10.23.2010

Sunday thoughts

Stella and I haven't been very dependable with this blog writing.  Just because I was reminded of something that goes back to my childhood I might take Sunday's blog for mine, all mine.  Tonight I was reading Romping and Rolling in the Rockies and KB was talking about hunting season.  Lots of hunters in our area, but no one from my family cared to hunt.

We had some neighbors who liked to bird hunt and when they would come home with a couple of wild ducks, they would bring them to my mother because she loved cooking and eating them. Now just so you know, I am talking about 60 years ago, one big long time distant!

 First thing, she would dig in her purse and find $10 to buy real wild rice with.  This isn't the cultivated stuff we are talking about, but harvested by *Ojibway people in our area.   She gave me this money to go to the store because she felt guilty about spending that much on something my Dad wasn't too crazy about, but she and I were!  I was happy to do this because I knew when  I came back those birds would be clean and ready to cook with no help from me.



                                                                 
Now these birds were scrawny little ducks usually, not like the plump ones in the picture, but that is OK.
My mother would start the rice cooking, with onion, celery, and sage and then she would stuff these wild birds with the wild rice dressing.  You could just have lived on the scent of them cooking in the oven!

When this dish finished cooking, my Dad was always hoping for "something else" and he usually got it, but my mother and I would first scoop out the wild rice that had been cooked in the wild duck, then we would pick away at the meat of the duck which was sort of tough and nothing too great.  What the wild duck was, was the single best vehicle to cook the wild rice in. 

I have often wondered if I could duplicate this dish today, and I have decided that No, I probably can't.  I don't know any duck hunters, but I swear my mother knew a little magic with this, that I don't know.  I was just glad she shared it with me and happy for the memory of her and her wild ducks.

Cheers and hugs,

Jo and Stella





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written by Winona LaDuke

16 comments:

How Sam Sees It said...

Sometimes the best flavor is the love that gets added!

Sam

WFT Nobby said...

That duck sounds just delicious, and brings back memories of hares and pheasants that my Dad used to bring home after he had been out shooting with his friends. There was always a 'debate' between Mum and Dad over the appropriate length of time to leave the dead creatures hanging in the garage. Dad belonged to that school of thought that says a game bird is not ready to cook until it has maggots crawling out. Mum didn't agree...
Cheers! Gail.

Martha said...

What lovely memories of a time long gone - we could almost imagine the smell of that cooking.
Funny it was the duck that made the rice good.
A bit like goose fat making the very best roast potatoes!
love
Martha and Bailey xxx

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

What a wonderful memory - thanks for sharing it.

XOXO
Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh and Ruairi

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

Ah, manoomin!... your mom knew what was good for the soul!

Stumpy and I returned home only for a visit :( . I never intended to live in dirtville; just went out for a winter and found myself stuck there (long story) :( Unfortunately, my retirement bucks don't go very far in taxachusetts...

The Daily Pip said...

I agree with Sam! Very nice memory.

Your pal, Pip

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

The humans here aren't crazy about duck but we pups would be more than happy to help you clean the bones:) And Mom says she will fill up on the wild rice - yummers!

By the way, we loved your music today - Piece of the Ground.

Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

KB said...

That is a sweet memory, partly because of the thought of the wonderful meal and because of the visions of your mom and dad.

Enjoy your Sunday.

Lorenza said...

Sure those are great memories!
Thanks for sharing it!
Happy Sunday to all of you!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Piappies World said...

thanks for sharing. the joy of home cooking is precious. it really does make wonderful memories. we always look forward to my mom's cooking as well as my grandma's (when she was still around) and these are always made more memorable when the family shares these wonderful dishes.

Love,
Piappies Mom
Piappies Fudgie, Princess, Frappie, Mocha, Sugar, Wai-Pai & Wai-Max

Sue said...

Isn't it special when a smell triggers a happy memory from long ago. Or it can be a quick snapshot or a tune.

My Grandmother was a wonderful cook and I still remember hanging around her kitchen breathing in the aromas.

Thanks for the memories.

Golden Samantha said...

Great memories and wonderful photos - we have been meaning to get over to say hi for so long - sorries we've been so delayed! That rice dish sounds super delish from duck belly - I can almost taste/smell it from your description!
Huge Hugs and Pats to Stella and Ali xoxoxoxo
Sammie and Avalon

♥I am Holly♥ said...

What wonderful memories! Great photos too! Reading your post also made me very hungry!! Lots of love, Debbie and Holly

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

The Golden Khousins said they would LOVE to retrieve some dukhks fur dinner!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra and The Golden Khousins

TwoSpecialWires said...

We have a feeling that this post stirred up lots of memories for lots of our people. 'Specially the "older" people. It sure did for Moma. She's sitting here with a sort of wistful, dreamy look in her eyes.

Then, on a more recent note, the post conjured up memories of a vivid dream Moma described promptly upon waking a couple of mornings ago. She told her she dreamed a duck (much like the ones in the photo) was running/ flying lowly next to our moving car ... chasing it ... trying desperately to keep up with it ... because somehow and for some reason that little duck had formed a close bond with our auntie Judith, who was in the car with us. Who knows what that was all about! Guess it really doesn't even matter!

Thanks for sharing a post like this ... it's nice to have memories stirred up. All sorts of memories.

Fond tail wags,
Jake and Fergi
xxoo

The Luke said...

I'm wif the Sam! The love that was stuffed in that wild bird sounds heavenly to me.

wif love from the Luke

P.S. You have made me mighty hungry!