And He Expects Me To Cook What???

In walks my hunter (normally an investment banker) Saturday afternoon, after a long night with the boys drinking and playing dominoes in Napa at some duck club.  I was okay that Charles abandoned our standing, friday family night dinner.  I was okay that Charles HAD to come home and take a nap because he was up at 4:30 in the morning getting ready for his hunt.  I was okay spending the entire Saturday ALONE with my wonderful children.  I was NOT okay that Charles brought home a duck that was NOT CLEANED and looked like it was still alive!!!

I know a lot of my friends would be surprised that I wont clean a bird, as I am the first to buy a whole chicken at the supermarket, take the guts out, clean it and cut it up.  I also don't mind catching fish, scaling it, removing the guts and preparing filets.  But for some reason, I draw the line at birds.  So before Charles left, my ONLY request was that the ducks had to be de-feathered and cleaned.

So Saturday afternoon my tired, but proud hunter walks in the door having had shot his limit with a dead duck to show my son.  Unfortunately, Luke wasn't interested, but our three year old daughter sure was.  Wow, what a picture that was.  Ryan was patting it, swinging it around by its neck and examining it.  Every time I gave Charles a scowling look, the more he would engage Ryan with the duck. What a site it was seeing my daughter and husband cleaning the bird.  If only men would clean up after their projects!

Now I had to figure out how in the world to cook this SMALL duck and the 5 other breasts that did come home cleaned.  It would have been nice if he had delivered the same cuts of meat, but  that would have been too easy on me.  And did I mention, I got the oh by the way we are going to his hunting buddies house for a family dinner on Sunday to eat the duck.  So if I could think of a great way to prepare them, that would be great!

Duck is tough.  Literally and figuratively.  How do I tell him that all I really want to do is put my feet up and watch the 49'er game. So how to do both?  Braise the meat, shred it, put in a lettuce leaf cup with Hoisin sauce and serve as tacos.  20 minute prep, 2 hours at a slow simmer, and 15 minute assembly and Voila, gourmet Asian duck tacos.  Too good to be true!