Questions
Posted by Lauren on 26 Jul 2008 at 03:06 pm | Tagged as: ducks, eating
- Can we dry overripe shelling peas, which are too starchy to eat fresh, and use them like split peas?
- Is there any use for the fibrous but still fresh and juicy shells of the peas that did not get overripe? Make stock maybe?
- If one boy duck is picking on the other boy duck, pulling his feathers out and whatnot, and we want to get rid of one and keep the other to breed, do we keep the aggressive one (to breed strong babies) or the passive one (to breed docile babies)?
- Where in the world am I supposed to find time to post more often?
Actually, I have answered my own question with a little fine-tuning of the Google query: yes, you can make stock with the shells.
#3: Since you asked, I say keep the docile one. The only advantage I can see to having strong baby ducks is that they can better defend themselves and find food in the wild. But their shiny new pen should keep them away from predators and I assume that you will continue to feed them properly, so strong babies aren’t necessary. Keep us updated on the duck situation!
Yeah, I think you want nice ducks. I vote for the picked-on, not the picker-upon.
And about the starchy peas and fibrous shells, you could let the poultry turn them into delicious eggs for you. Or get a pig and make some bacon! Or stock. Stock’s perhaps more sensible.
#4. You can sleep when you’re dead. Also, perhaps you should consider ditching this “job” thing that you do.
Are you going to eat the unlucky duck?
Re: ditching job: It certainly is a nice idea. But for now I am insurance for two (who are both crazy and glasses-needing). So.
Re: unlucky duck: it is possible. A tasty, tender, juicy, delicious possibility.
And re: choosing who is unlucky duck: as kids who either were in reality, or perceived ourselves to be in our heads, picked on, we certainly have more affinity for the victim. Plus, he is sweet, now, and much easier to catch than the rest of them, because he’s, you know, totally traumatized.
And more ands! re: peas: the chucks (that’s the collective noun for chickens and ducks, you know) don’t seem to like them, though we have tried a few times. With some leek tops, though, the shells made a fragrant stock that is freezing into cubes as we speak. And I figured I might as well try drying the starchy ones, so they are in a cupboard (to keep away from bugs) and I am checking on them every day.
And last, but probably not really last, I have realized one thing that will help me post more. I usually carry my work computer home with me, but because I work for the state I am reluctant to post from it, as any activity is public record, traceable, etc. So instead I will carry my personal computer to and from work, and I can post from the ferry.
[...] Peas: omelettes. frittata. In a bag in the freezer. Also attempting to dry some, and some pods became stock. [...]