Where does all the mutton go?

Anybody know?

The South Downs are covered in sheep, but I haven't seen mutton on the menu since Miss Havisham came to dinner. Lamb is common enough. I suppose wool bearing sheep after many seasons of diligent wool bearing aren't fit for the table. Is adult sheep that much less palatable than lamb or is it the breed?

Pet food, I guess.



Trivia: the day that Lizzie Borden took an axe and...did something very unpleasant in Fall River, MA, breakfast was cold mutton. Also, her middle name was "Andrew" because her dad wanted a son. I think either of those is just grounds.

I think mutton is tougher, which is why it's most commonly stewed (cooked for a really really really long time) to make it palatable. But what do I know. I don't eat 4-legged creatures. Still, it's what I've heard.

I played Lizzie Borden in a haunted house at the Louisiana State Fair!! And I never knew her middle name was Andrew!

Scotch pies; such as the sort sold outside football grounds.

(Let me preface this by saying that I've been listening to a lot of 60's folk music this weekend)

Where does all the mutton go?
Long time passing
Where does all the mutton go?
Long time ago
Where does all the mutton go?
It's baked in Scotch pies don'tcha know
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

_{enormous apologies to Pete Seeger}


Feel free to smack me upside the head with said pies.
And if it makes anyone feel better, the Lizzie Borden trivia has firmly planted "Lizzie Borden" by The Chad Mitchell Trio in my head.

We just don't eat mutton in the UK.  I think much of it is imported to Europe.

We kill our sheep when they are nice and young!!!


Victoria

Eh. My other half can successfully ruin a lamb kebab by waiting for me to get a big mouthful, looking at me with big, soulful eyes, and whispering, "baa. Baaaaaaaa."

The older I get, the closer I get to vegetarianism, out of sheer, squishy sentimentality. Or squeamishness, if you prefer. And I love walking through the fields at lambing time and watching the little cotton puffs hop around like they're spring-loaded.

The older I get, the closer I get to vegetarianism, out of sheer, squishy sentimentality. Or squeamishness, if you prefer. And I love walking through the fields at lambing time and watching the little cotton puffs hop around like they're spring-loaded.

I took my son to a local lamb farm yesterday to see all the new little ones.  It was fun and the little ones were absolutely adorable, but it was a bit unnerving as there were signs posted all over declaring "Don't forget to reserve your lamb - whole or half lambs available for your freezer". 

Mutton is growing in popularity again here in the UK. You can buy it at butchers but don't think I've seen it in the supermarket.

yuk.

i'd like to have a few sheep, but just for their nice wool, not to eat 'em.  eeewww.

One of the nicest lamb roasts we had recently was mutton (I think) -- it was the most tender lamb I've had yet.  We got it at the farmers market from a local farmer -- one of our neighbors is a butcher and told me it must have been mutton, as it's not the season for lamb (as in a little one).

FunGirl -- LOL!  The same song came into my head when I saw the title of the thread.

Considering what Aberdonians are known for.......I wouldn't  touch mutton with a barge pole.....   omg sorry my fingers slipped


I always thought eating baby lambs and baby coos seems so cruel (and I am a meat eater)

FunGirl -- LOL!  The same song came into my head when I saw the title of the thread.

Mine too! LOL!

It's always been sold in some butchers' stalls here in the covered market, and is now sold at the Farmer's market on Sundays. It has a stronger flavour, but is excellent for curries.