Tasty Turkeys Pretty Pumpkins

Judy Schultz

  Journal Bistro October 2005 
 
 
 

Thanksgiving is my favourite season. Better than Christmas — less hassle, but just as tasty. Gratitude, instead of greed. A pause, before the extravagant holiday celebrations, to give thanks for a multitude of ordinary blessings.

For Canadians, the Thanksgiving table involves two iron-clad traditions: pumpkins and The Bird. Many seasonal farmers markets are winding up this week, and all of them will have locally grown birds and pumpkins for sale.

You could always take in a harvest festival and pick out your own pumpkin, from the farmer who grew it.

Now to birds. Although a turkey is the bird of choice for Thanksgiving, Alberta growers are coming up with wider possibilities.

The best place to find a bird of a different feather, whether it’s an organic bird or a different variety (wild turkey’s, ducks, geese, pheasants) is often at a farmers market.

The organic and wild birds go fast, and to be certain you get one, try to order in advance. (For a Christmas bird, place your order now.)
     
Bigger Chickens
If you want a smaller bird than a turkey, look for a bigger chicken. Local farm-raised chickens up to eight pounds are tasty free-range birds.

The organic roasters from Ron and Sheila Hamilton’s award-winning Sunworks Farm in Armena might look smaller than you’d expect, given their weight. It’s because they aren’t bloated by water-processing. They’ll be dense, meaty and flavor-packed. Available from their stall at the Old Strathcona Farmers Market (look for Sunworks), these birds are pasture-raised in a similar manner to First Nature Farms.

Sunworks also raises ducks and geese. Check out their website at www.sunworksfarm.com.

Organic Muscovy ducks
These meaty ducks are grown by the Hamiltons of Sunworks. The drakes are big birds at seven to eight pounds per dressed weight. The hens are slightly smaller, averaging four to five pounds. The meat is dark, juicy, excellent with wild berry sauces or orange sauce.