Cooking Adventure: The Hunger Games - Basil-Wrapped Goat Cheese

In honor of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire movie opening this weekend, I wanted to make something Hunger Games-related. Today, I present the basil-wrapped goat cheese that Prim made for Katniss on Reaping Day in the first Hunger Games book.

The Hunger Games - Basil-wrapped Goat Cheese

THE HUNGER GAMES: BASIL-WRAPPED GOAT CHEESE
Adapted from "Prim's Basil-Wrapped Goat Cheese Balls" in The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook

Ingredients
5 oz goat cheese, room temperature
4 T extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
Salt (to taste)
Ground pepper (to taste)
Basil leaves
Crackers or bread for serving

Directions

1. Combine goat cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl
2. Scoop out small spoonfuls of goat cheese mixture and form into balls
3. Wrap with basil leaves
4. Serve with crackers or bread 

The original recipe called for freshly ground black pepper, which is what I used, but I didn't like how it created little black specks in my goat cheese. I would recommend using white pepper next time.

If you're interested in more Hunger Games recipes, check out the links below:
Katniss's Favorite Lamb Stew with Dried Plums
Peeta's Nut and Raisin Bread
District 4 Bread - Fish-shaped Seaweed Bread
District 11 Bread - Crescent-shaped Grain Bread

Anime Food Re-creation: Ponyo Ramen

Hey everyone! Today's Anime Food Re-creation is Ponyo Ramen!

Ponyo - Ramen

After watching Ponyo and seeing Sosuke's mom make surprise ramen for Ponyo and Sosuke, I knew I had to make it.

Cooking Adventure: Joey's Meatball Sub from FRIENDS

In one episode of FRIENDS, Joey, Ross, and Chandler go on an undercover ride-along with Phoebe's cop boyfriend, Gary. While on the ride-along, Joey gets "the best sandwich in the world" made with meatballs, melted cheese, and marinara sauce, but Gary won't let Joey eat it in his car. Now you have to understand, Joey loves his meatball subs. Later in the night, the guys are startled by a car backfire, which they mistaken for a gunshot. Joey appears to dive to save Ross, which upsets Chandler. However, Joey is actually diving to save his sandwich! That must be some sandwich!

After seeing this episode, I knew I had to make my own meatball sub sandwich. Below is a super easy recipe for a meatball sub inspired by Joey's sandwich and made with frozen meatballs and canned marinara sauce. Of course, if you make homemade meatballs and marinara sauce from scratch, definitely use that instead.

Joey's Meatball Sub from FRIENDS

EASY MEATBALL SUB SANDWICH
Yield: 4 sandwiches

Ingredients
16 meatballs, thawed
1 can or jar marinara sauce
Garlic butter (Homemade Garlic Butter Recipe Here)
4 French rolls
Shredded mozzarella or provolone (sliced cheese works too)

Directions

1. Brown meatballs in a skillet.
2. Add marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes, or until meatballs and sauce are cooked and heated through.
3. Spread garlic butter inside French rolls and toast in toaster oven.
4. Spoon in 4 meatballs per sub sandwich with a little marinara sauce.
5. Top with shredded or sliced mozzarella/provolone.

I don't think meatball subs normally have garlic butter, but I thought it added another dimension of flavor. Feel free to omit it, if you want.

If you'd like to see Chandler confront Joey about "saving Ross," check out the clip below. You'll also get a look at Joey's favorite sandwich and see just how much Chandler means to Joey.