Well, I might be a 'country bumpkin' but I sure never had to cook a PHEASANT, or any type of wild game, before today! I'm actually not even sure that what I cooked today WAS pheasant!I returned to work today after a 10 day vacation and as I was scanning the refrigerator for suitable food to prepare for lunch and dinner, I found some type of GAME item, dressed and ready to cook, and in a vacuum sealed bag! UGH....I was pretty sure this food item was in the fridge for MY benefit....so that I could prepare it for dinner tonight! When I asked my employer (I'm a nanny, for any new reader) what type of bird this was, she said she had no clue, nor did her husband! But, she DID know that a friend had given it to her husband and it was ready to use, as it had been frozen and recently thawed.
Well, as much as I dreaded the task, I set out to determine what to do with it and how to prepare it! My employer has an old (vintage) cook book that I occasionally use, (cause my mother has one just like it!) and wouldn't you know....there was a recipe for PHEASANT! Also were instructions to prepare Quail, Snipe, Duck and other small birds. UGH!!!! My suspicions were confirmed as I read that this smaller bird (whatever it was) should be prepared just like chicken. I followed the preparation instructions, added some garlic and thyme and water, stuck the bird in the oven and headed to the playground for about an hour this afternoon!
Viola! This bird turned out much like chicken and was well received by all the kids! The children never even batted an eye as they chowed down on the meat that I'm sure they suspected was chicken! I must add that I also made a pot of black beans and rice, in case the entree didn't go over too well, and that is what I ate for dinner! It's a stretch for me to even eat chicken off the bone so I certainly wasn't about to try this unknown bird! It seemed a bit dry, but the recipe stated that it would. I suppose tomorrow I'll need to take the meat off the bone and stretch the meat to make another meal. Anyone have any good ideas?
Well, guess now I can add one more recipe to my file and one more cooking experience under my belt! I felt a bit like a real 'pioneer' today!
2 comments:
hmmmm, interesting....I remember a time when you only dealt with meat wrapped in plastic! Did you wear gloves? Or did you touch the meat with your bare hands? It sounds like you are becomming quite the cook!
My Mother-in-law has a great recipe for left over chicken,Pheasant, Turkey, etc.
1 can chow mein noodles
left over chicken
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1 can Chicken Noodle soup
1 cup milk
bread crumbs
2 Tbsp butter
salt and pepper
Chow mein noodles go on the bottom of greased casserole dish.
Next layer is cut up left over chicken(or whatever)
Combine soups and milk and pour over noodles and chicken
Layer crumbled bread or bread crumbs, dot with butter and add salt and pepper on the top.
Bake @350 for 45 minutes or until soup is bubbling.
My family loves it.
Renee
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