washingtoncitypaper.com Ben Franklin once wrote his daughter to share his love for a certain feathered bird: For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly...For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America. As Tim Carman of the Washington City Paper notes, Franklin was also concerned with tenderizing this wattle-bearing poultry. His favorite method? Electrocution. “Birds killed in this manner eat uncommonly tender,” he wrote. Maybe not the first thing you pictured in Thanksgiving cooking techniques....
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Photograph from Katie@! on Flickr Chlorine is a nifty chemical often used to ensure swimming pool hygiene. Other times, it keeps chicken carcasses bacteria-free. After being defeathered and eviscerated, 80-percent of American poultry takes a chlorine bath. Europe doesn't support the chlorine presence, and has banned American poultry since 1997. Now Slate wants to know: does chlorine really make our chickens taste funny? In 1999, University of Georgia researchers noticed a difference between treated and un-treated chicken, but only after cooked patties sat in the fridge for four days. If the chlorine is used correctly, according to Slate, people won't detect any traces of chlorine after cooking. Good to know. Because I was hoping my chicken wouldn't taste like...
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Across the pond, celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall tackle the issues of animal welfare and "explore the horrors of intensive chicken farming" through the medium they know best: TV programs....
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Photograph from c(h)ristine on Flickr With the New Year approaching, there is the possibility of the chance that maybe I would perhaps consider having an inkling to make a resolution to eat better. With that (50/50 at best) chance of "improving" my diet looming, it's time to stuff my face with not so healthy things, just in case I decide to abstain after January 1st. In my book of guilty pleasures, the number one at the top of the list, has got to be fried chicken—and what better way to enjoy it then in sandwich form, served out of a bakery in Oakland, by a former cook from the birthplace of California cuisine....
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The True Love Roast contains turkey, goose, chicken, pheasant, partridge, pigeon squab, Aylesbury duck, Barbary duck, poussin, guinea fowl, mallard and quail along with herb and fruit stuffings. There's a different bird to represent each of the 12 days of Christmas! Only 50,000 calories!...
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Let the speculation begin: Japan has confirmed an H5 bird flu outbreak at a poultry farm in Miyazaki. They're not yet sure whether it's H5N1, but 1,000 birds have already died. Thankfully, as yet no people....
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