I've just eaten the best meal I've ever cooked.

[oddman]

1pm start plucking - blimey there's a lot of feathers on a duck

2.30 pm finish plucking with judicious use of blowtorch

3 pm gory bit - heads and feet off. drawing and washing

4pm bacon and onions in a casserole. Brown the pheasant (an old cock) in another pan. Pheasant into the casserole, flame with calvados, some cider chicken stoken and a bit of dijon - into the oven at 150 degrees.
4.20pm Mallard goes in on it's side (orange up it's arse) Main oven 220 degrees
4.30pm G&T
4.40pm Get spuds on. Turn Mallard over pour over some chicken stock and orange juice S&P. Put in Woodcock (wrapped in pancetta)
4.50pm Steam veg over spuds. Make toast
5pm Birds out. Reduce sauces and thicken with beurre manie.
Take innards out of Woodcock chop these put in a pan with lemon juice, brandy S&P.
5.10pm Start carving birds and serving

Roast Mallard with orange sauce
Pheasant with a Dijonish sauce
Woodcock on a crouton spread with a 'pate' made of its offal

Girardin red Burgundy

Applause

7-8pm Make game stock and Rillettes with left over meat, wash up.

[grumbledoak]

Excellent work! We had roast (Gressingham) duck tonight with 'the usual suspects'. I didn't have to start from scratch though, as we found it in the supermarket. Duck fat and a spare carcass for stock in the freezer...

[oddman]

I really did start from scratch



All the birds came from the bag from a fantastic day on Angelsey.

I've never eaten woodcock (amazingly good) and had some nasty pheasant and wild duck but today everything was perfect.

Edited by oddman on Sunday 6th December 22:42

Edited by oddman on Sunday 6th December 22:49

[Mobile Chicane]

Heavens.

I need to lie down in a darkened room.

[dcw@pr]

nice one, sounds good!

I had teal this evening, which I shot (one of) yesterday - they are very nice.

However, as you say, the king of all game is undoubtedly woodcock, followed by saddle of hare, then grouse/wild duck

IMO

[Don]

oddman said:

I really did start from scratch



All the birds came from the bag from a fantastic day on Angelsey.

I've never eaten woodcock (amazingly good) and had some nasty pheasant and wild duck but today everything was perfect.

Where did you shoot on Anglesey? Always nice to hear about the old home area.

[smack]

Where are the photos?

[oddman]

Don said:

Where did you shoot on Anglesey? Always nice to hear about the old home area.

Dulas on A5025. Nice set up.

smack said:

Where are the photos?

I thought about it but with 2 hungry kids champing at the bit you just have to crack on

[Don]

oddman said:

Don said:

Where did you shoot on Anglesey? Always nice to hear about the old home area.

Dulas on A5025. Nice set up.

Excellent. Years ago my old Dad and the head Gamekeeper were very friendly. I had relatives who managed the farm there for a while...beautiful spot. Glad you had a good shoot and a fine meal!

I don't shoot myself - but love to cook and eat the game...I've got some pheasant and partridge waiting in the freezer.