Christmas Dinner – Duck with Orange Chipotle Sauce

My goal each holiday season is to avoid eating turkey. I know I'm in the minority on this issue, and I've suggested alternate meal options on many occasions. Each time I suggest an alternative, I'm met with a similar response – no! Perhaps I should suggest the infamous deep fried turkey.

Last night (Christmas Eve) was turkey night... but tonight it's duck! I picked up two beautiful Muskovy duck breasts at Whitehouse in the Market to make Broiled Duck Breasts with Orange Chipotle Sauce. It's not a complicated recipe – most of the work goes into the sauce. Broiling it in a roasting pan with some water in the lower pan kept it from smoking too much, and it made the fat on top nicely caramelized and crispy. To serve, it was sliced thin, and topped with the sweet & spicy orange chipotle sauce. We had it with a side of roasted butternut squash.

What would you rather have, turkey or duck?

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Cheese & Boredom

It's holiday season, and that means I'm sitting around eating cheese. While I'm eating cheese, I'm usually thinking about why I haven't been smart enough to book a trip somewhere far from the pull of seasonal/family obligations. Obligations like eating turkey and driving around in bad weather. Call me crusty, but I don't like to celebrate "designated" holidays. There's just too much pressure to have fun and get into the spirit. Why can't acts of kindness, baking and binge drinking be part of our day-to-day routine?

The holidays aren't just about uncomfortable moments with family, it's also about being bored. When I'm bored, I like to bake. I'm stocked up with holiday cheese like Riopelle and Manchego so I made walnut bread to go with. This version has a seven-grain cereal mix and a blend of whole wheat and white flour. It tuned out light and fluffy.

I've also included a pic of the Marimekko apron I got for Fusilli. It's the classic poppy pattern and I decided to wear it while I was doing the messy flour/kneading bit at the beginning. I think pink is my colour?

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