Holidays are over eh?

     Morning, let's get right into it.  We'll recap Christmas and New Year's and then decide on the path of this blog.  Not all in one post probably.

     I just wanted something different.  Used to have an almost sacred family ritual on Christmas Eve.  I think for most people like the slavs and polish, that is the night.

     It took 40 some odd years, but it was finally broken years back.  By my sister and Brother In Law.  So Christmas Eve lost some of it's luster.  In fact it often just became another night where I'd cook.  Anyway.

     With the death of my sister this year I wanted something for me.  I had assumed the B.I.L. would oil off to his brother and sister.  The plan was for Roast duck and stuffing for me.  And a nice bottle of champagne.  Best laid plans of mice and me?  

     Well his brother and sister had other plans so he was stuck with me.  I told him, not asked, the menu.  He seemed open to it.  So I ordered the duck from my butcher.

     I'd seen that he had frozen duck breasts in the freezer in the store.  So I inquired.  He said for the price of 1 breast I'd be better off just buying a whole duck.  So I said what the Hell.  I mean $20 for a whole duck or $18 for a single frozen breast.  Not rocket science.

     One of the things I liked about it was that I would have plenty of duck fat.  What?  Seriously?  Do some of you never ever eat?  Okay.

     Ducks are water fowl.  They are very fatty.  The meat is dark and definitely does not taste like chicken.  But the fat of the duck.  

     Stop.  Go Google duck fat right now!

     Yup for those that did.  You saw right.  You can buy this stuff online.  It is sought after.  It simply makes frying things delicious.  Eggs, root veggies for roasting.  And it will keep for months in the fridge.  So that was the other reason.  I wanted duck fat.

     I began researching on how to cook the duck.  I bought all the necessities.  But finding how to cook a duck without all the frills was ridiculous.  I did manage to find a nice website that showed a recipe for duck soup.  Bookmarked it.

     By Christmas morning I had at least 5 different ways to cook a duck with different directions; temperatures; and times.  A small nightmare indeed.  WTF was I going to do?

T.B.C.