Duck For Dinner?? New Stragety for Thanksgiving Dinner
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
November 6, 2007 9:32pm CST
Okay...Thanksgiving is looming up before us here in the US, and traditionally I have the turkey, sausage/apple/raisin stuffing, mashed butternut squash, and for dessert Sweet Potato Pie.
Well this Thanksgiving just might be a break from tradition. Not long ago, a friend of mine from up-state NY came to visit me, and she came with a lot of local goodies of food, especially from the store she works at..called ChathamBerry..yikes you should see this stuff she brought for me...She even brought down some foods that were frozen...among them, some duck breasts.
Now I've never ever had duck and somehow I'm wondering, like, hey and I going to even like it? But I hate to see any food go to waste so I'm thinking of having the duck for Thanksgiving. The problem is, since I never had duck, now I'm scrambling and am going to start going through my tons of recipe books to see if there is anything that sounds good as far as fixing the duck breasts.
Okay...number one--have any of you had duck? Is is good or yukky?? LOL Any ideas on how I can fix or prepare it?? Nothing too grandiose, something maybe simple? You can PM with the recipes if you wish. But please just tell me, does duck taste all right?
12 people like this
26 responses
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
7 Nov 07
Well its okay, almost like a richer tasting chicken or turkey. I only have it rarely though, so you may want a second opinion. I think it is pretty good though but its best when prepared like a steak due to the animal's anatomy.
If I come up with recipes I'll post them (remember they are allowed as long as they aren't used to start discussions, source: mylot faq, mylot guidelines).
5 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
7 Nov 07
Okay great...I'll be looking forward to some recipes...hehee
4 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
11 Nov 07
Wow--thanks ever...just did a copy/paste and printed this up :)
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
7 Nov 07
I love duck, but you have to be very careful, it can be very greasy. I like it with sauces that are on the sweet side, which I dont' usually go for. So, a cranberry or cherry based sauch would be good. Let me look through my books and see what I can find. When is your Thanksgiving again?
5 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
7 Nov 07
Yes, that I've heard that it's very greasy. As for sauces..mmm..she brought down some jams, and one is a raspberry/fig jam..that might be good to use as a sauce, no? Our Thanksgiving is Novemeber 22nd..just a few days after my birthday..LOL
4 people like this
@meme0907 (3481)
• United States
7 Nov 07
hey pw,
I've never eaten duck to my knowledge (my parents used to trick me into eating game)
However,I've broken from tradition myself the past couple years-one example-we had roast beef on thanksgiving day.
One tradition I never break tho' is I always have pecan pie.My Momma used to make me one (just for me) so I always have that if nothing else (I'm a very finicky when it comes to foods).
+'s |:)
4 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
7 Nov 07
Mmmm..I always make my Sweet Potato Pie for thanksgiving..hehee
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
7 Nov 07
I was told that was my great-grandmother's specialty and she preferred it over pumpkin pie. So one year I decided to make it myself, and love it so much more now than pumpkin pie also.. :)
Also, my mom and grandmother couldn't cook to save their lives...LOL...I apparently inherited my great-grandmother's cooking skills...thank God! LOL
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
7 Nov 07
What to come over? LOL
Wonder if my kitties will like it...hehee
3 people like this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
7 Nov 07
I haven't had duck in ages but I did love it. I don't, however, have any recipes for it since I never made it. My grandma did when she was alive. Used to make it once a month for Sunday dinner. Try bhg.com or recipefinder.com . Taste of Home, if you can find their website, might be a huge help to you with recipes for duck. Good luck!
4 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
7 Nov 07
Thanks...I'll check out those sites..I used to get the Taste of Home magazine
2 people like this
@pismeof (855)
• United States
7 Nov 07
Hello Pye,I have eaten Duck and it is very good.In most cases you can only get Duck at exclusive restaurants.To look for recipes you want to look up duck al'orange.There is one negative with regard to duck that needs to be taken into consideration when cooking it and that is that it's greasy.
4 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
7 Nov 07
Mmm..kind of heard about it's greasiness...bummer I guess
2 people like this
@academic2 (7000)
• Uganda
7 Nov 07
I havent eaten a duck in my life and would be very excited eating one using you newfound strategy
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 Nov 07
Yes, it would be nice to try something different this year ;)
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 Nov 07
Well I guess there's only one way I'll find out whether I like it or not. Hey, if I don't like it, maybe my poor deprived cats might..LOL, then I'll just grab a hotdog for dinner instead..LOL
@sweetgirl_k1 (3972)
• United States
7 Nov 07
I've never had duck before. You could probably go online and search for some easy recipes for fixing duck. We usually always just have turkey and ham at our Thanksgiving dinner.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 Nov 07
I have tons of cookbooks I can go through so I need to start going through them, and I did do a quick search on-line already..now just have to figure which recipe to try
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
7 Nov 07
it's good,but it can be really,really greasy.
i've never cooked it myself but my aunt used to.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
12 Nov 07
it's a lil bit worse than turkey.
although,i've known some cooks who put bread in the bottom of the cooking pan,and they swear it cuts it down significantly.the bread wicks off the yuck.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 Nov 07
That seems to be the common comment how greasy it is... is that bad??
1 person likes this
@peanutjar (5198)
• Canada
7 Nov 07
Hi pyewacket.Ive ate duck once for christmas when i was thirteen.My grand-mother decided to make one and actually it tastes like chicken,haha.Its quite good but i will not eat one again because i think they are to cute and i have pet ducks here that come to visit everyyear in my yard and stay.Chickens on the other hand are annoying and thats why i eat them,hahaha.YUM!Seriously duck is a delicasy here for christmas for familys to cook,but not mine.
Peanutjar:)QUACK!
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
7 Nov 07
Hiya Pye,
That was really nice of your friend! Sounds like your going to be eating good this Thanksgiving, and have lots to be thankful for! :)
I have had duck, I actually cooked it one year for Thanksgiving. I roasted it in the oven, it was a whole duck not just the breats. I must say I liked it, it was my first time having it. Its sort of greasy like, but that helps it stay moist. Im not going to say it tasted like anything I have ever had before, and its sort of hard to describe. You just will have to taste it yourself I guess.
Also, this was wild game too, it didnt come from a store. I knew someone who hunted duck and geese so they gave me one of my choice after they plucked and stuff of course. I had to soak it in some cola and some salt to get the wild taste out of it. It was really good though. I hope you enjoy yours! Please let us know!
Bay Lay Gray xx
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 Nov 07
Okay I'll let you know how I like it...I'm wondering if my deprived kitties might like it too, I do know they like the duck flavored Sheba cat food..LOL
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
8 Nov 07
Pye, Im guessing your kitties will love it!!! lol They might not know it, but they will be having Thanksgiving with you? hehe
Bay xx
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
7 Nov 07
I used to make a duck each thanksgiving, and a goose at Christmas just for my Dad (with his mother's stuffing recipe in it.) Duck is very good and tasty. One thing to remember is that it's a little greasier than a traditional turkey is...so, elevate it on a rack in the pan (or even crumpled tin foil will do in a pinch.)
I always stuff duck (as well as goose) with a recipe of my great-great german grandmothers. She used no measurements, but just made enough to fill the cavity; any extra stuffing would go into a separate bowl in the oven to cook. This is a favorite that my family and friends like me to make as it's very tasty with the duck meat.
Dried bread cubes, diced apples, a handful of raisins, a handful of prunes, and a little water (just enough to make the mixture moist.) Stir it all up together and stuff the bird; place a toothpick to lace up where you stuffed. Very simple and easy, and very, very tasty! Good luck!
@chamberd1 (240)
• United States
11 Nov 07
It's not new. People have been hhaving various assortments of food for thanksgiving as long as I can remember. Especially when you go to houses of different ethnicities. Mmm...
1 person likes this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
11 Nov 07
That sounds like an interesting trade off :)
My hubby and I don't like turkey but eat ham instead.
I have never had duck but a old co-worker of mine use to love it. I never ask her though what it tasted like.
I have though since wanted to try it. So please let me know what you think of it if you do make it :)
1 person likes this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
12 Nov 07
Yep it is :) It's nice to mix things up every now and then too.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
12 Nov 07
Okay will let you know. Hey it is different, right?
1 person likes this
@DesigningLife (903)
• United States
11 Nov 07
I have never fixed duck but have heard it is dry and can quickly burn. It sounds great! I love pheasant, partridge, etc!!
Doing T-Giving with a different menu is really fun! Turkey gets so old, so quick. We did cornish hens once that were very quick and easy...along with several other "different" side dishes.
There are SO many free recipe sites online, I am sure there must be some amazing ideas for preparing duck and accompanying dishes.
Let us know how it turns out for you!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
12 Nov 07
Oh, I used to do cornish game hens too, for Thanksgiving. I liked the fact that they didn't take hours and hours and hours to roast like a turkey does :)
@4mymak (1793)
• Malaysia
12 Nov 07
i've eaten duck before... but many of our chinese malaysian do.
their most famous dish would be 'Duck Rice': Roasted Duck or Steamed Duck eaten with rice and clear soup, maybe some fried beansprouts as side dish.
http:/penangfaces.chanlillian.net/2005/04/23/duck-rice/
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
12 Nov 07
I had Duck once, and didn't really care for it. It seems to me on the greasy side, and I think it is all dark meat. From what I hear you have to get a taste for it, as it is a little gammie in flavor.Myself I would stick with The Turkey, and try it out some other time.
1 person likes this
@DesigningLife (903)
• United States
12 Nov 07
Oh, it's greasy? I didn't know that. I wonder if tastes like seaweed or "swampy".
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
12 Nov 07
Well I'm also trying to save a bit of money too. I already have the duck so might as well go with it rather than also buying a turkey. Heck if I don't like it maybe my kitties might..LOL
