A duck

Today, I went foraging for Arman's very first birthday gift. I got a good one. I'm keeping it a secret until tomorrow.

Made a day out of the trip and finally saw The Gay Cowboy Movie. It's worth seeing. But really! All the press and hype is out of proportion to a film that NOBODY has actually seen. To get into the spirit of The Gay Cowboy Movie, I chose to eat hot dogs instead of popcorn. After I left the theater, I had this nagging feeling that something was missing from The Gay Cowboy Movie. And then I realized there were no car chases. But they showed boobies and pee pees. And that makes up for the lack of car chases.

Day 3. Quacking ducks have invaded my dreams. I may have taken this a little too far. Quite an ambitious excercise I've gotten myself into. Fun.


Adventures with Duck 2006 (tm) is really giving the new stove a workout. Tonight I had all four burners in addition to the oven all going at the same time. AND I used the cute tiny little itsy bitsy pot with the simmer plate. I love using the tiny pot and the simmer plate.


I've outdone myself tonight. Deliciously divine.

Wilted arugala, beet, and goat cheese salad. Dijon mustard balsamic vinaigrette. With duck skin cracklin's sprinkled on top.

Shitake mushroom risotto. Made with last night's duck stock. Stirred, stirred, stirred, and then stirred some more. Onions, mushrooms, and arborio rice sautéd with duck fat. The duck stock was nearly gelatinous when chilled. Most excellent mouth feel.

Pan fried duck leg confit. Crispy sticky skin, with melting flesh full of salty provencal goodness. Manners and utensils tossed aside, I had to grasp the drumstick with my hands and gnaw off every last bit.

Toasted baguettes with duck fat poached garlic. Garlic slowly and gently heated in duck fat- almost a simmer, but no bubbling allowed. Transformed into mellow and softly spreadable tastiness on toast. An order of magnitude better than european butter. The ultimate garlic bread.


Normally a good puppy that knows not to beg at the dinner table, Preston has positioned himself to catch any escaping morsels and lick fingers that are within tonguing range.