On the Experimentation of Duck Breasts

I've never been very good at making duck breasts just 'right'.  The skin always came out too chewy or I would over cook it.  So this time around, I decided to do something completely different.

I knew that when it came to dry brining any poultry that the skin would have this wonderful crisp texture to it once it was cooked and/or baked.  

Now while I realize that duck isn't just any type of poultry...I'd figure I'd give it a shot, considering the past times I've tried to cook it I'd never brine it.  I would, for the most part, leave it at room temp for awhile, and cook skin side down for a few minutes (on a cast iron skillet....With the skin scored)...and then flip to the other...And on more than on occasion I would pop it in the oven for a few minutes.

This time around...I scored it, brined it in salt (covered it with salt), and let it sit in the fridge for a few days.  I also wanted to leave it rather 'simple' due to the fact that this was, in fact, an experiment of sorts.

Once I was ready to cook it, I put it into room temperature for at the very least, a half hour, had the heat on my gas stove for approximately low to medium....Once the iron skillet was warm enough I put the duck breasts skin side down.....I let it simmer and pop for a good 5 minutes.  I then switched it up and let it cook meat side down for a good 4 minutes....I let the meat rest for about a minute and then I sliced.

It came out perfectly.  The skin on the duck was brown and crisp and the meat was done on a perfect medium....Right where it should be.   As game meat should never be cooked well done.  

I may try to utilize a version of this technique more often, no need to mention that practice also makes perfect.

As for the breasts out of this experiment?  They were eaten cold (after being cooked) and dipped in leftover honey barbecue sauce.  

Yum.

Dating and Cooking

Admittedly.  I'm on a dating site.

And yes, I do love to cook.  Notably duck.  The past few dates I've gone on, I've made note that they (the guys) expect me to cook them 'fresh' duck when I have a perfectly good duck in the freezer.

I'm sorry but I prefer to utilize the resources that I have.  

Now, these guys that I've been on dates with have also told me that they do not know how to cook duck.

So if they expect me to cook them 'fresh' meat why don't they go ahead roam around in the forest and bring some for me if that's the way they want it.

If I can cook it and they can't.  I believe they're better off shutting their traps about it.  

My cooking is something that is earned.  I'm sorry, but I cook from the heart.

If they think that they deserve fresh duck....They should go ahead and hunt it thankyouverymuch.  Hunt, gut, and bring it to me.

I am by no means the richest person in the world, I do not like wasting food. I try not to waste money on food.

These fellows that I've been on dates with clearly do not know how to cook, and clearly think of money like water and probably treat food like water.

Americans (in general) have been wasting food for decades.

I'm not about to follow that path knowing the concerns that I have of my own.  

If they do not know how to cook something, they are better off not dictating how or where the product is gotten, made etc.  

Duck is not cheap.  It's not cheap to me.  

But of course, with that said, these dates that have said what they said...  Deserve where they are.  Why?

They don't deserve the fact that I utilize what I have, that I treasure my food...And you just aren't given my cooking.  

It's earned.  Why?  It comes from the heart.