What I didn't know about Foie Gras

Today I was happily reading some food blogs on fancy fine dining restaurants and I thought I want to try out foie gras which is a popular, and expensive French delicacy.
I don't think I have tried it before, or maybe I had long time ago but I don't remember.

Then, I came upon a blog which point out the cruelty of farming foie gras. Basically, foie gras is a diseased (read diseased) and enlarged liver of a duck or goose, produced through force feeding. To qualify as foie gras, the poor duck's liver has to be enlarged to a minimum of 300 grams, which is 6 times the size of a healthy duck's liver. Sometimes, the duck's liver is even enlarged to 10 times their natural size.

How do they do that?

Here's what the force-feeder does, everyday for 2-3 times, they will grab the poor and helpless bird, shoves a long, thick tube all the way down his throat and pumps in large amount of food into his system. Each feeding is about 0.45 kilo which should be almost the portion of my heavy dinner, I think. But god, this is a duck which is 1/10 my weight? As if this is not cruel enough, they will add in OIL and water which doubles the food weight mentioned, making it 20-30% of the bird's body weight.

Now imagine if I stuff you with 10kgs of dry corn + water for 3 times/day (assuming if you are 50 kgs, if you are heavier, your portion would have to increase)

and I thought eating shark fin is cruel, but this 100x worst.

Ladies & gentlemen, here's the picture of healthy duck liver and a foie gras. See the big difference? Imagine how the bird would have suffered. Needless to say, a LOT of birds dies over this process.

Picture from PETA
 

Check out the video below about this cruelty, narrated by Kate Winslet.

 

Foie Gras, anyone?

Oh between, I always find it fascinating the way foie gras is pronouced - \ˈfwä-ˈgrä\ (Click here to listen)

Attention-seeking cat

Being the only pet in our house aside from our fish, I can understand that Kitty is often bored and loves our attention.

Whenever I go to mom's house, Kitty wants to be carried (like a toddler) and he also wants to play run & hide.

So today, I ignored him and continues to work on my notebook. After a while, I got up to get a drink from the kitchen. This is what happened when I got back.

.

.

.

.

.

.

#Likeaboss

He just know how to protest right? LOL..

So, I carried him down to the floor but he still wouldn't give up. After a while...

.

.

.

.

.

.

LOL...He's very clingy, sometimes.

Cooking & Kapitan Nyonya Curry Chicken Recipe

Well, well..at my ripe age, it's time that I learn how to cook!

I think my cooking experience started when I took my cooking badge back in my girl guide days. Haha..and then it was many many years that I didn't touch the kitchen.  When I had to throw a BBQ party some years back (after a lot of threatening and coaxing from my friends), I was actually quite petrified because I have no idea how to marinate the stuff and most importantly, I don't like to cook. But then I love food so much! So when we had a few potluck parties, I did take the effort to experiment with cooking the dishes that I like. The result wasn't too encouraging or motivating enough for me to try again. Ohh, before I continues, one VERY IMPORTANT thing that I have learnt is some of the recipe on the internet is really crappy, so best is to get your recipe from reputable sources.

Until recently, boredom has got into me and coincidentally  hubby just dig out some old cooking books. So, I am thinking to myself...cooking is not rocket science, what the heck, just give it a try! And I have to say that I am an ambitious person. Lol..

Hence, this is my first attempt for a full course meal.

 ABC soup & Beancurd

Brocolli with prawn & Steamed Emperor Chicken (using A1 brand paste :P)

Tomyam bihun

Overall ratings that I give myself. :P

Taste: 7-8 out of 10

Satisfaction: 8 out of 10

Level of Fatigue: 9.5 out of 10

Since I think I fare well in my first attempt and MIL has been bugging me for the leftover chilies in the fridge, I decided to try out this difficult recipe (for my standard) and I love it!

Presenting....


Curry Chicken, oppa Nyonya-style! 
(Like how you say Gangnam style!)

Here's the recipe:

Note: the red chilies should comes under B category and pounded together with the paste.

Wait a minute, for those like me who probably haven't heard of most of the ingredients above, DO NOT FRET.
The tip is you can get it all from those malay ministore that sells poultry, vegetables, etc.

Instructions:
1. Heat oil in wok, deep-fry potatoes wedges till golden brown in colour. Drain well and set aside.

2. Heat the balance cooking oil again, and stir-fry ingredients B till fragrant. Add in chicken, ingredients C and mix well. Stir-fry it for 10 minutes

3. Add in ingredients D and mix well. Lower down the flame and further simmer for 5-10 minutes. Add in fried potatoes and mix well.

Side notes:
I find that it get burnt easily while simmering in Step 3, so stir often.
In case if you are wondering, bunga kantan is to be finely chopped.
It tooks me more than 2 hours to complete this dish, so good luck to you!