District Twelve's Apple Goat Cheese Muffins

I was out of the country when the Hunger Games came out, which was a disappointment. If only because I couldn't totally geek out at the midnight premier. Yep, I'm one of those. Did it with Harry Potter. Did it with Christopher Nolan's Batman series. Wanted to do it with the Hunger Games. But I had to go to stupid Paris. Jeez.

The Hunger Games was a series of books I didn't want to like. I tried to concentrate on how lame the love triangle story line was. Or how seriously unlikable the main character was. Or how horribly depressing the last book of the series is. But, no matter how many times I tried to put the book down, it sucked me back in again. I wanted to see the Capital fall. I wanted to figure out the mystery of District 13. Goddamnit, I wanted Peeta to finally be happy. (Yes, I'm Team Peeta. If there actually is a team, I don't know)

I have been looking forward to the movie ever since it was announced. I was kind of anxious that it would turn into the next Twilight - I didn't want to see Katniss/Gale/Peeta all lovey dovey. I didn't want a drawn out, three hour movie that covers the book cover to cover. I wanted action. Emotion. Blood.




Man, was I not disappointed. Within the first twenty minutes I was bawling my eyes out. I knew how the book went - in fact, I knew how the whole series progressed - but it was all still exciting. I especially loved the feel of District 12. It was all very Dust Bowl / Great Depression - so much so that it pulled on my historian heart strings.

After seeing the movie, I wanted to bake up something that really had the same feel as what we saw of District 12 in the movie. I could just imagine people grinding their own grain. Sneaking off beyond the fence to gather what fruit they could. Making everything from scratch. Here's what I came up with:




District Twelve's Apple Goat Cheese Muffins
Adapted slightly from Smitten Kitchen

Makes about 18 muffins

2 large apples
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup AP flour
1/4 cup spelt flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 nutmeg
1/2 cup butter (slightly warm)
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar (divided)
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
goat cheese (unflavoured)

1) Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Peel, core, and chop the apples into quarter inch cubes. Place in small bowl and toss in lemon juice. Set aside. Sift all your dry ingredients - all three flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg - into another bowl and set aside.

2) Whip your butter, white sugar, and 1/4 cup of brown sugar together until light and fluffy. Add your egg and continue whipping. Add your buttermilk and continue mixing. Sift your dry ingredients in and stir with a wooden spoon a couple times. Add your apple pieces and continue to fold with your wooden spoon until your batter comes together.

3) Spoon three tablespoons of batter into each muffin liner. Crumble your goat cheese on top. Sprinkle your remaining brown sugar on top of the goat cheese. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes. Turn your oven down to 375 and cook for another 5-10 minutes, or until your cake tester comes out clean. Cool and enjoy. And may the odds be ever in your favour.