Haymitch’s Basket of Love

Peeta peers through the rocks and then gives a whoop. Before I can stop him, he’s out in the rain, then handing something in to me. A silver parachute attached to a basket. I rip it open at once and inside there’s a feast—fresh rolls, goat cheese, apples, and best of all, a tureen of that incredible lamb stew on wild rice. The very dish I told Caesar Flickerman was the most impressive thing the Capitol had to offer. Peeta wriggles back inside, his face lit up like the sun.

“I guess Haymitch finally got tired of watching us starve.”

“I guess so,” I answer.

But in my head I can hear Haymitch’s smug, if slightly exasperated, words, “Yes, that’s what I’m looking for, sweetheart.”

Boy, talk about a productive cooking weekend! Not only did I bake bread and start an open flame fire all by myself, but I made dinner rolls and goat cheese too. I bought a tureen and a basket just to make this one, though I bought the basket at a thrift store for 3 bucks. There was no way I was going to buy one of those $80 picnic baskets they sell on Amazon, especially since none looked like they’d fit a tureen in them.

Re-creating this one was nice and simple, I just arranged all the food, tucked in a couple of plates, forks, knives, and apples, then added the goat cheese (which is goofily packed into a ramekin) and there you have it! Haymitch’s basket of love! I have to confess I cheated and the tureen is not full of lamb stew….