Bird in a bird

[Jonty]

Up until last week, Christmas dinner at ours was going to be low key - no extra family so we talked about a low effort Turkey crown or a beef roast - until last Saturday when my 13 year old daughter asked if she could come on her first shoot.... she absolutely loved it, which as you could imagine, made me a very happy dad.  Anyway, as I was cleaning the birds I brought home from the shoot, my girl asked ‘’daddy can we have a bird in a bird?’’who am I to at]rgue when she can tell us all about the bird we are eating and how she picked it.  So,we have wood pigeon, woodcock and pheasant in the freezer.  I fancied a gressingham  duck for the outside so today after it arrived i boned it out and popped it in the freezer for assembly closer to the date.  If you’ve ever fancied doing this yourself- it really is easier than you’d think - definitely worth a try 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Very interesting, the only problem I can see is getting the mass of meat to cook evenly. 

I look forward to seeing what you plan to do about that.

[Jonty]

1 hour ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Very interesting, the only problem I can see is getting the mass of meat to cook evenly. 

I look forward to seeing what you plan to do about that.

It’s just a chunk of meat TC, i just apply the same principles as if it was a fore rib of beef etc.  I do use a thermometer whilst cooking and also. Using a farmed duck or goose on the outside provides a forgiving outer skin which will help protect the inner meat without sacrificing the outer layer.  I’d wholeheartedly recommend anyone to give it a go

Edited December 15, 2020 by Jonty

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Well you've have thought it through, enjoy.

[Walker570]

30yrs ago this was very popular and I remember putting together all sorts of birds and even a venison backstrap in the middle once. Layer of mixed stuffing between each.

Sew it all together and roast like you would a large joint.  Your meat temperature gauge comes into its own here and will tell you when it is cooked through. Couple of layers of foil over it should the outside start to cook too fast, then take it it off to crisp up prior to serving.  A lot of trouble but well worth it for the result and easy to slice.  Seasoned oil for basting.   Layered with streaky bacon over, the choices are almost endless.

[Jonty]

8 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Well you've have thought it through, enjoy.

Thanks, I’ve done a few of these now and I’ve not had any disasters- with a meat thermometer it takes all the uncertainty away.

3 hours ago, Walker570 said:

30yrs ago this was very popular and I remember putting together all sorts of birds and even a venison backstrap in the middle once. Layer of mixed stuffing between each.

Sew it all together and roast like you would a large joint.  Your meat temperature gauge comes into its own here and will tell you when it is cooked through. Couple of layers of foil over it should the outside start to cook too fast, then take it it off to crisp up prior to serving.  A lot of trouble but well worth it for the result and easy to slice.  Seasoned oil for basting.   Layered with streaky bacon over, the choices are almost endless.

You’re right about the 30 years thing Walker570 - my mother in law taught me how to do it - she taught her self from a ‘cordon bleu’ correspondence cookery course so that’s going back some.  I like the idea of some venison in there, I think I have a red fillet in the freezer - thanks for that suggestion.

[old'un]

4 hours ago, Jonty said:

Thanks, I’ve done a few of these now and I’ve not had any disasters- with a meat thermometer it takes all the uncertainty away.

You’re right about the 30 years thing Walker570 - my mother in law taught me how to do it - she taught her self from a ‘cordon bleu’ correspondence cookery course so that’s going back some.  I like the idea of some venison in there, I think I have a red fillet in the freezer - thanks for that suggestion.

Or rabbit…

looks really nice mate, hope you all enjoy it...

[Jonty]

9 hours ago, old'un said:

Or rabbit…

looks really nice mate, hope you all enjoy it...

Good thinking Batman 👍. Cheers Dave!

[Jonty]

Just finished putting tomorrow’s dinner together.  Duck, then port and apricot stuffing, then pheasant, followed by sage and onion stuffing, then a layer of pigeon breasts topped with another little layer of stuffing.  The underside looks like Frankenstein stitched it together 😀

[TIGHTCHOKE]

I hope it works and they all enjoy it!

[Walker570]

That looks awesome.  A few slices of smoked streaky bacon over it and good to go.   Photo when cooked and sliced please.

Just disappointed you did not include squirrel.

Edited December 24, 2020 by Walker570

[southeastpete]

Great stuff. I did a 5 and a 7 bird before. Best bit about it was getting to text my mates telling them I spent Christmas Eve boning 7 birds...

[Jonty]

2 hours ago, Walker570 said:

That looks awesome.  A few slices of smoked streaky bacon over it and good to go.   Photo when cooked and sliced please.

Just disappointed you did not include squirrel.

😀😀😀

41 minutes ago, southeastpete said:

Great stuff. I did a 5 and a 7 bird before. Best bit about it was getting to text my mates telling them I spent Christmas Eve boning 7 birds...

Brilliant mate - this was three and I needed a rest between each one 😂

[TIGHTCHOKE]

You'll need a swan next year to beat that one!

[southeastpete]

9 hours ago, Jonty said:

😀😀😀

Brilliant mate - this was three and I needed a rest between each one 😂

I was in my 20’s then. I wouldn’t have the patience now to bone out legs and wings like a sleeve... I’d just carve the meat off the inner birds today and chuck it all in! 😂

[Jonty]

On 24/12/2020 at 21:46, Walker570 said:

 Photo when cooked and sliced please.

 

Here you go sir, I cocked up the layering so the pigeon was at the bottom and was more cooked than I’d have liked but it was bloody lovely all the same.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Lovely, if only I could smell it through the computer.

[Walker570]

That looks awesome. Nicely done and couldn't have done better myself

[Jonty]

36 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Lovely, if only I could smell it through the computer.

Thanks TC 👍

34 minutes ago, Walker570 said:

That looks awesome. Nicely done and couldn't have done better myself

Much appreciated 👍

[ditchman]

christ that looks nice............skin done loverly..........did you make a sauce or a gravy ?

[old'un]

You've done yourself proud there mate, bet it went down well with all the trimmings.

 

Well done.

[Jonty]

Cheers Dave it was very good indeed - hope you had a good day yourself 👍

46 minutes ago, old'un said:

You've done yourself proud there mate, bet it went down well with all the trimmings.

 

Well done.

 

50 minutes ago, ditchman said:

christ that looks nice............skin done loverly..........did you make a sauce or a gravy ?

I did do ditchy, I made stock with the carcass and my 11 year old boy (trainee gravy chef) helped me make a port  gravy with the pan drippings and the stock - the fat from daffy went on to the roasties.

[harrycatcat1]

2 hours ago, Jonty said:

Cheers Dave it was very good indeed - hope you had a good day yourself 👍

 

I did do ditchy, I made stock with the carcass and my 11 year old boy (trainee gravy chef) helped me make a port  gravy with the pan drippings and the stock - the fat from daffy went on to the roasties.

That does look lovely,  well done 👍