What A Disappointment!! My Thanksgiving Duck Dinner
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
November 22, 2007 7:53pm CST
Well as some of you folks know, I was going to break tradition, and instead of having the usual turkey type of Thanksgiving Dinner I was going to have duck breasts. One of my friends had come down and gave me a lot of food goodies, including frozen duck breasts. When she handed them to me I wasn't exactly thrilled, but hey, it was free food, so who am I to complain.
Then I thought, well gee, the duck breasts would be a great way to celebrate Thanksgiving, and I was kind of all fired up about it too, since I really never mind trying something different. So for quite awhile before Thanksgiving I poured through my recipe books, and I had a discussion here which asked if any of you knew of any good recipes and some of you came out with real great ones.
I decided to do a combo of three different recipes. The Apple Stuffing from one recipe, the Cherry Glaze Sauce from another, and how to prepare the duck itself from another.
So last night I did some of the cooking, like the Cherry Glaze Sauce, the Sweet Potato Pie, and cooked up the Acorn Squash and mashed it. I was also lucky that another friend of mine dropped by last night and she was great, and she gave me a itsy, bitsy, teeny weeny Butterball Turkey Breast--
Okay, then today. Yikes with all the boiling, simmering, sauteeing, that I still had to do, you'd think I was cooking for an army rather than just me and my kitties. Yes, I prepared the duck, but I also decided to roast that turkey breast as a "plan B" and I'm glad I did.
So I wound up with the Apple Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, Cherry Glaze Sauce, Mashed Butternut Squash, Homemade from scratch biscuits, homemade gravies, the duck breasts and the turkey breast..oh, and the Sweet Potato Pie (sure wish I had some whipped cream..forgot to get it)
Now everything is cooked up and give myself a bit of everything...I cut up some of the duck for my kitties and they just weren't too impressed by it. Then I had some...uh..mmmmm......DISAPPOINTED!! I obviously just don't have the "taste" for it. I never liked dark meat on chicken or turkey to begin with, and while the duck wasn't greasy (as some said it would be) I just didn't like that "gamey" taste...so I wound up eating more of the turkey..and so did the cats...LOL
So there is my analysis of my duck dinner...LOL Not exactly a disaster just a REAL disappointment. I once had pheasant too, and wasn't impressed by that either. Well, least I can officially say I had duck, but won't be rushing out to get or have it again...LOL
To make this a discussion. Did you or were you all fired up about trying some new dish that you never had, knocked yourself slaving over a hot stove/oven fixing and preparing it, and then was let down as it just wasn't all that great???
13 people like this
21 responses
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
23 Nov 07
I was really happy with my carrots-hazelnuts soup, miso salad and 3 color beets.
For dessert coffee with Godiva cappuccino liqueur....
5 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
23 Nov 07
Sounds like a nice light way of celebrating Thanksgiving..LOL. At least I never stuff myself too much, as I don't like that groggy feeling afterward
4 people like this
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
23 Nov 07
My first thought is what a waste of good cherry sauce! If you had known last night you wouldn't have had to keep yourself from slurping it all down!
I did that with a Martha Stewart recipe once. It sounded divine, the picture looked edible itself, and the ingredients cost a small fortune. There were like 6 zillion sub-steps so it was pretty complicated too, but I was diligent and true and slaved for hours.
It's better when you only have yourself to be disappointed. My whole family was at the table in eager anticipation. Everyone's expression became equally blank after the first bite... no one wanted to hurt my feelings by grimacing or spitting it back out! Only kidding, but it was awful!
5 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
23 Nov 07
That's the worse kind of disappointment, when there are a zillion steps in preparing something, and a zillion ingredients and then.....yuk. I once made Plum Pudding for Christmas as my mom said it had been a tradition with my great-grandmother, so decided to give it a go. Same thing, a zillion steps and ingredients and had to stem the pudding about eight hours...let's put it this way, don't think I'll ever make it again..LOL
4 people like this
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
23 Nov 07
Well everything you made sounds delicous to me except for the duck!lOL I dont like it either. Its way to gamey for me. I just gave Maggie and Molly some turkey. They said mmmmm good thanks mom!LOL Im sorry you were dissapointed but hey you have tasted duck now!
4 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
23 Nov 07
Yes now I can honestly say I had duck...mmmm... I remember you mentioned how you didn't like it in my other discussion...mmm..maybe should have listened to my cyber sister..LOL
3 people like this
@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
• United States
23 Nov 07
A + for the discussion and all that cooking!!!! WOW! I am so impressed. I have never had duck either, but I have eaten duck eggs and they are fantastic and huge. I made nothing. We went to my sig. other's sister's house for dry turkey, greasy gravy, stuffing from a box, and raw in the center frozen rolls. Ummmmm! After that digested we came home, I started laundry and then got ready to go to one of my daughter and her sig. other's for excellent turkey (but I only ate a tiny bit), very moist ham (again only a tiny bit), there was a sweet potato dish with fresh pineapple and pecans that looked so good but I really dislike sweet potatoes so I didn't go near that, of course the traditional green bean with French's onion rings was there, and the stuffing - please let me tell you about the stuffing. If my daughter ever lets this person go I will rue the day! For the past 3 years we have had stuffing with chicken livers - oh, glory be! I can't stop there, though, there is also always the "loaded potatoes" that are mashed with lots of cheese, a mixture of Ranch Dressing and Sour Cream, and Hormel bacon bits! Need I mention the cheese cake with a very light caramel sauce and crushed pecans in the crust?
I probably should mention that last one, because I have IBS and am not allowed to eat nuts, but the temptation was the same as poor Adam must have felt with the apple dangling in front of him! My daughter did promise to go to the doctor's office with me for the blood test if the pain comes! (I told her it was worth it and it most certainly was). ~Donna
4 people like this
@AmbiePam (120887)
• United States
23 Nov 07
I have heard people describe meat as gamey, but I don't know what that means. I like dark chicken meat and dark turkey meat, but gamey isn't the word I would used to describe it. Perhaps I said that wrong. I know what gamey IS, but I wonder if I would know the taste of it if I ate it.
As for working on something a long time and then being disappointed, one instance sticks out in my mind. When I was a teenager I wanted to try something different, so I made an avacado salad and salmon bisque. Let me tell you, there is no need for fish to be whipped. The Lord just didn't intend us to eat salmon that way, LOL.
Sorry the duck didn't turn out better!
4 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
23 Nov 07
To me the dark meat of chicken or turkey isn't gamey..can't really describe it..LOL.just didn't like it. Mmm..salmon bisque rather sounds good though. :)
I'm sorry too the duck didn't turn out..oh, well least I can honestly say I had it. Even the kitties weren't impressed..LOL
4 people like this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
23 Nov 07
I seldom try anything new if I don't like the original ingredients. I just don't like duck or goose so I don't even think about that. I do not like lamb either. I do not like hot spices either like jalapeno or chili or salsa. If I find a recipe that calls for something I don't like I may try substitution of just leave it out altogether.I have made a lot of good stuff by messing around that way. People frequently ask for my bread pudding recipe, but I'm not much help there...lol.
3 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
24 Nov 07
Well Sweetie I am so glad that you decided to do the Turkey to or you would have had nothing
I don't like Duck either and I am not to keen on Turkey so as you know we do not have Thanksgiving in the UK for Christmas I do Chicken and if it is a small one I will buy a Roast to so we have 2 different types
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Nov 07
I was thinking of having a nice Roast Beef dinner for Christmas...haven't had roast beef in awhile so why not? LOL
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
24 Nov 07
That is why I never tried duck. It was in the grocery store and butcher shops a few times and I could tell it was all dark meat and I do not like dark meat. I never had any great disasters in cooking, just mild ones like the angel food fiasco when I mixed the flour in with the sugar. Then there was the lumps in mashed potatoes. Never could get that right.
Oh by the way, I wonder when you were cooking the sumptuous feast for you and the kitties, did you allow them to eat with a knife and fork or did they use their paws? :)
2 people like this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
23 Nov 07
I am sorry it didn't work out. I don't try any new food for the very reason, what if I don't like it?I don't like turkey that much so I would substitute roast chicken.But I don't have roast chicken for Thanksgiving I usually have pizza, a meal I can really be thankful for.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
24 Nov 07
Well at least it wasn't like I went out and bought the duck, it was given to me, but at least I can officially say I had it..and know not to have it again..LOL
2 people like this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
24 Nov 07
That is true.Like my mom used to say, at least you tried it.
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
25 Nov 07
My Thanksgiving was pretty good. We went to my in-laws, so I got what I call a east coast Thanksgiving instead of a Southern Thanksgiving. We had yam balls, mashed potatoes, turkey, squash, green beans, cranberry sauce and stuffing. And three kinds of pie (pumpkin, pecan and apple). We watched football on TV and had a rather good time. We even took our cats on the trip so that we got to spend Thanksgiving with them too.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Nov 07
Aww--I'm glad you took your kitties along...did you give them turkey?? :)
1 person likes this
@OURDEW (4809)
• United States
24 Nov 07
Hi Pye, I'm sorry that you went through all that cooking the duck and then didn't like it, but like you said at least you can say you had duck. It sure was a good thing you had a turkey for backup. The rest of your dinner sounds delisious. I never had duck and I'm not too interested in trying it. My Thanksgiving dinner turned out really good. I tried a new stuffing recipe, it was an apple sausage and cranberry stuffing. A big hit, everyone loved it. The best part of a making the Thanksgiving dinner is the leftovers the next day.:)
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Nov 07
Wow that stuffing does sound great...and lets confess here..I bet many of us here love to eat a lot of the stuffing, I know I do :)
@3lilangels (4639)
• United States
23 Nov 07
awwe my friend i am so sorry that the duck turned out sour instead of sweet for you, just a saying.i myself don't care for dark meat either,if i am gonna have turkey,chicken etc it better be white meat.well i went to my mother in laws and we had so much food.i ate so much that my tummy hurts still right now.i ate 2 plates of turkey, garlic mashed potatoes, stuffing with sausage,cranberry sauce,corn, broccoli,on the side i made myself a small turkey sandwich on a roll and then i ate 2 huge pieces of home made apple pie that i made with lots of cool whip and ice cream,omg just thinking about all the food i ate is making my tummy hurt more.glad you were able to have your turkey along with the cats.pattie
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
24 Nov 07
My goodness...from your picture you look nice and thin, so how in the world were you able to eat so much? LOL I couldn't eat that much..I did something like that a few years ago and was in such a sleepy stupor for I don't know how long, and the thought of eating more..nope
1 person likes this
@3lilangels (4639)
• United States
24 Nov 07
well yes my friend i am thin but i didn't eat breakfast or lunch so this way i was able to eat all of this.i sure couldn't do this every day though lol.pattie
1 person likes this
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
23 Nov 07
Hi Pye,
Im so sorry you were disappointed with the duck! Yes the game taste is something you have to aquire, I will agree with you there. lol
Me and hubby were talking last night about wild turkeys vs the ones that are bred. He was telling me that wild turkeys dont fry up like the bred ones you would buy from a store. I guess perhaps its the grain fed that causes them to have a different taste, and fry up better than a wild turkey living off its natural foods. Maybe that had something to do with it. The duck I had was a wild game duck, it wasnt bought in the store. I know I was one that told you it was greasy. Did it have like a liver type texture to it? Did the package tell you how to prepare it for cooking? I was just curious, not that you could do it any different now. hehe
Good to hear that you had a back up plan though and was able to enjoy your dinner.
Bay Lay Gray xx
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
24 Nov 07
I had a very good recipe on how to cook the duck so it wasn't greasy at all. I think that is what turned me off though..the gamey taste was like liver and I don't like liver..LOL I'm glad I did have the turkey as well
2 people like this
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
24 Nov 07
Um I gotta be in the mood for liver, and I realyl only like beef liver with some gravy. But its rare Im in the mood for it. lol My mom was famous for cooking liver and onions when I was a kid and I wouldnt eat it then.
Bay xx
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
1 Dec 07
I do not remember being in this situation personally, but I do remember my mom deciding to try Cornish Game Hens, and feeling just as disappointed as you did by your duck. I love turkey, and will eat it year around. We even smoke the bre@st portion on our smoker outside, first filling the cavity with Italian dressing. It is so moist and flavorful, a great dish. All of your accompaniments sounded delicious, though.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Dec 07
Funny, I didn't mind Cornish Game hens..used to have that all the time and the one great thing is that it doesn't take too long to cook, not like a big turkey
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
27 Nov 07
Ah man!!! That bites! However - like you said at least you did have back up :)
Thanks for letting us know though about the duck. I will know in the future to not go out of the way to get one. If I happen to come across some I'll still give it a taste but I won't go out of my way to make one or order it at a restaurant or anything.
I don't do experimental cooking much.
I did make Tortellini's before and was extremely disappointed. Well I thought they were okay - but nothing like I was hoping. I love most Italian foods and was looking to branch out.
1 person likes this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
27 Nov 07
Homemade lasagna...well all put the pasta anyway LOL. I love mine too but it's so expensive and it makes so much of it for just the two of us - though I imagine you know that already :)
I haven't had the other though! What's it like?
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Nov 07
Mmm...never made Tortellini but have made homemade lasagna and manicotti..how about you?? :)
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Nov 07
The lasagna is way too much for just me too, but did you know it freezes great? Make the whole basic recipe then divey it up into smaller portions and place in some kind of container, then freeze it...um....manacotti...hard to explain, but you get manicotti shells and stuff them with a ricotta cheese mixture. Found some recipes for you..
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1958,133187-241194,00.html
http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/cat/82/0.shtml
1 person likes this
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
23 Nov 07
Oh boy can I ever relate to this one hun.
A little while ago my partner was given a pheasant, and althought I am not particularly squeamish, I had to pluck it and gut it - a horrible job. The thing smelt bad but I was told that it had been hung for a while as it should be so I managed to get the damned thing cleaned out and ready for cooking. I spent hours doing a load of vegetables and other things, home made stuffing the works. Finally, after a long time the meal was ready and I served up the pheasant with sauces and all the vegetables and felt very pleased with myself that it all looked so good.
My partner loved the meal, ate almost everything on the table. I hated it :-( I will never eat pheasant again, it tasted far too rich and gamey for me, very dark meat which I don't like anyway and after all that work it was a dreadful let down.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
24 Nov 07
I once ate pheasant too..wasn't really impressed by it either...But it's supposed to be a big deal as in "pheasant under glass" Then some years later I went to an aviary and saw about five different types of pheasants, and they were so beautiful, so vowed ever to eat them again. Yikes but to have pluck the pheasant and then clean it..yuk
1 person likes this
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
26 Nov 07
I'm sorry the duck did not work out. Wow I 'm surprised the kitties did not like it. I'm glad you had a back up plan with the Turkey though, and I'n happy all in the end worked out for you.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Nov 07
How was your Thanksgiving? I know you had to work but did you have fun at work at least? Did you bring all the pies you were going to make for the residents?
@sid556 (30953)
• United States
23 Nov 07
My ex and I once had a thanksgiving where everyone brought some game they'd gotten throughout the season. We had everything. We had rabbit, deer, moose, duck, turkey, squirrel. I am personally leary of some of this stuff but I have to say that the person that brought the duck did an awesome job of cooking it as it was my favorite. it is all in how it is cooked. oh the pheasant was also right up there. Like you, I don't like that "gamey taste". I was very leary of this entire holiday but admit that all these guys were superb cooks. I tried things and liked things , I never would have expected I would.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
23 Nov 07
I like to think I did an awesome job of fixing the duck too, the cherry sauce I made for it was great---was a fantastic blend of about twenty ingredients...but just didn't care for that gamey taste of the duck.
1 person likes this
@peanutjar (5198)
• Canada
24 Nov 07
Hi pyewacket:)
Sorry to hear that you were dissappointed.I dont like duck at all and stick to my chicken and turkey for the bird meat,hehe.Yes!!!I decided to try a pork roast one time,i hate pork but there was a recipe that was so tantalizing i just had to try it.I added everything it called for,cooked it,the smell was so good!took it out of the oven,cut it into slices and blahhhh!Yuck!I threw it away and went and ordered take-out and enjoyed my fried chicken,hahaha.Mu daughter curled her nose when she saw the look on my face when i chomped down on the pork,it was soo funny!
Peanutjar:) P.S:Your kittys are smart,duck is not all that yummy.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
24 Nov 07
Yup, my kitties were smart..LOL
I had a similar experience with pork too. My mom always said that my great-grandmother's tradition was to have a "country ham" for New Year's..suppose to bring luck for some reason for the year to come. Now before I would always get a ham..figured well it is pork. But the Black Label or Krakus type ham, that tastes, well hamy. So I get the pork meat that is called a country ham thinking it's going to be the same..I spent hours preparing it..and was so disappointed..tasted like glorified pork chops...didn't care for it either
1 person likes this
