“If you could have anything in the world right now what would it be?” my six year old friend Jenny said to the group of us.
“I want a pony!” Michelle said.
“I want to go to Disneyland!” Alison said.
“I want a piece of apple pie!” I answered.
When I was younger and life was simpler, I dreamed only of apple pie. As my family did not believe in desserts, the opportunity to eat cakes and apple pies was relegated to birthdays at other people’s homes. And given that kids don’t generally want apple pie for a birthday cake, I ate apple pie once but it was a time when I savoured every mouthful. I would often get cravings for apple pie and to quiten me down my parents once said to me
“Just imagine that you’re eating it”
So I went to bed and lay on my bottom bunk bed thinking of every bite of the apple pie I had eaten the time before. I was concentrating so hard that my eyes were squeezed shut and my fists were balled. And then every texture came flooding back to me, the soft texture of the apples, the aroma of the cinnamon and the thick, butter crust. I could taste every bite again.
I am fortunate enough to never have gone hungry when I was young but I know that often people do and hunger for us here is a different concept than it is in other countries too. I was urged to make something from The Hunger Games books by Suzanne Collins, those books and movie that have taken the world by storm. The problem was, that whilst many American kids had read this book thus ensuring a healthy turnout at the theatres, Australian kids like us were less familiar with them. Nevertheless when many friends had reported that they had devoured the books quickly I sat up and took notice. Then came reader Amanda who asked me if I could make something from the book which made me even more curious. I would of course have to read the book and see what the food was like and over two nights I sat up in bed reading each page unable to put it down.
The dish that stood out in my mind was the lamb stew that was heroine Katniss Everdeen’s favourite. The fictional novel is set sometime in the future in a place called Panem (formerly North America). It is a place where resources are scarce and people are segregated into districts. Every district is controlled by the Capitol and when the districts rebelled against the Capitol, they were decimated with one district completely destroyed. To prove and reinforce their domination, the capitol had every district send one boy and one girl to take part in “the Hunger Games” which is kind of like brutal reality tv show, where the kids fight each other to the death with only one victor all in the name of entertainment. The protagonist Katniss is from District 12 which is the poorest district where meat is scarce and she makes do by hunting so food and therefore hunger is quite a predominant theme.
The way she described eating that first mouthful of stew was the way that I remembered my first bites of apple pie. My friend Angela from Spinach Tiger made this stew and it looked mouthwatering. There is an unofficial Hunger Games cookbook where they outline a recipe for the lamb stew and I decided to adapt it to do it in a pressure cooker to mimic the pressure that the contestants would have felt and because, to be honest well I was hungry and I had less than an hour to make dinner.
I served this with some wild rice as per the book’s suggestion but also added a wonderful seed laden handmade Irish Soda Bread given to me by Paddy the Baker which had a generous coat of seeds reminiscent of Peeta’s bread as well. I also added some divine potato scones, also from Paddy. The potato scones are meant to go with something like Irish Stew but I thought that this might fit too.
Please don’t be scared by the long ingredients list for the stew, the method is a cinch and if you make this in the pressure cooker it literally cooks for 20 minutes with just a bit of browning beforehand of the meat and onions. I’ve also given instructions for making this in a slow cooker or in a pot on the stovetop. Any of these will do and will give you a rich, heady stew sweet with prunes and apricots with a rich, flavoursome and plentiful sauce. Also, a big thank you to Faith for the lovely ornate container that I served the stew in!
So tell me Dear Reader, have you read or seen The Hunger Games? And what is your favourite book to movie or tv adaption?
The Hunger Games’ Lamb Stew with Dried Plums
Adapted from the Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook
Serves 4
- 1 kilo, 1 inch diced lamb neck (also called scotch fillet-you can also use lamb fillet, diced leg or shoulder)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup plain or all purpose flour
- 1-2 tablespoons oil
- 2 cloves garlic, sliced
- 2 onions, sliced
- 2 cups beef stock
- 2 large carrots, cut into chunks
- 500g/1 pound small chat potatoes roughly the same size
- 1/4 cup pitted prunes
- 1/4 cup Turkish dried apricots
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 1 sprig fresh lemon thyme (or use thyme and add some lemon zest)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup ginger beer
- Salt if needed
- Serve with: wild rice, regular rice or Paddy’s potato scones
5. If using a pot on the stovetop: Add the stock, sugar, carrots, potatoes, prunes, apricots, rosemary, lemon thyme, bay leaves and ginger beer to the beef and onion mix. Gently simmer with the lid on, stirring occasionally for 1.5 to 2 hours and taste to see whether salt is needed.
Interested in trying another variation of this? My friend Julie from Gourmet Getaways also made a version using a slow cooker and it sounds delicious! 
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75 Comments | Add your own
Ohh that ornate container is SO pretty it caught my eye as soon as I read this post!
I don’t eat lamb so this isn’t a dish that I would make BUT having said that hehe Mr Bao can’t eat beef ~ and I know he’d love this stew so maybe I will to have to make it hehe
I’ve never seen or read The Hunger Games
but you make it sound really interesting ~
Bravo. Gorgeous. Love the dried apricots, the Irish soda bread and next time, I’m going to keep my veggies large like you did. It’s ten kisses, as my friend Patty would say.
That dish looks wonderful and really tasty! Lamb is perfect for stewing.
Cheers,
Rosa
That container is indeed quite beautiful, Lorraine. That movie is quite the rage now in Toronto and I’m sure we’re going to see it very soon. This recipe does remind me somewhat of the Moroccan lamb stew we made the Maison MK cooking class. Very yummy indeed.
Love how vividly you describe the memories of the apple pie Lorraine! This stew sounds delish!
Now I am imagining eating apple pie and this devine looking stew! I had never heard of The Hunger Games until the movie came out. My favourite book adaptation is the 1990s BBC Pride and Prejudice mini series.
i shall make this sometime soon.
What a terrific recipe, just what I like.
As we are heading into colder days this will be a definite recipe for me.
Fantastic recipe indeed, and the use of ginger beer is inspired! I use it instead of lemonade in my scones.
I was certainly never hungry growing up, but would often be jealous of my sisters eating foods forbidden to me like Iced Vovos and plums. I can relate to your imaginationary imagery
My husband shares your love of apples pies. I better make him one soon. This stew looks so delicious and comforting…
Also, thank you for continuing to visit The Modern Home Economist. I always feel a little start struck when you visit and leave such great comments! Appreciate the support
The power of food, amazing. I need to read more about the hunger games.
I’m going to have to read these “Hunger Games” that you speak of methinks! Stew looks amazing, I can almost smell it through the screen!
soooo excited you made this – the hunger games books are my favorite and i read it again over the weekend and they did such a great adaptation to movie, admittedly i also like the twilight movies
Honestly, I am not a big fan of lamb, but I do love apple pies. I think my favorite dessert would be the bread and butter pudding because we just never had it as kids. It was something foreign to me until I was about 15.
What a lovely looking stew and yes, that’s a very beautiful container. If only my children’s wish list consisted of an apple pie!
Here in this household apple pie is a favorite of my hubby with chocolate ice cream on top. We do not have an interest in seeing that movie with the exception of the grandson. Lamb stew is not something that anyone of us will eat. The first time I tried lamb stew, the kids would not eat and hubby said do not ever fix this again.
I read the books about 2 years ago after a friend discovered them. You really can’t tell anyone the story line without them thinking you’re a weirdo can you? They’re just so good!
I saw the movie the day it came out (yes I’m a nerd) and it was great. They did a fantastic job.
I think my most favourite book to movie was the Time Traveler’s Wife. That was so well done.
Recipe for Paddy’s Potato Scones?????? please!
Okay…. I’m not a Sydneyite… you mean bought ones from Paddy the baker, eh?
This looks delicious! I actually saw the movie of the hunger games first and then read the books, I read the 1st 2 in about 4 days flat. I’m about to start the 3rd! Harry Potter is still my favourite!
I’m a highschool English teacher in the real world and I love these books. Well written, strong female protagonist, real problems, strength and just a great series really.
They’re gathering momentum around the country and when we go back for term 2. I’ll be teaching the book. The kids are excited.
I’m very seriously thinking about having a Hunger Games Picnic on the last day of next term for the class, so if you could send me that unofficial cookbook I’d be thrilled.
It looks amazing.
And I think it’s impossible to go past Gone with the Wind, as one of the best book to film adapatations.
Love love love the hunger games.. My sister and I were so taken with the sound of the lamb stew we did a version of it the other night. We did a maroccan style lamb, honey and prune tagine. It was delicious and was really fun relating it back to the book.
Love love that container. I’ve yet to read the book but this post sure makes me want to read it. So much hype surrounding the movie. The dish sounds rather Moroccan with the dried fruit. Perfect for the colder months coming up. Definitely have to try it.
—The lamb stew is b e a u t i f u l…
as are you, Lorraine.
The Hunger Games are HUGE here right now. All of the book clubs are reading it.
I am reading “50 Shades of Grey,” which is alway the BIG TALK. Very naughty.
I will be reading The Hunger next…
My fave. book to movie recently has been “The Help”
Great post. Xx Kissssss
Oh very cool!
Gorgeous recipe and perfect for the coming cool weather.
My daughters are mad for the Hunger Games books and couldn’t put them down.
I am only a recently made fan/addict of The Hunger Games…read all the books within a week and saw the movie last night. It is a fantastic storyline and constantly draws you in. I cannot help but always relate better to the books for some reason, but this was still a very good adaptation.
Love you lamb stew – it looks scrumptious and well paired with the seeded bread and potato scones.
Potato scones???? Sounds too
good to be true that I’d find
them in any bakery here in the USA.
I haven’t seen the movie, nor read the books yet. But I would imagine lamb stew to be the perfect food when you have to fight for your life. It’s comforting, flavorful and packed with protein to make you strong enough to survive pretty much anything, don’t you think?
Delicious meal with stunning styling Lorraine
I’m def a Harry Potter fan from way back! I was in Rome when the last movie came out and we were able to find an English cinema! It was like the end of an era watching the last movie, almost 14 years from the Books to the last movie!
I LOVE that you’ve been sucked into the books… I spent a whole day in bed reading the first one, and am currently devouring the second one.
Of course, I have to keep breaking from the book to eat because all that starving on the pages does make a girl hungry.
And now I can cook up the dish I was most curious about. Now, I just have to find someone who can make me a dress that burns without making me hot…
I didn’t see the movie and I didn’t read the book…not yet…It’s not common to see movie that reflect exactly what is in the book, so I never go with great expectations, just to enjoy what ever the producers want to show to us. But there was a movie that captured me “Como agua para chocolate” (sorry, don’t know the name in English), the movie was the book.
A delicious hearty winter meal. I love lamb in most recipes and this one is a must try for me.
I haven’t seen the movie yet.
This would be a perfect meal for me. However, I WOULD have the apple pie for dessert. I can close my eyes and see my mother’s apple pie sitting in front of me. It was always wonderful and she always said, “I wish I could make better crust.” I miss her pies.
Don’t believe ‘Hunger Games’ is one iota my proverbial cup of tea, but could eat lamb every day of the week, so this ‘variation on a theme’ was most welcome! Having many dear Irish friends who make stupendous lamb ‘stews’, I would say this recipe was more of a gentrified ‘Oirish’ dish with heaps of lovely fruit rather than Moroccan: it kind’of lacked some of its essential spices. Shall most certainly try next time around. Have not used ginger beer nor my favourite lemon thyme! Thanks!!
Ok, I read potato scones and my mind went blank. Sound. so. good.
I think I’m the last person on earth who hasn’t read the books or seen the movie! I’m going to have to give in and pick up a book. What a great meal to make from the story. I want to try potato scones!
I’d love to have some of that stew! it looks mouthwatering!
I love that you made this dish!! I started “The Hunger Games” yesterday at lunch time and finished at 9.30pm last night. I literally did nothing else but read!!
Awesome book!
Now I need to try your dish and put a flavour to the book.
Have you ever read the sci-fi “The White Mountains” The book really reminds me of this. I read it when I was in high school.
I just… don’t want to get engaged in The Hunger Games. People I respect love them, so I’m sure I’d get in, but some part of me just doesn’t want to be a part of teenagers killing each other. I don’t know, I love Game of Thrones, so I don’t really understand myself.
I wonder if my mother had called her lamb and prune casserole “lamb and plum” casserole, my brother and I would have liked it?
Probably not. But I’m slightly more grown up these days…
The Hunger Games has passed me by, perhaps when I get back to Australia I will find out more. I like the look of that stew.
Lorraine trust me Hunger Games is the biggest craze here in US for kids right now.
I won’t lie I had no idea about it till I started seeing kids going crazy… I felt as if I am so old with no idea of present craze n liking…LOL
The stew looks awesome, I love the casserole you have served it in..
Beautiful!!!
We are very lucky not to know true hunger! I love this sort of stew so much that I have made a veg version – I love prunes and dried apricots. Yours looks very pretty in that gorgeous dish and with the bread – I thought I spied potato scones – never had them with stew – I usually make them to serve with a fried breakfast – but may just find them at dinner very soon.
SUCH a magnificent gorgeous serving pot! The dish looks lovely, but I’m completely distracted by the pot!
I love dried apricots. That paired with rosemary and thyme sounds delish. What a delightful stew.
what a great recipe, and a wonderful memory! I can taste the apple pie of your childhood
yet to read it- seems to popular, the references are all over pinterest. I’ll have to get onto it.
Loving that beautiful container you used! And that lamb stew looks really good too! Although I have to admit, I’m not a lamb eater. hehe But could easily switch to beef yes? hehe
I’ve never read the Hunger Games and have yet to see it in the theatres. But one of the movies I love is Julie & Julia and the characters cooking the different recipes made famous by Julia Child! (: Glorious food indeed!
yum! this looks great, sometimes a stew like this is just what i want.
Loved the books from way back before the movie was a twinkle in the producers’ eyes! I love the concept of apple pie but have never come across one that is as good as the one in my imagination! I guess I’ll have to make that one myself.
Sadly not a lamb fan at all. There is just something about the taste of lamb I really don’t like. Saying that, would happily make that stew for my hubby who is a big lamb fan
This looks delicious! You’ve inspired me to make it
I have these books on my kindle just waiting for time to read them!
The stew looks delicious – I think stews are going to feature quite heavily in my home this winter
Great that you have done a movie themed stew – a lovely twist on a simple but comforting dish.
I just saw The Hunger Games last week — it was a morbid idea, but I loved every second of it, lol! The stew looks glorious, and I’m so glad you like the container — it’s gorgeous and so are your pics!
Fun post, Lorraine, and I love lamb stew. My mother made such a great one!
(Am I the only person left who has never read a Hunger Games book? Even my older sister told me to download the first one!)
I love it when books of the non-cooking variety have such a large focus on food. I loved the Hunger Games, and it was definitely true in Harry Potter too.
I haven’t read the book or seen the movie, but I am certainly going to!
I just finished reading “The Help” which everyone else read a year ago, so I am a little behind. My problem is that I read every single new cookbook I can get my hands on….
I loved the Hunger Games… finished all three books in about four days while we were in Rio recently. Haven’t seen the movie yet (we’re in Vietnam now and it hasn’t come out here) but I’m really hoping it’s still in the theatres when we get back to Sydney! This recipe looks so good, and perfect for autumn!
Beautiful photography caught my attention first – the pot looks really cool and even though I don’t eat lamb often, I will definitely eat it if this was offered in front of me. Looks so delicious! I’ve never cooked with dried plum, so I’m very curious about the flavor!
I’m ashamed to say that I think I’ve fixated on the container. It should wear off as my true muse is the food and I love new recipes. In the meanwhile if it’s not too much trouble can you please ask Faith where she got such a pretty piece? I’m not even sure why I’m asking. I live in Perth and its unlikely that even if this dish comes from a major chain that we would be able to get it here… sigh!
I am halfway through the second book (yes, hard to put down) and was very attracted to the idea of the lamb stew with prunes. I imagined there to be much more thick, plum coloured sauce in it but it looks delicious anyway.
Apple Pie: I must have been a very lucky little girl. I also loved (Dutch) apple pie, still do. I always (always) chose that for my birthday cake…. and I got it!
I can’t imagine not having pie while growing up – that’s so shocking and heartbreaking! Ok, give me another second to process that. The next time I bake an apple pie, I’m dedicating it to you…
The first I learned about the Hunger Games was when I saw the previews I’m theatres – but I really enjoyed the first movie & love that you created a stew to commemorate the story. My fav book-to-movie adaption would have to be Lord of the Rings as Peter Jackson managed to make those books come alive in a way that Tolken really couldn’t for me
i haven’t read the books or seen the movie, but i suppose i must. after all, it’s THE thing to do these days.
Goodness this sounds amazing. I saw the movie but since I haven’t read the book I wasn’t moved by it other than that it was a fast-paced, interesting script. However, there are so many bloggers, reviewers and friends who rave about the book- and the usual crew of disappointed fans that the movie didn’t live up to their expectations- that I think I’m going to have to get my hands on a copy.
I have yet to read the Hunger Games but you make it sound enticing and that container is indeed beautiful. I always have a giggle when I read about your family not eating dessert
What a great looking stew with big chunks of vegetables. I too dream of apple pie…. all the time
Two days after you posted this, Harris Farm @ Broadway mysteriously had a trolley with containers of dried plums sitting with all the bucket veggies. I had never seen them there before so I suspect they were preparing for some requests. I’m just about to start reading Catching Fire. I hope there is some good food inspiration in there too!
I have read and watched the hunger games and thought it was amazing. The stew recipe sounds great and definetely fits with the book
!!
Well… i can’t wait for my mother to make this dish! Reading when Katniss first tastes the stew in the book made my mouth water! I am so glad i will be finally able to experiance the amazing dish i have been longing to try!
Btw… i think the books are AMAZING. I have read them 5 times (each) and the mpvie was just as good! The adaptations from the book to the movie werent as good as i had hoped (e.g. *spoiler* prim giving katniss the pin instead of madge) BUT the movie was great for what it was!
I’m a big fan of lamb stews and French style bergerie. It’s on the stove now, slow simmering in a dutch oven and the intoxicating aroma is filling the house. I’ve opened a good bottle of red to accompany, and I can’t wait. Not how Katnis enjoyed, but what the heck!
This stew is delish!!! I had to make some changes due to availability of ingredients. I live in small town Wisconsin and have looked for ginger beer before and have never found it. I used about 1/4c of root beer and I also only had apricots in my pantry so I just doubled the amount. I also made some potato scones to go with it. I will be making this again! Thank You!
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