Weather in the Tries:  Aaaaarrrggghhhh!!!! (That be my bestest pirate talk.) Our lows are heading back into 20s and even down to the teens. Our highs will range from 33 to 45. But, we should have sun probably half the time. And probably more winds. No rain or snow on the long range forecast, unless it’s sporadic. 

What’s for Dinner?:

I subscribe to Mother Jones, and the other day there was a story about eating invasive squirrels and other invasive critters. There’s a name for that: Invasivorism, and it is a growing ethical-dining trend.

Paul Wedgwood, one of Scotland’s leading chefs discovered that the grey squirrel not only tastes good, but killing/eating them is also good for the environment. Chefs in Paul Wedgwood, one of Scotland’s leading chefs discovered that the grey squirrel not only tastes good but killing/eating them is also good for the environment. Chefs in Texas are encouraging people to eat more feral hog, and Michelin-starred chef José Andrés is serving up invasive lionfish. 

I found all this a little odd, a whole article devoted to eating invasive whatevers. I remember a few years back (alright, several years back, probably close to, well, a long time ago) the Portland Oregonian newspaper devoted one of their Wednesday Food Sections to various ways to cook and serve Starlings. The colonists brought them over because they missed them. With no natural predators, it didn’t take them long to take over the country. And now some people consider them nuisance birds. All I remember from the paper is it would take more trouble to kill, pluck, and clean the little buggers than they were worth. That may have to be re-looked at, considering the price of meat these days.

The good news is, I found a use for Starlings! When I owned my home in Marysville WA, I noticed when the guy came on his riding lawnmower to mow my lawn, he was no sooner out of my yard than my yard was black with Starlings. Apparently the riding lawnmower had the right amount of vibration for all the Crane Fly larva to come to the surface, and the Starlings came, ate their fill, and left.

Now, in reading the recipe for Squirrel rack, confit jersey royal potatoes, carrot puree, wild garlic, (go here for recipe—you’ll have to scroll for it), I notice one needs, among other things, 500ml goose fat.  Now, to be honest, I think I’d rather have a recipe for roast goose than I would one for Starling or Squirrel, but truth be told, I’m a city gal, and I like my meat to come already packaged by the butcher. I sincerely think if I had to kill and clean and butcher anything, I’d become a vegetarian. 

I do like to cook sometimes, and I love to read at all times, and I’ve read The Cooking Gene by Michael Twitty at least twice. He has a recipe for ‘Kitchen Pepper’ which is wonderful. Use it in place of regular pepper. Now, the first time I try something totally new, I follow the recipe, the next time the recipe becomes a guide, not a law, so to speak. Basically, for kitchen pepper use equal amounts of black and white pepper, pepper flakes, cinnamon, mace, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, whatever else you like and looks and smells good. I’ve put in garam masala, chipotle, cardamom—basically anything that can be used in a savory dish. You control the heat and the sweet. He says to keep it in a cool dark place. I keep it in a covered bowl on my stove and use it daily. It goes on eggs, meat, vegetables, and even popped corn 😉

Photo of the week:  

Books: Remember, if I finish a book, I review it at Rainy Day Reads I try to keep the reviews current. There are times when I’m a couple of days late.

Read another historical fiction that isn’t published yet, so can’t tell you more, but it’s along the lines of the Outlander Books by Dianna Gabaldon, with no fantasy involved. A super good read. I had a hard time putting it down.

Also read The Raven Spell by Luanne G. Smith and have pre-ordered the sequel. Smith also wrote The Vine Witch, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Finished Firefly: A Japanese Historical Fiction Novel (sic) (Warrior Woman of the Samurai Book 1)— by India Millar. Am already reading book 2. And just finished The Gentleman Lion and Other Stories —by Martin Jones. This is a delightful collection of short stories, all by the same person. I believe I am safe calling them literary rather than genre fiction, though there are aspects of different genres in different stories.

Earworm of the week: Here You Come Again by Dolly Parton

Quotes of the week from: kidad!

“You don’t need a silver fork to eat good food.”  — Paul Prudhomme.

 “The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude.”  —Julia Child.

 “I like the Japanese knives, I like French knives. Whatever’s sharp.” — Wolfgang Puck.

Wowser! My good friends—we made it through another week! Yaaaayyyj!!! The Brave Dog has kept me safe from those dried leaves that are wont to attack us when the wind blows. I’ve read more books than I probably should have. I really should be writing my own, but I’m getting there. Go forth, have a marvelous week, stay safe, stay warm, and stay healthy. Sending virtual hugs and pupkisses.