Love Triangles (Hunger Games)

I tend to be very judgey and annoying. Ask anyone. One of the things I’m judgey about is media.

Oh, does that movie have Nicholas Cage in it? I am not wasting my time.

Oh, that show is on Fox? It’ll get cancelled before it has a chance.

Oh, that song came out within the last five years? It has absolutely no musical merit whatsover.

Oh, is that another movie based on another book series made for teens? Yeah, I bet it’s terrible.

Mockingjay Love Triangles

I’m fucking insufferable. And a good percentage of the time, I’m wrong. And, surprisingly, happy to admit it. The Hunger Games was one of those times. I thought it was some dumb kid shit and I couldn’t be bothered. I ended up being coerced into watching the first movie, and it was all over. I watched the others. I read the books. (Except the last half of the last one, so as not to spoil the movie for myself.) Now that the last movie is coming out, I’d be remiss if I didn’t do a column on it.

Originally, I wanted to do something on the district breads. But it’s been done. Then I wanted to make Peeta bread. But no one needs a recipe for pitas. So, plugging into the romantic tension of the movie, I have made Love Triangles. They are one part Peeta (pita), one part Gale (kale) and one part Mockingjay (chicken poppers) with a little bit of goat cheese spread (made from Lady, Primrose’s goat). I made the mockingjay poppers sweet and fiery, just like Katniss.

Mockingjay, Kale and Pita… whatever shall you do?

The Hunger Games: Love Triangles
for sweet & fiery mockingjay poppers
2 tbsp sriracha
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp ketchup
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp brown sugar
chicken poppers (recipe here)*

for goat cheese spread
6 oz goat cheese
2 tbsp fresh chives
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper

for the other two parts of the love triangle
baby kale, stem removed and ripped into small pieces
pita pockets, cut into triangles
olive oil
herbs de provence
salt
chives, for garnish

*This recipe is perfect, but cut the chicken into smaller pieces. Or you can just buy a pound of fried boneless wings from your deli if you need a shortcut.

Preheat oven to 400°F.

In a large bowl, whisk together first six ingredients. Toss chicken in to coat. Place in a single layer in a baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes. Flip. Bake for another 5 minutes.

In another bowl, blend together all of the ingredients for the goat cheese spread. Set aside.

Place the pita triangles on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and herbs de provence. Place in oven for 5 minutes. (You want them to be warm and slightly toasted but not hard.)

Top pita with a schmear of spread, some kale and a mockingjay nugget. Skewer. Garnish with chives if desired.