more time consuming.
2 tsp red wine vinegar

2 C water
1 1/2 tsp brown sugar
10-13 dried pitted plums (prunes)
3-4 large carrots, sliced
1/4 (more) onion, cut
*3-4 potatoes, cubed (with or without skin)
*1 stalk celery - optional
1/2 large red bell pepper, cut
salt - to taste
pepper - to taste
rosemary - 1 Tb
*(cinnamon) - optional, to taste (I'd recommend 1/4 tsp if you want to try it)


Plum Gravy:

Juices from the stew
Additional water (as needed)
Flour (1/4 C to start is usually a good place)
Salt and pepper - to taste
1/4-1/2 C prune juice (start with 1/4 C. Be careful not to make it too sweet. Lots of tasting is involved in this step).




Pour the olive oil and cut onions into a saucepan. Turn on the heat to med-low and stir around until they are soft and translucent (caramelizing). Turn the heat to med-high. Add the meat and red wine vinegar. Brown the sides of the meat quickly. Do not allow it to cook all the way through. This is called searing the meat. It will help seal in the juices. Put into a crock pot.



Add the water (to help keep it moist and makes for more juices for the gravy), brown sugar, dried plums, rosemary, salt and pepper. Keep it on low for 4-5 hours. Have fun waiting. Learn to knit or something. :)



Three hours before you are ready to eat, add the carrots, potatoes, the remainder of the 1/4 of an onion, red bell peppers, and celery (optional). Also add the cinnamon if you are going to at this time (optional).

When you are ready to eat, it is time to make the gravy. In a small pot, start heating the prune juice. This is to boil of some of the water and to condense the flavor. In another pot, suck up all of the juices from the stew (yummy). Add flour in small amounts, by the teaspoon, and whisk like crazy. Try to make it smooth and keep it from clumping. Depending on how much stew juices you have, you may have to add water to help supplement it, or to thin it out if the gravy has become too thick. Add salt and pepper. Add the now-boiling prune juice. Taste and tweak until it is the desirable mixture of sweet and savory. Pour back in with the meat. Stir and serve. You can also pour it over a bed of "wild rice" if you so desire (that part is in the book if you want to be really authentic).**




Congratulations! You just made The Hunger Games Lamb and Plum Stew!




You will notice a common phrase ringing throughout this. To taste. That is because this really is a personal exploration. You get to decide what you will like best. From the infamous words of Barbossa the pirate. "These are more guidelines, that actual rules." :)

Hoped you liked it!




*not in the original video. You need the potatoes though.

**rice needs to be cooked 20 minutes before you are ready to eat if you are taking this option.