My Tuesday Twister
March 16, 2010 By 18 Comments
My Tuesday Twister posts are my weekly round-up of what’s going on in my kitchen and our lives, as it pertains to GNOWFGLINS. We try as much as possible to make use of “God’s natural, organic, whole foods, grown locally and in season.” So here we go – I’ll catch you up on what’s twisting in my kitchen this week!
This week…
- Muscovy Ducks – We purchased three Muscovy hens and one Muscovy drake. They are about a year old, and settled right in. Pictured is Addy – short for “Adventurous” and that she is! We were going to have chickens…. but then we decided to do ducks instead.
These three gals are laying eggs already, and keeping track of them. When they have enough eggs, they’ll setting and hatching cute little ducklings, which sadly and thankfully, one day we’ll eat. We hear that Muscovys are good little mothers — that’s what we’re hoping these will be. We want them to be happy and healthy, so they will make us happy and healthy. 
Today I am going to send in our order for Khaki Campbell ducklings from Holderread Waterfowl Farm & Preservation Center in Corvallis, Oregon. The Khaki Campbells are going to be our egg birds. We hear they are wonderful layers! It feels good to know that now we’re raising more than goats. - Sprouted Pintos – I sprouted pinto beans this week, lots of them. We enjoyed them in chili and an amazing chicken skillet dish, the recipe to which I’ll share later this week.
- Ableskiver Pan & Ableskivers – I followed Jami’s instructions to reseason my new cast iron Ableskiver pan (Goodwill $3.99 — yes!). Then I made ableskivers in it. They didn’t stick; the seasoning was awesome! And they were pretty good – but not great. I’ll keep working on it. I used sprouted spelt flour and they were doughy inside. I think next time I’ll thin the batter. I filled some of them with my mom’s homemade apple butter. She made it with the kids when they were in Montana last summer and then gave us some of it. Yumm!
- Kraut – We just love it! Naomi asks for it when we’re out, so I’m doing my best to keep her in good supply. She doesn’t like salad without it — and neither do I. Kraut is an easy way to get a daily dose of probiotics!
So, that’s it for me – what’s twisting in your kitchen? To participate in the Tuesday Twister Blog Carnival, visit this post.
About Wardeh
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My husband and I have kept muscovy ducks for years. They are very good mothers. Be forewarned, though, that they will consider you a threat, also. If you reach under them while they are nesting they will “grab and twist.” They grab your skin with their bills and twist. It hurts-I know! One of their favorite defenses when the little ones have hatched is to turn their back to you and projectile poop-pretty gross. This mostly happens if they are in a cage and one is trying to change their water. They are good eating, both as eggs and as ducks. Enjoy them!
Wardeh, do you have a link to your Kraut recipe/steps? Or have you not blogged about it yet?
And if you find any more cast-iron pans you don’t need you’ll give a shout out to me – right?
Love ya,
~Jami
I am working up the courage to try making some sauerkraut. I have a question for you though, what do you eat it with? You mentioned salad, do you mean on a green salad? I’ve only ever had it on hotdogs and I’m trying to stay away from those now that I know better!:) Thank you!
Do you eat any of your duck eggs? A friend gave me some of her duck eggs and told me I probably wouldn’t like the scrambled, because they were strong. I baked them in bread. Just wondering what you thought.
What do you do with your kraut? I thought about making some, but didn’t know what to do with a large amount of if.
We make kraut and I love it. We like to eat it with pork, especially a roast. My hubby likes to eat it with sausage, too. We end up canning some of ours which probably destroys some of the enzymes, but is still tasty. We also freeze it, too. If you make a lot you will want a crock. Be sure to put it in a well ventilated area, it is a bit stinky!
We eat our duck eggs.
I think the ‘strong’ flavor would come depending on what the ducks eat, just like milk can take on flavors depending on what the goats are eating.
Our ducks eat what is in our backyard and their eggs taste no different than chicken eggs.
Maybe your friend’s ducks are eating things that make their eggs have a strong taste. Why don’t you try one and see how they taste to you. You can always feed ‘em to a family pet if they do have a strong flavor
Barbara- Thanks! That’s a little scary!
Jami – I have not officially blogged about it yet – it will be part of the eCourse, in depth.
Billie – Mostly we do add the kraut to salads, just a scoop of it on the side of a green/sprout salad.
Michelle – Not yet, but we will!
These are for meat birds. The khaki campbells we’re getting are for eggs. We mostly eat the kraut with salad.
Rebecca – I like your ideas for eating kraut! I think it would be wonderful with sausage, either on the side or at the very end so it doesn’t get cooked.
Though we don’t have them too often anymore, kraut is really good on sandwiches (and in wraps)! Use it just like lettuce. We love a little with egg salad, chicken salad, roast beef, etc. Next up, I’m going to try some on a grilled cheese. YUM!!!
Jen – That’s a wonderful idea, thanks!
We like our lacto-fermented sauerkraut with eggs (especially eggs cooked with veggies), meat/chicken, and rice/beans.
Wardeh,
You wrote, “We were going to have chickens…. but then we decided to do ducks instead.” Would you mind sharing with us why you decided to do ducks instead?
Thanks,
Tammy
Tammy -
I’m going to try to track down an internet article we read that helped us decide. It was very good. Unfortunately, my husband found it, not me. And I can’t seem to get back there.
1. Ducks are more aggressive foragers.
2. Ducks (egg birds such as the Khaki Campbell and Indian Runner) quite often lay 1 egg a day all year, without taking a break, like chickens.
3. Ducks lay bigger eggs.
4. Ducks need less care overall.
It seemed like a win-win to us! (And of course, like anything, there are exceptions to the rule.)
In regard to the “pinch and twist” that muscovies do when nesting, I have been known to wear the fireplace gloves when reaching under a particularly mean duck. Or a jacket with heavy sleeves. I check under them to see if there are any new eggs that are laid by other birds after the duck starts setting. Muscovy eggs take 35 days to hatch.
Barbara, thanks! When I read what you wrote to my husband last night he said, “We’ll have to wear gloves then.” Although we plan to leave them be to do their thing most of the time.
You got your Muscovies just in time!!
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=304055&p=1
Very sad business…
Paula – I know.
But it is not illegal if raising or selling muscovies for food production.
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/