Monday, July 18, 2011

D Day

I mentioned on Saturday that we were having home grown duck for dinner, and we did. We ate one of our recently acquired ducks and it was actually super tasty. Initially I was anxious about the whole process and kept asking Dave is he was nervous about having to do the (ehum) killing. He was.

I took the kids out on a Shopping adventure with my mum in the morning, while Dave and Yoss prepped the bird. I thought it more appropriate for the children to witness their mother indulging in some heavy consumerism, rather than their father providing for them in the most basic of ways. We returned to find a plucked duck. A perfect plucked duck- just like one you would expect to buy at woolies, minus the cling wrap.







Dave marinated it using this classic Cantonese recipe. Rice and wilted greens provided the perfect side while our River Cottage besties provided the perfect company. Oh, they also provided an excellent view, arriving after a wedding- all dolled up and smelling of booze.



I think Hugh would be proud of us, don't you?

How are you going with your River Cottage Challenge? 


Posted by at 6:56 AM
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20 comments:

  1. Quack!
    I wouldn't be able to eat one that I've seen it's face before, I get too attached!
    But this is what happened to one of my roosters when I gave 2 of them to a friend:

    http://wholelarderlove.com/2011/06/16/sorry-harry-or-was-it-gary-but-you-were-delicious/

    Rach x

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  2. I have to say, that looks pretty darn delish!

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  3. Two little ducks went out one day
    Into the yard for some innocent play
    Emily said "Hack Hack Hack Hack Hack"
    It's duck for dinner at The Beetle Shack.

    looks delicious. And brutal.
    xx

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  4. Hugh would be most impressed, well done :)

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  5. Oh it's a bit early in the morning for dead chooks & HANDSOME beardy men! ;)

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  6. Oops... Duck! I meant Duck! (Obviously too flustered...)

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  7. Have the kids worked out which duck is missing?

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  8. Looks great! Well done to you all x

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  9. My hubby would be envious. He talks about doing this kind of thing all the time..though his last version featured a pig (I think we need to start smaller first!)
    Anyway, well done, I think it's a great thing to be able to provide for one's family in such a basic way. And that duck certainly looked delicious once cooked.
    River Cottage is one of the few shows I miss since we banished the Austar.

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  10. Oh so brave of you... I'd be hesitant with every mouthful. Looks good though. Love your idea and that's something I would like to achieve with our vegetable garden, grow lots of good food and share with lots of good friends. Getting there... gxo

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  11. Claire, i have to post that! too funny- dave will love it!

    I think this post might have offended a person or two- lost a couple of followers. eek.

    xo em

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  12. Ohhhh hello ducky. I like a bit of duck. Happens on the farm everyday, just because city dwellers may or may not live on a quarter acre block doesn't mean they can't enjoy a bit of ducky.

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  13. I love Claire's comment!!
    I don't know if i could eat it, but it sure does look delicious.. well done guys. x

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  14. Claire and Vics comments have made me giggle - I dont know that I would have been able to eat your little duckie but it does look yummo.

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  15. that beard makes me look like i'm prepubescent (yep, that's a word).

    duck looks very tasty...

    my dad had to kill one of our roosters once. he was a sick rooster. i remember, very clearly, seeing that rooster run around our backyard without his head. didn't put me off chicken though. i'm tough like that.

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  16. HOLY SHIT. I've actually been slowly turning vegetarian lately. Not sure how far I'll go with it. Duck certainly is delicious. Kellie xx

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  17. Crickey! I also have vegetarian tendencies so i'm not sure i could eat this but it's very impressive that you cooked this duck yourselves!

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  18. Hehe, that is quite an adventure! I'm very proud of you :) I am not a vegetarian in the slightest, but I'm not sure I'd be able to watch it- you were probably smart to take the kids shopping instead, hehe. It looks really yummy though! There are so many good duck recipes :) I hope you all had a nice weekend!

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  19. Hi Emily! Aside from all the duck comments, what is it with Koutoulas girls looking more & more gorgeous every time I see them! When you see her next tell her Haylee said hello :)

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  20. Well.done...i.had.the.best.laid.plans.to.eat.our.chickens...can't.do.it.but.admire.those.who.have.the....errr....ummm....strength.of.their.convictions.
    i.also.think.it.is.odd.that.you.lost.followers.because.of.it.

    As.for.the.children..don't.be.squeamish...i.have.many.happy.memories.of.watching.my.mum.gut.the.chooks...she.would.show.me.all.the.bits.and.tell.me.what.they.were....i.am.still.interested.in.anatomy.LOL

    Sorry.about.the.full.stops...cups.of.tea.and.keyboards.don't.mix.

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Thank you SO much for your words of encouragement, advice and solidarity.

xo em

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