Thoughts on Poultry

There was a report on NPR this morning that a duck on a commercial farm in BC has been diagnosed with bird flu. The strain of virus is not the big scary one that's going to take us all out but the entire flock is going to be put down as a precaution. Which makes me think that it's not bad enough to be a bird worried about getting sick this winter. The poor things must be getting suspicious and paranoid, too. Duck goes to a party and starts to cough while chatting up a chicken. "Whoa, dude," says the chicken, backing away, feathers ruffled. "You're not sick are you?" "No, man, no", says the duck, giggling nervously. "No, just a tickle in my throat. Canape went down the wrong pipe. It's all good". Poor duck. Even if he's not sick, everyone else at that party is going to keep 10 feet away from him, just in case. Might as well finish his martini and make it an early night.

Speaking of (lame) ducks, our President did the right thing this weekend when he said that Congressman John Murtha was "a fine man, a good man, who has served our country with distinction". He went further to say that debate over Iraq was "worthy" and that those who disagree with the administration need not be considered unpatriotic because they do so. It might have been nice if he'd piped up earlier but at least he said it and I'll acknowledge that here for the handful of you who still think the President is a great leader and is doing a bang up job. I admire your loyalty.

A chicken hawk is "a person enthusiastic about war, provided someone else fights it; particularly when that enthusiasm is undimmed by personal experience with war, most emphatically when that lack of experience came in spite of ample opportunity in that person's youth". In other words, someone like Dick Cheney who didn't serve in Viet Nam, not because he was against the war but because he was too busy (five deferments). Dennis Hastert is another chicken hawk. He didn't serve either. There are a mess of chicken hawks over there on the Hill and they were squawking loud and long last week when Murtha called for the immediate withdrawal of our troops in Iraq. They didn't say, "Look, war is hell and we'd love to get out of there as soon as possible, too. Here's the game plan and the time table and you just gotta hang in there with us". Instead they challenged the courage and patriotism of yet another decorated war hero. I would love for someone to explain to me the hatred neocons have for veterans. Because it isn't about partisan politics or even this particular war. The Rovian tactic of using a man's military service against him was instituted way before Iraq. They did the same thing to John McCain when he was running for the Republican nomination.

I was so bent by this latest round of "Swift Boat" nonesense that I went to Dennis Hastert's web site. I was going to email him a big "shame on you". Turns out, unlike most senators and representatives, you can't email him if you aren't from his state. (Well, at least not through the website). But I did notice a link to "veterans" so I check it out. He states: "I believe it is very important that the needs of our military veterans be met to the fullest extent possible. Our veterans fought to protect our freedoms and way of life. We should respect our veterans and show our appreciation for the sacrifices they have made". And all I could think was, this is your idea of respect, atacking a veteran's conviction and loyalty because he dares to disagree with you? But then, name calling is the last bastion of those who have no defensible position. "I know you are, but what am I?"

But as much as I despise chicken hawks, I'm a big fan of chicken. Tonight, to celebrate the return of quiet Monday evenings, I'm making my famous and much ballyhooed Chicken and Leek Pie. Here's the recipe. Viva la poulet!

Chicken Pot Pie

In a large cast iron skillet, melt 3 T. butter.

Add:
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped
2-3 shallots, chopped
Add pepper and salt to taste and saute until chicken begins to brown.

Add in:
1 tomato,chopped
and cook, stirring occasionally, until tomato starts to break down and a glaze begins to form.

Stir in 2 T. flour for thickening, cook for 1 minute and add in 1 c. chicken stock.

Stir until sauce begins to thicken.

Stir in:
1 leek, white and light green part, sliced
dillweed to taste

If you wish you may also add in a handful of frozen peas and some cooked, diced carrot

Fit a round of pate brisee over top of skillet. Make slits in crust and decorate with dough cutouts.

Bake at 425 until crust is brown, about 25 minutes.