Posts Tagged ‘lard’

Nice chunk of chicken fat.

April 13th, 2013 by Susan Odom

Last Sunday a pair of hawks was stalking my chickens and alas they killed one. But a friend was here and he saw it as it was happening and he was able to retrieve the chicken for me. The hawks took the head and broke the crop, but all the meat was still there.

Another friend plucked and cleaned the bird as I was busy making a dinner for 10. Today I’m stewing that bird. I hope to make Miss Parloa’s creamed chicken and a nice pot of chicken stock.

But the surprise was the fat inside the body cavity near the vent. This chunk of fat is about a cup in volume! Nice and yellow not white like store bought chicken. And this hen was almost 2 years old.

Chicken fat from the body cavity of a 2 year old Light Brahma hen

Chicken fat from the body cavity of a 2 year old Light Brahma hen

I’m pondering this fat and I’m going to render it in the eastern Europe/Jewish tradition of making schmaltz. I’ve never don this before! So to the internet I went and found the typical methods which includes onions. Sounds great. I will report back. Already smells great in here with the bird on the stove.

Light Brahma Hen at Hillside Homestead, busy laying eggs!

Light Brahma Hen at Hillside Homestead, busy laying eggs!

Apple Pie Video published by Traverse Magazine

March 13th, 2013 by Susan Odom

Traverse Magazine, a really great regional mag, published a surprise today, a video of me making an apple pie! I had no idea they were planning to do this. It is in honor of Pi day which is tomorrow, 3.14 or March 14. Now I don’t much about Pi but I do know a lot about Pie. And of course I use leaf lard in my pie crust. I render the lard myself from my very own hogs, but that is another story. Last November they published a feature article about me and my place, Hillside Homestead and at that time they published a video where I make pie crust! The day the videographer was here, I suggested we make an apple too. I mean what the heck?! I wasn’t gonna waste all those pie plates we had just lined with paste (old 19th century cook books call pie crust, pastry or paste). I figured that footage was no good since they didn’t use it last November.  What a big surprise Today to see a new video, Thanks Traverse Magazine!

Feature article on Hillside Homestead in Traverse Magazine Nov, 2012

Feature article on Hillside Homestead in Traverse Magazine Nov, 2012

So here are the links: Apple Pie Making Pie Crust making Hillside Homestead Feature Article And the Pie Recipe: Cherry Pie, Buttermilk Pie, Apple Pie, Cream Pie, Mincemeat Pie, Pumpkin or Squash Pie and a few pictures just for fun….

Susan Odom standing by her wood cook stove with a yummy apple pie she made

Susan Odom standing by her wood cook stove with a yummy apple pie she made

An apple pie with a peeler in the background

An apple pie with a peeler in the background

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