I plucked and gutted two ducks!!

[equus]

I've been wanting to move away from pre-packaged meat for a while. It seems that we get more and more removed from reality and if I want to eat meat I reckon I should be willing to prepare it. Also and most importantly the way mass produced meat is kept while alive apalls me - I knew there would be a point when I felt enough was enough and I just shouldn't buy it anymore.

At the market they sell wild duck, free for all it's life to live, fly, breed, and bonk! But it comes complete, feathers, head, and all it's bits inside!! They sell wild rabbit too, that's gutted but skin on and I don't know how to tell if they're fresh.

So there I was sniffing a rabbit when an old guy came and told me what to look for - the rabbits weren't so good but he admired the ducks (£2.50 a pair). I said I don't know how to gut them (I figured plucking ain't exactly rocket science!). He told me, got me to hold it feel the right places to cut and suggested I wet the duck first all there'll be feathers everywhere!!

I sat in the autumn sunshine and plucked my ducks! I talked to them while I plucked and told them how much I would appreciate them. I told them I wouldn't waste any, that the dogs woud get any left and I said I hoped they both had time to rear young.

When I die I want to be treated with respect until my body's gone away - they seemed more real animals than when they come wrapped in polythene so I figured I'd do as I'd like done and not treat them like a sack of spuds!

So tonight mr. and mrs. will feed me, D and my best two mates who are moving house this Monday - all their stuff is packed.

I'm proud of myself. As long as I eat meat this is how I'd like to do it, things that had a good life and treating them with respect in death. I wonder what they'll taste like?

Is this totally bonkers??

[cwohio]

equus - can i be like you when i grow up? LOL i think that's a lovely way to think and i hope to become more like that as i journey down the road to recovery!

[equus]

Heheheheh... actually I was thinking it's the sort of thing that'd be great to do with a friend, just sitting, plucking, gossiping and moaning at the feathers get stuck to fingers!!

Here's mr. and mrs. dressed with clementine and ginger just before the oven:

[cwohio]

you're right - that sounds like a great thing to do.

mmmmm....what time is dinner!?

[equus]

My mate been on a 12 hour shift and won't get here till 9.45pm!! They're bringing the dogs round to stay because they're getting too stressed with their house being packed up.

I hope they taste alright and I haven't cocked it up... If I have the dogs'll get treat and we'll be eating sausages!!

[cwohio]

LOL - i like sausages

i'm sure they'll be absolutely yummy!!!

[equus]

All went well - they were tough but VERY tasty! I skidded mine across my plate and am now wearing half it's body fat on my jumper!! I wonder if I could cook them differently to make them more tender? Or maybe it's just because they had the chance to use their wings and legs that makes them tough - they didn't look to be aging......

My mates were glad of the feed, they had no food in and have packed half their cooking stuff, I think I'll take a hot pot of sausage stew round tomorrow - nice and easy, no feathers!

[splendra]

My H says that poring some pineapple or papaya juice on them while they are cooking could make them more tender

[MamaGoose]

Hi equus,
I'm a chicken farmer and I think it's great. So many people forget where their food comes from. I mainly have egg producing and fancy show birds right now but according to my grandmother, everyone should know how to get their own chicken dinner.
We raised turkeys for a 4-H (youth agricultural club) project and had everyone taking turns with plucking and dressing the birds.
I don't have a problem with vegetarians. (*Not my politics, I didn't get to the top of the food chain for nothing.) But I do with people who eat meat and then are squeamish about how it got to their table. They think it comes wrapped in plastic.
Cooking duck (and goose) is tricky. Check out some other recipes.
Bon Appetit!
MamaGoose

[MamaGoose]

Alway make sure you get the little green bile sac out of whatever you eat. It's poisonous.
MamaGoose

[equus]

Originally Posted by splendra

My H says that poring some pineapple or papaya juice on them while they are cooking could make them more tender

I suggested doing them with pineapple because we bought a beautiful one as well yesterday but D didn't like the idea!

I might try doing them in the fish kettle - basically a great big casserole pot, I could have some fun with flavourful juicy stuff to put with them and use the slow cook.

Alway make sure you get the little green bile sac out of whatever you eat. It's poisonous.

EEEP! The dogs had the cooked giblets once I took the boulion! They both seem alive this morning though. I never thought, my old dog would hunt her own dinner - I just figured they'll leave anything not right. I chucked everything except the hearts, livers, lungs, and neck.

[MamaGoose]

About the green sac: Well that was what Grandma told us. Could not be lethal but might make one sick. Maybe if cooked it's sorta okay. I just know you need to throw that out next time.
MamaGoose

[wolflet]

go equus!!!!!!

i was raised by hunters & also feel that if we eat meat we need to think about it

for drynes/toughness try putting the beautiful citrus slices under the skin & packing the body cavity as well......& any basteing helps, the trick is moister....tho tough meat is tough meat & with steaks you can tenderize, but whole fowl is a different story

so proud of you!!!......the best meat i ever ate was a moose that my mom (yep...my mom, makeup & all) shot & helped to skin & proccess........we ate off it the whole winter & into summer!..a 600 lb animal!.......thank god for deep freezers.

ps the partrige (kind of a grouse) stew that i grew up on was great too....just look out for the buck shot (bullets) that got missed in the cleaning........tho it was kinda fun, kinda a "lucky" prize if you found buck shot in your bowl........make a wish!

[wolflet]

oh yeah.......sounds like the old guy was a little piece of "god" that showed up to help ya......very nice!

[michski]

Every day here is an educational experience!

I've learned a lot... congrats on truly "owning" what you eat!

[gelfling]

Hey Eq, Do you have a slow cooker? I've done goose and deer in a crock pot and the meat just melted in your mouth.

[equus]

I can't describe our fish kettle bought for 50p at the car boot - but it works as a slow cooker!! We slow cook lamb in it and it does a treat. I'll do the ducks like that next time - like next week if they look better than the quail!

[GoldenGutters]

I'm allergic to poultry.....I think I'll stick to pre butchered pork and beef...thanks.