The Front Porch Swing

[LeslieDJoyce]

BEAUTIFUL!!!

We have nothing so fancy here!

 

[Beekissed]

People seem to love this ... but I can't imagine it producing anything but mush ... so I'm afraid to try!

I followed BK's advice and deboned, stuffed and bag-roasted two cockerels for Christmas. SO delicious! Sure they were a bit chewier than grocery store birds, but prepared that way you can cut them with a knife and fork -- no chewier than steak, probably less. Not what people expect from poultry because we've grown accustomed to premature birds ...

One of the birds was 3 lbs, the other 5 ... processed weights. The birds were older than necessary at processing time and had been VERY active. They were processed the Monday before Christmas so didn't get quite enough refrigerator rest time AND I over cooked them ... still delicious and chewable. So much flavor.

When I slow cook older birds, no matter how much liquid I add, it seems like the meat comes out very dry. I've only had one hen cooked that way that I felt was passably juicy and she was possibly the fattest chicken I've ever processed.

I agree about people's expectations of the chewiness of their chickens....we are a nation spoiled by mushy, 2 mo. old chickens from the store. It's almost as if folks are too lazy to chew anymore...even my favorite hard candies are now all "gummy" candy. I can't stand gummy anything.

I grew up on eating spent hens and spare roosters so the texture of chicken to me is supposed to be a little meatier and chewy, though not necessarily what I would consider tough...more like you described..it's like a good steak. Requires some actual chewing.

 

[Triple Willow]

Reminds me of watching kids trying to eat a piece of chicken with a bone in it! (shaking head)

 

[Triple Willow]

We have nothing so fancy here!

I've never seen one that fancy either.

 

[Beekissed]

BEAUTIFUL!!!

Yeah...we don't see 'em that fancy here either. Just rudimentary painting mostly.

 

[lindz8504]

I made this today, using feathers from the roosters we processed on Saturday!

 

[Beekissed]

That is gorgeous!!!! I would never have thought of using rooster feathers in such a manner but that is so very beautiful! I have a half bag of hackle and saddle feathers from several roosters I processed this winter....but the ones I'd really like to use for something like this are those taken from my favorite old Toby. His were beautiful!

What a neat idea! Did you come up with it on your own or did you see this somewhere?

 

[lindz8504]

That is gorgeous!!!! I would never have thought of using rooster feathers in such a manner but that is so very beautiful! I have a half bag of hackle and saddle feathers from several roosters I processed this winter....but the ones I'd really like to use for something like this are those taken from my favorite old Toby. His were beautiful!

What a neat idea! Did you come up with it on your own or did you see this somewhere?

I saw something similar.... Don't remember where though...

 

[Beekissed]

If I did Christmas trees I'd do that very thing to preserve Toby's feathers and display them every year. Do you have any other neat ideas that would display rooster feathers in a cute little display? I was thinking about using them in an organic arrangement with different leaves, stems, etc. and frame them into a small picture frame so that I could hang them on my wall.

 

[lindz8504]

If I did Christmas trees I'd do that very thing to preserve Toby's feathers and display them every year. Do you have any other neat ideas that would display rooster feathers in a cute little display? I was thinking about using them in an organic arrangement with different leaves, stems, etc. and frame them into a small picture frame so that I could hang them on my wall.

Let me think about it..... I'm sure that I can come up with something!