This is going to do very little for my reputation, but I couldn't resist adding it to the blog...
Yesterday morning, as I was cycling along my merry way to the butchers, I noticed something that caught my eye- a pile of feathers lying quite neatly in the grass next to the road. Hmm, roadkill- not something that the average person gives much further thought, but that's no excuse to not think about it oneself, once in a while. I continued on my journey deep in thought regarding the possibility of perhaps, just maybe, checking out that pile of feathers with the intention of, well, perhaps, just maybe, well...eating it.
I did my shopping (including ordering a goose for Christmas Lunch), and on the way back from the local town, I was pleased to see no one else had thought along the same lines as I (seriously, this did cross my mind). I bent down to inspect the quality of my quarry and was pleased to find that it was a very plump looking pheasant hen- a delicious game bird which I have only had the pleasure to eat in some of the more classy restaurants I have visited. Of course, I still had to check whether it was still, well, fully intact and not half decomposed. I was pretty certain it was relatively, well, 'fresh', as I hadn't noticed it when I had cycled to work 2 days earlier (I'm certain I would have noticed it if it had been there, such is my nature). My suspicions were confirmed when, picking the luckless bird up, I found that it was in an extremely healthy condition, minus, of course, any signs of life. I figured that it must have been hit by a car while still in flight, and suffered a head injury, as there was very little damage to the body. Once I had ascertained that it may be edible, I had to face my next challenge- carrying it home and asking the girlfriend if she would mind eating it.
I cycled home controlling my bike with one hand, the other holding onto the bird by the legs. Now, I believe poaching is a little less common these days than it was in the time of, well, Queen Victoria, so I'd like to know what people made of me, cycling along with a game bird swinging beneath my handle bars.
I got the girlfriend down from upstairs, and was delighted to learn that she was more than happy to partake in my bizarre, erm, culinary experiment. Thankfully, she was able to take some photos, which I know you've been wetting yourselves to see. Here is the bird she was presented with:
And here is a picture of me holding the bird, to give a nice indication of its size.
I'm sure you'll agree, its a mighty fine bird, and I'm greatly looking forward to tucking into its delicious gamey breast. I'm sure that, wherever that poor bird's soul is now, it'll be pleased to know that it is going to give me a great deal of pleasure after its demise.
Of course, as any game-eater will know, the best flavours come out after a few days good hanging. I'm am lucky enough to have an out-house, so I strung it up with a piece of string to the rafters:
Next: Plucking and drawing (i.e. taking out the gory bits that it probably isn't a good idea to eat). Of course, it will all be shown on the blog, I hope you're as excited as I...
Yesterday morning, as I was cycling along my merry way to the butchers, I noticed something that caught my eye- a pile of feathers lying quite neatly in the grass next to the road. Hmm, roadkill- not something that the average person gives much further thought, but that's no excuse to not think about it oneself, once in a while. I continued on my journey deep in thought regarding the possibility of perhaps, just maybe, checking out that pile of feathers with the intention of, well, perhaps, just maybe, well...eating it.
I did my shopping (including ordering a goose for Christmas Lunch), and on the way back from the local town, I was pleased to see no one else had thought along the same lines as I (seriously, this did cross my mind). I bent down to inspect the quality of my quarry and was pleased to find that it was a very plump looking pheasant hen- a delicious game bird which I have only had the pleasure to eat in some of the more classy restaurants I have visited. Of course, I still had to check whether it was still, well, fully intact and not half decomposed. I was pretty certain it was relatively, well, 'fresh', as I hadn't noticed it when I had cycled to work 2 days earlier (I'm certain I would have noticed it if it had been there, such is my nature). My suspicions were confirmed when, picking the luckless bird up, I found that it was in an extremely healthy condition, minus, of course, any signs of life. I figured that it must have been hit by a car while still in flight, and suffered a head injury, as there was very little damage to the body. Once I had ascertained that it may be edible, I had to face my next challenge- carrying it home and asking the girlfriend if she would mind eating it.
I cycled home controlling my bike with one hand, the other holding onto the bird by the legs. Now, I believe poaching is a little less common these days than it was in the time of, well, Queen Victoria, so I'd like to know what people made of me, cycling along with a game bird swinging beneath my handle bars.
I got the girlfriend down from upstairs, and was delighted to learn that she was more than happy to partake in my bizarre, erm, culinary experiment. Thankfully, she was able to take some photos, which I know you've been wetting yourselves to see. Here is the bird she was presented with:
And here is a picture of me holding the bird, to give a nice indication of its size.
I'm sure you'll agree, its a mighty fine bird, and I'm greatly looking forward to tucking into its delicious gamey breast. I'm sure that, wherever that poor bird's soul is now, it'll be pleased to know that it is going to give me a great deal of pleasure after its demise.
Of course, as any game-eater will know, the best flavours come out after a few days good hanging. I'm am lucky enough to have an out-house, so I strung it up with a piece of string to the rafters:
Next: Plucking and drawing (i.e. taking out the gory bits that it probably isn't a good idea to eat). Of course, it will all be shown on the blog, I hope you're as excited as I...
