Hugh's Chicken Run, etc.

I started to watch the HFW one last night but it was too much for me and I had to turn it off.

I didn't even try watching it. I don't eat red meat, but I really do want to keep eating chicken and fish (partly for nutritional reasons, but mostly because it just makes life so much easier!). I had a feeling if I watched this program, it would turn me off chicken for good - free range, organic or otherwise.  

So true, it's like anything else which shocks people.  They get outraged about it for a day or two until it's time to go shopping again.  I think unless it has a direct negative effect on most people or there is mass hysteria, they just don't care. 

Until they can buy organic chicken for the same 2-for-£5 deal, then I don't think it's going to have any impact on the average person. 

I personally think it's sad that the life of a living, breathing creature can be reduced to the amount of £2.50.  Wonder what the farmers get on that.  40p if they're lucky?

I enjoy eating meat but I just can't eat intensively farmed meat without feeling guilty, most people who met me would probably think I was vegetarian. 

I personally think it's sad that the life of a living, breathing creature can be reduced to the amount of £2.50.  Wonder what the farmers get on that.  40p if they're lucky?

DH told me what the statistic is and now I can't recall - but it was something like the farmer has to sell some ungodly number of chickens in order to make £3. I was shocked when he told me that - it was in the paper somewhere yesterday. DH works for Waitrose - I know they're far from perfect but at least they do try to pay farmer's a fair price....

I saw this and I was appalled, although not in the least surprised. DH and I only buy free range meat, organic if possible. It does cost more, but we figure it is worth only eating meat two or three times a week in order to buy the better-quality meat. You don't have to be earning a lot of money to buy free range organic meat, you just have to make better choices, like not eating meat everyday. There are plenty of healthy, tasty veg alternatives.

If anyone is at all interested, Channel 4 is repeating its documentary The Lie of the Land tonight at around 11 pm.

Some info on that:

http://www.channel4.com/blogs/page/fourdocs?entry=molly_dineen_s_latest_doc

I started to watch the HFW one last night but it was too much for me and I had to turn it off.

me too... and it was partially because i know i have some chicken in the freezer that is probably battery-raised.  :\\\'(

I've always only bought free range chickens but I can tell you this - I won't be buying ready meals, sandwiches, soups, etc. anymore that contain chicken....

I didnt make a new years resolution yet, but this might be it... start buying free range, and only free range.

We haven't eaten meat that's not ethically produced in years or eggs from battery hens and I don't buy that 'I can't afford it' business for one minute.  We ate like this when we were living on about £14,000/pa in the third most expensive city in the UK.

It's not at all hard to get three meals for 4 people out of one free-range organic chicken.

I've got loads of other ideas to stretch and maximise ethically-produced meat if you want them! 

It's not a matter of being smug or poncy, IMO, it's about better-tasting, better-quality food and a better deal for our nation's food producers. 

It's not at all hard to get three meals for 4 people out of one free-range organic chicken.

Not saying it can't be done, but... 2 of your 4 people are tiny children!
I can usually get 2 meals for 2 adults out of 1 chicken, so I'd welcome your stretching advice! 

them! 

It's not a matter of being smug or poncy, IMO, it's about better-tasting, better-quality food and a better deal for our nation's food producers. 

Yes - and quality food is important for health.  Some people will spend a fortune on face creams, hair products etc and but not pay more for what is going into their bodies.

I can make a free range chicken do two meals for five (including 3 boys in their twenties) and still use the carcase for stock.  We probably have at least 3 non meat meals during the week, and also eat cheaper cuts such as stewing steak, liver, mince  etc, or make a little bit of good meat go a long way, in a curry or pasta sauce with lots of veg or beans.

There are two really good extracts here on eating well from a new book called: In Defence of Food: The Myth of Nutrition and the Pleasures of Eating: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jan/07/health.foodanddrink

Not saying it can't be done, but... 2 of your 4 people are tiny children!
I can usually get 2 meals for 2 adults out of 1 chicken, so I'd welcome your stretching advice! 

One with a VERY big appetite who is getting even taller and whose fav food is chicken.

K, though, I rise to the challenge!

My first way of stretching is to roast the bird first.  Eat off it.

Then strip the hell out of it the next day.

You'll be surprised how much you get!

Then I usually do one of several things with it:
a) coronation chicken salad
b) chicken rice - known as 'chicken risotto' on the Hugh programme
c) white bean and chicken chilli - i'd be happy to post the recipe if you'd like, it's a slow cooker one!
d) chicken stock - i use this as a base for a soup.
e) chicken meat balls - take the stripped chicken and put it in the food processor.  Shred it to mince, basically.  Mix with breadcrumb, egg and whatever seasonings you like.  Make into balls an bake in the oven at about 160C till golden.  Serve on a roll with tomato sauce, pasta, or rice.

One with a VERY big appetite who is getting even taller and whose fav food is chicken.

K, though, I rise to the challenge!

My first way of stretching is to roast the bird first.  Eat off it.

Then strip the hell out of it the next day.

You'll be surprised how much you get!

Then I usually do one of several things with it:
a) coronation chicken salad
b) chicken rice - known as 'chicken risotto' on the Hugh programme
c) white bean and chicken chilli - i'd be happy to post the recipe if you'd like, it's a slow cooker one!
d) chicken stock - i use this as a base for a soup.
e) chicken meat balls - take the stripped chicken and put it in the food processor.  Shred it to mince, basically.  Mix with breadcrumb, egg and whatever seasonings you like.  Make into balls an bake in the oven at about 160C till golden.  Serve on a roll with tomato sauce, pasta, or rice.

Thanks!   
I do pretty much all of these things, but... we must have bigger appetites than your lot!  Or are buying a smaller chicken, perhaps?
I do a roast chicken - 2 people eat that, then i strip the carcass and make a curry or white chilli, and 2 people eat that the next day.
Then it's gone!  (apart from the bones, which i freeze for stock.)

 

I do pretty much all of these things, but... we must have bigger appetites than your lot! 

LOL! That's what I was thinking! We must really be overeating! 

I do a roast chicken - 2 people eat that, then i strip the carcass and make a curry or white chilli, and 2 people eat that the next day.
Then it's gone!  (apart from the bones, which i freeze for stock.)

Me too! I'd never be able to get more than 2 meals + stock from one chicken for the two of us. Like Genau! said, maybe it's a case of buying smaller chickens. Or else we're just pigs (which I suspect is more likely  )

Thanks!   
I do pretty much all of these things, but... we must have bigger appetites than your lot!  Or are buying a smaller chicken, perhaps?
I do a roast chicken - 2 people eat that, then i strip the carcass and make a curry or white chilli, and 2 people eat that the next day.
Then it's gone!  (apart from the bones, which i freeze for stock.)

 

Yep, this is pretty much what I get out of a roast chicken as well. I always imagine it will last for longer, but it never does.

We haven't eaten meat that's not ethically produced in years or eggs from battery hens and I don't buy that 'I can't afford it' business for one minute.  We ate like this when we were living on about £14,000/pa in the third most expensive city in the UK.

I totally agree. You'll find that, often, the people who complain about the price are the same people who are buying sodas and crisps and cakes. If you make better choices about what you eat, you can afford higher quality foods. Like I said before, we only eat meat about three times a week, not every day, so that we can afford to pay a little extra for free range. This is not about elitism, as one of the people on that program said last night, it's about making better choices.