The Front Porch Swing

[LeslieDJoyce]

One word   "BARTER".    Ask what you got?   I have large turkeys.  (See no money passing hands)

We did that with our fisherman friend ... traded our turkey for an equal value of line-caught local tuna. They had to saw the bird in half to cook it ... made a "white trash" video they thought it was so fun. Meanwhile I'm feeling like royalty from the abundance of tuna.

I had wanted to donate a big bird to the women's shelter and the fire department and the food pantry, but ran out of steam checking the legality. There are some regulations ... different for farm slaughtered birds than processed birds. Some of our birds were processed at a "USDA Exempt" facility, and that's a whole different set of regulations.

Oh how I wish I had a smoker!!! Smoke a whole turkey breast !!! Yum, yum.

I have a nice Kitchen Aid mixed, I think I'm going to get the grinder attachment for it. That will open some great possibilities.

We just had turkey sandwiches today with sour dough bread, cranberry, and guacamole. Dark meat. Three of us ate sandwiches and that used less than half of one thigh. The meat was really tasty. I also prepped a bunch of veggies to use in soups for when the stock is done. I'm for sure going to make a turkey chowder again ... we loved that last time. And Pho base with some of the stock ... I adore pho.

Our foreman always brings me things like cooked crab and smoked sturgeon and salmon and elk meat and sausages he makes... I owe him tons in return so am going to see if I can give him one of the sides of the breast of this bird so he can smoke it ... or ask him if he would prefer if I roasted it for him (I've given him roasted breast meat before, and jam, but I still owe him). And ... I personally know some hungry people I could give food to ... and nobody can "regulate" that. I just need to work that into the "normal" procedure for Dad.

I wish I had a mushroom hunter friend closer to my house ... I'd love to trade turkey for wild mushrooms & truffles !!!

I wish I could pay someone to build me a fence with turkey ...

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Hahah ... the image I'm getting of a turkey fence! But you know what I meant. I hope.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

That must be horrible to have a gag reflex like that!  I bet going through the meat aisle in the store is murder!  So you don't eat meat at all? 

No no I meant gag metaphorically. Ha! I was a vegetarian until I married my husband 32 years ago. He was a South African. If anybody on the Porch knows South Africans they know they love their MEAT! Preferably steak, preferably BBQ, preferably pretty rare.

So I eat meat now, every once in a while, that was my concession, and he has learned that potatoes are not the only vegetable. Ah, the ways of love!

 

[heartsizedfarm]

But it's true, and this is perhaps a holdover from the old days, I mean my young days, I don't like meat that still looks like the animal it came from: fish with heads on, quail, leg of lamb, stuff like that. I like meat in stews, casseroles, ocean pie, lasagna, stuff like that.

Everybody's got their druthers. But if I get invited out to someone's home, I eat whatever is put in front of me! Even a big dewy-eyed doe. Respect must be paid.

 

[Blooie]

But it's true, and this is perhaps a holdover from the old days, I mean my young days, I don't like meat that still looks like the animal it came from: fish with heads on, quail, leg of lamb, stuff like that. I like meat in stews, casseroles, ocean pie, lasagna, stuff like that.

Everybody's got their druthers. But if I get invited out to someone's home, I eat whatever is put in front of me! Even a big dewy-eyed doe. Respect must be paid.

I had to laugh at this...when Kenny is at someone's house and he either knows for sure he doesn't care for what's being served, or he's eating something for the first time, he takes what he calls a "No, thank you" helping.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

But it's true, and this is perhaps a holdover from the old days, I mean my young days, I don't like meat that still looks like the animal it came from: fish with heads on, quail, leg of lamb, stuff like that. I like meat in stews, casseroles, ocean pie, lasagna, stuff like that.

Everybody's got their druthers. But if I get invited out to someone's home, I eat whatever is put in front of me! Even a big dewy-eyed doe. Respect must be paid.

I used to have a hard time with chicken because it seemed so literally anatomical to me. I had a hard time not seeing it limping in my minds eye after I took a bite of thigh. Amazing what the brain can do.

I really appreciate the sacrifice of all food ... I don't want to pretend we can eat without that sacrifice. And I especially appreciate knowing I had a hand in making nourishment for people. I know enough about farming (or even wild foraged food) to know there is a price animals pay for every bit of nourishment we eat ... even if it's "just" vegetables.

 

[Beekissed]

Yep, yep...everything bleeds something when it's been cut. I've been most fortunate in my life to have been introduced to farming, hunting and the facts of life therein from a very early age, so the thoughts do not bother me....I actually have no thoughts of that kind at all. When they are alive they are living beings that I love to see and care for, when they are dead they are simply food for other creatures, including me.

I guess it's what one has been conditioned to accept in this life. I have a few siblings that cannot kill any animals for food, though they gladly partake of meat every day. That, to me, is the weirdest thing of all....being raised around those killing meat for food, eating the meat, but acting like they are just too traumatized to do the in between duties that come with eating meat, though they were taught how to do so.

Truly, I think they are just too lazy to do the work involved and use the "I just can't do it" excuse to get out of the work. Killing and processing is a dirty job and very often not easy, so I can see them opting out if there is an easier way for them... but I'd rather they just be truthful and say, "I'm too lazy to do it, but would still like to eat my meats anyway." instead of acting like the rest of us are committing murder in our backyards. They've actually said that, BTW...I've been called a "murderer" for killing and eating our chickens, by my own sibling.

 

[TexasLisa]

Hey ya'll have to check out this video. I haven't tried it yet, but will keep it in mind when I made an Angel Food Cake!

Lisa

P.S. Any idea why I am not being notified of my messages for BYC?

 

[LindaB220]

Hahah ... the image I'm getting of a turkey fence! But you know what I meant. I hope.

Definitely would be nice. My handyman has turned surly. Doesn't want to work for a woman. Especially opinionated. In other words, not what HE wants to do. My poor little girls are stuck in 100 sq ft all the time. The big problem is the iron ground I have to dig post holes to fence. I may have to do it myself. I guess rent one of the augers to dig. My SIL is being a bu## about helping with anything to do with the chickens. And the handyman is SIL's cousin so they shake their heads at my foolishness. Sorry to be such a downer today. As Scarlett said Tomorrow is another day.

.

 

[Triple Willow]

Hey ya'll have to check out this video.  I haven't tried it yet, but will keep it in mind when I made an Angel Food Cake!

Lisa

P.S.  Any idea why I am not being notified of my messages for BYC?

Neat!