I don't know how it is in other areas but here we still have a fair every summer with kids in 4-H and their animals, and the animals are auctioned off for meat (which is a good and cheap way to stock up, as well as pay the kids). It's a hard but necessary lesson for young people.
And I know people who raise their own animals; occasionally I am fortunate enough to get a phone call - "I have steer liver, would you like it?" Hell yes I want it!
I remember seeing my dad shoot calves, slit the throats of chickens, and so on - it was hard, yes, but far more humane than some of the abbtoirs. It is what it is.
This is how food is made. We are so sanitized and protected from it that it is shocking to people who think chicken comes in a red-and-white striped box.
I either slice it thin and cook it for myself (sauteed in butter until just pink on the inside) and deglaze the pan with balsamic vinegar - or I make pate.
I was wondering what the feet were used for. Have you ever had fried gizzards? Pretty popular around here. In fact, the gas station down from my house advertises "The best livers and gizzards in town!" on their roadside sign.
No, I've never had fried gizzards but now I'll have to keep an eye out for them on menus. I've only ever used them to make chicken stock. For feet, there's also a very flavorful Chinese dim sum dish made with chicken feet. (I think it's sometimes called Phoenix Claws?) I like the flavor a lot but it's a fair bit of work for not much meat. mostly skin.
It was nearby and easily hosed off, I guess. And remote from our actual house.
My mom's coworker lived in the far 'burbs and kept chickens as pets. He gave her one that was a rooster rather than a hen, and she took me, her machete, a couple of old towels, and a thermos of scalding water to the loading dock, killed and scalded the chicken while I acted as lookout, and took the whole assemblage minus some chicken blood and water back home.
When my father got home from wherever he was (jury duty or a business trip, I forget) he was PISSED because, as he said, if she'd gotten caught I'd've ended up in foster care.
Eeps. What did you think of seeing that when you were a kid? Do you think they'd really have lost custody over that? Or were there that many bad foster care stories in your area?
How interesting. You're pretty brave for being able to do this, I wouldn't be able to.
I remember when I was a cashier at a grocery store, and this lady came through my cash with two styrofoam trays full of chicken hearts and livers, and the plastic wrap on them was a little loose, and they spilled all over everything
Didn't realize that would cut me off. Okay, to continue...
so they spilled all over the scanner, and I stared at the lady and she stared back at me, finally I said, "If you think I'M cleaning those up, you have another thing coming."
She quickly scrambled to sweep handfuls of chicken innards into a plastic bag.
There's a live poultry store about two blocks from my house. I keep toying with buying one of their chickens, but the place smells as though they don't do the best job of cleaning their slaughtering station.
I'm told that the chicken does have a noticeable difference in flavor being so fresh. I was also surprised to learn that you're not supposed to eat them right away. They recommended letting the meat 'relax' for at least a day before you cooked them up or else they could turn out a bit tough.
Comments 22
And I know people who raise their own animals; occasionally I am fortunate enough to get a phone call - "I have steer liver, would you like it?" Hell yes I want it!
I remember seeing my dad shoot calves, slit the throats of chickens, and so on - it was hard, yes, but far more humane than some of the abbtoirs. It is what it is.
This is how food is made. We are so sanitized and protected from it that it is shocking to people who think chicken comes in a red-and-white striped box.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Did I ever tell you about the time my mom took me, her machete, and a chicken she'd been given to the back loading dock of the local Sears?
Reply
Reply
My mom's coworker lived in the far 'burbs and kept chickens as pets. He gave her one that was a rooster rather than a hen, and she took me, her machete, a couple of old towels, and a thermos of scalding water to the loading dock, killed and scalded the chicken while I acted as lookout, and took the whole assemblage minus some chicken blood and water back home.
When my father got home from wherever he was (jury duty or a business trip, I forget) he was PISSED because, as he said, if she'd gotten caught I'd've ended up in foster care.
Reply
Reply
I remember when I was a cashier at a grocery store, and this lady came through my cash with two styrofoam trays full of chicken hearts and livers, and the plastic wrap on them was a little loose, and they spilled all over everything
Reply
so they spilled all over the scanner, and I stared at the lady and she stared back at me, finally I said, "If you think I'M cleaning those up, you have another thing coming."
She quickly scrambled to sweep handfuls of chicken innards into a plastic bag.
Reply
I'm surprised that woman didn't immediately start cleaning up her mess herself!
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment