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"The Hunger Games" recipe contest, photographed in Walnut Creek, Calif., on... ( MARK DuFRENE )

Savory lamb stew with dried plums.

A fish-shaped loaf, tinted green with seaweed from District 4.

And the dodgy contents of Greasy Sae's stew pot, where black market squirrel and wild dog meat bob alongside foraged roots and everyone calls it "soup."

There hasn't been a book series with such a passionate, crossover following -- and such evocative descriptions of food -- since J.K. Rowling penned her tribute to a certain young wizard. Like the Harry Potter franchise, Suzanne Collins' "Hunger Games" trilogy has been swept up by millions of tweens, teens and adults, here and abroad.

Collins' young adult tale of a dystopian future, rife with violence, heroism and a truly twisted reality show, has spent more than 160 consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller list since it was published in 2008. And fans everywhere are counting down the days until the movie, which stars Jennifer Lawrence as District 12 tribute Katniss Everdeen, opens on March 23. They're poring over every plot twist, pondering cinematic possibilities and blowing up screen shots from the movie's trailer to see what Katniss' gladiatorial costume looks like -- and whether she's actually on fire.

Us? We're fascinated by the food -- and we're not the only ones pondering the seeded crescent rolls of District 11 and the creamy orange chicken served in Panem's Capitol.

Rebecca Peters-Golden is, too. The English professor writes a literary recipe column for

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Good Food Stories, an online magazine devoted to dining, cooking and travel.

"I obsess about this kind of food-book crossover," she says.

Peters-Golden was finishing her doctoral dissertation in English when inspiration struck in the form of a beat-the-January-doldrums project: a month's worth of book-inspired recipes, including a week's worth of Harry Potter-esque treats. This summer, the "Hunger Games" fan added Katniss' favorite Capitol dish of tender lamb and dried plums, served over wild rice.

"I thought it would be hilarious to do a really disgusting recipe from 'Hunger Games,' " Peters-Golden says, by phone from Philadelphia, where she teaches at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. "But I was craving the lamb stew after reading about it."

As any "Hunger Games" devotee can tell you, the lamb stew makes several appearances in the books, including -- spoiler alert -- a parachute landing during a moment of particularly dire need.

But lamb stew isn't the only dish to catch the eyes of book-loving foodies. The Placerville natives behind the A Tale of 2 Foodies blog used a bechamel base in their version of the Capitol's creamy orange chicken dish. Honolulu food blogger Crystal Watanabe, who posts as Greasy Sae on the Fictional Food blog, has tackled a number of the baked goods, including District 11's bread and Mr. Mellark's cookies.

And Los Angeles food writer Emily Ansara Baines has taken the concept one step further with "The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook" (Adams Media, 242 pages, $19.95). The book is covered in legal disclaimers lest you get any ideas that author Suzanne Collins, her publisher or Lionsgate film company have endorsed it. While it's inspired by the world of Panem, it oversteps in some places with recipes, for example, for Mellark Bakery banana bread (ahem, there are no bananas in District 12).

What's clear, though, is that there hasn't been such rich source material for a book fan with a food obsession -- or a foodie with a book-obsession -- since Hogwarts' house elves churned out magical feasts.

So now we're turning to you, dear reader, with an invitation. Help us create the perfect "Hunger Games" feast with recipes for district breads, Capitol fare and Greasy Sae's dubious delights.

The 'Hunger Games' Recipe Contest

You don't have to be a Hunger Games tribute to appreciate the glorious descriptions of food in Suzanne Collins' popular trilogy. So we're hosting a "Hunger Games" of our own -- a recipe contest with four culinary categories, four deadlines and a shot at fame, glory and prizes.
See recipe contest categories and rules on Page 4

The categories

Capitol fare: The wealthy denizens of Panem's Capitol certainly know how to feast, with rich buttery cakes, savory stews and, of course, that famous lamb stew. Submit your original, Capitol-worthy dish -- inspired by an actual dish from the book -- by Jan. 20.

Greasy Sae's creations: District 12's most creative cook uses whatever's available -- including wild dog, mice and other ingredients we'd rather not think about -- in her soup pot. Submit your original, Greasy Sae-inspired soup or stew recipe by Jan. 27, and note that while creativity is encouraged, your dish must be considered edible by 21st-century Californians who are not on the verge of starvation.

The breads of Panem: Bread is a major theme in the books, from the green-tinged, fish-shaped rolls of District 4 to the hearty loaves from the Mellark bakery. Submit your bread recipe by Feb. 3.

Wild card dishes: Groosling stew, Katniss tubers, goat cheese? Submit the "Hunger Games" dish of your choice by Feb. 10.

The rules

Recipes must be original and inspired directly by what's in the book. No fair figuring that Peeta might have eaten this, if he lived in Hawaii.
Send the recipe, a photograph (as a high resolution jpeg) of the finished creation and a line or two of explanation, plus your name, contact information and city of residence to hungergames@bayareanewsgroup.com by the category deadline.
And may the odds be ever in your favor!

Need Inspiration?

Read about what your fellow "Hunger Games" fans have created at these online sites:

'Hunger Games' Recipe Contest: On Jan. 23, we'll begin uploading your "Hunger Games" recipes to our Katniss Everdeen-centric site at www.mercurynews.com/hunger-games. Peruse the photos, try the recipes and vote on your favorites.

Good. Food. Stories.: Try Rebecca Peters-Golden's lamb stew recipe and read her "Eating My Words" column at this online foodie magazine; www.goodfoodstories.com.

Fictional Food: Peruse the recipes inspired by "Hunger Games," "Game of Thrones" and other books at www.fictionalfood.net.