Season’s Eatings

The other dark meat

by Candice Schultz, from eatmagazine.ca

‘Tis the season for full bellies and tasty treats. While it may seem natural to settle down to a stuffed turkey dinner and all the fixings on Christmas Day, the more adventurous might consider roasting a goose instead. Having just eaten our way through a turkey dinner free-for-all in October, cooking a Christmas goose can be a refreshing alternative to the Thanksgiving staple.

In North America, turkey is the go-to bird for most holiday meals. Historically, though, Europeans have feasted on Christmas goose for centuries. In fact, in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the Cratchit family serves goose for their Christmas meal. Most of us won’t break from North American tradition this week, but consider goose when stuffing any bird. Its crispy skin and rich flavour rival that of any fowl and the fact that goose can be relatively easy to find and prepare might surprise some.

Most consider goose in the context of hunting which isn’t completely untrue. British Columbia’s wilderness is known for its capacity to produce delicious, local meat. Because Vancouver Island no longer has a large-scale poultry processing plant, geese are either privately hunted on the Island or most commonly bred on the mainland. So, unless you hunt or know someone who does, talk to your specialty butcher about getting fresh geese from the Fraser Valley.

Like any game, goose has a strong, distinct flavour. While turkey and chicken are low maintenance to prepare, goose requires a little bit more attention but can yield impressive results that will surprise dinner guests. When cooking goose, look for a bird that is eight to twelve pounds (bigger is not better). Be sure to prick the skin to allow the fat to seep out when cooking. When stuffing the bird, favour ingredients like apple, onion, and orange, and be sure to add liquid to the roasting pan to prevent the drippings from burning. Although the layer of fat under the skin makes goose seem like an oily bird, remember that the meat itself is relatively lean and can easily become dry if overcooked.

Use leftovers in similar ways to other poultry – shredded on a sandwich or a salad – and boil the carcass for an incredible soup base. Also be sure to save the wonderfully flavoured fat to add richness to future meals.

See this week’s recipe box for an excellent accompaniment to roast goose, cassis-braised red cabbage.

Breaking with Routine

At 65, Don Brown is enjoying retirement by changing his routine, not slowing down. The Winnipeg native, who had polio as a child, is a recreational golfer who tries to keep every day fresh by staying active, both physically and mentally.

Don, a Victoria-based retiree, began golfing in his late teens and early twenties. Like most people, he played simply for recreation.

“It was just a fun thing to do on Saturday morning with the guys,” says Don.

Over time, Don put away the golf clubs, but still stayed active. While he worked at a multi-purpose fitness club in Calgary in his 40s, Don picked up his clubs again. He went out with some friends and, soon after, found himself immersed in the world of golf club management – a profession that would take him to retirement.

“I’ve been lucky,” he says. “I’ve had the opportunity to play some really nice courses across Canada and into the United States that I might not have been able to if I had not been involved in the business.”

In 1993, Don left the multi-purpose facility for the Highlands Golf Club in Edmonton, where he spearheaded the construction of a new clubhouse. Don and his wife, Carol, eventually moved to Victoria, where he managed the Victoria Golf Club. There, he was part of the 100th anniversary of one of the world’s longest-running international dinner clubs, an experience he remembers fondly. When his contract with the club expired, however, Don chose not to renew.

Don, then 59 years old, wasn’t ready to retire. He took a three-year contract in Prince George, where he facilitated the sale of a golf course that had been destroyed by pine beetles. Before they went, Don and Carol were faced with an important decision: where to retire once the contract in Prince George expires. The couple considered settling down in Carol’s birthplace, Kelowna, where they had friends and family nearby. The decision came to Don and Carol when they were walking along the beach in Victoria.

“We stopped and looked at each other and said, ‘what is it we like doing?’ And this is exactly it. Being outside in January or February walking with a windbreaker on, playing golf, or whatever,” says Don.

Don and Carol have been enjoying an active life as retirees for two years, now. When they returned to Victoria, the couple joined the Gorge Vale Golf Club, which allows them to stay fit and socialize with other golfers.

“We both like to golf, and it’s part of my retirement routine,” says Don. “I wanted to golf two or three times a week, for a number of reasons, partly for exercise and partly because we both like to golf.”

Although golf is part of his routine, Don says that he enjoys mixing it up when he has a chance.

“In the summer, we like to get on the bikes and, in the winter, we like to walk around the Gorge Park,” says Don. “It keeps us active. I also do some volunteer things that I enjoy.”

In the summer, Don volunteers for many of the summer festivals in Victoria, including Jazzfest and the Tall Ships Festival.

“It’s nice to have something other than the daily routine,” he says. “There’s gotta be a carrot out there that gives you; something to look forward to, rather than getting into a rut of a daily routine.”

Don even switches it up on the golf course. Although he and Carol play on a regular basis, Don goes out with a group of men on Saturdays. Each week, they bet on holes, then, any money that’s won goes into a pool. By the end of the year, the group has collected enough money to go on a road trip.

“Mentally, betting helps to keep you sharp, because you have something on the line, you have to make that putt. This way, you have to concentrate and try to motivate yourself to play well.”

To Don, it’s important to stay active in order to keep his body and mind in shape.

“For me, what I think is important, is your health. I had polio when I was young, which is part of the reason why I stay active,” says Don. “The doctors once said, ‘Keep doing stuff, because if you stop, you’ll seize up and you’ll never get it going.’ The other thing that’s important is to keep your mind active. I go on the Internet and use my computer a lot. I try and keep up with it, learn what’s new in technical areas, not necessarily because I need it anymore, but because it’s fun to do.”

Don admits that age has brought on aches and pains that likely wouldn’t affect him if he wasn’t so physically active. His goal, though, is not to give in.

“If I quit golfing or wasn’t cycling, my shoulder and back wouldn’t bother me, but then what? What would I do? It’s important to use your brain and use your body. Those two things make you healthier in old age. Don’t quit.”

By Candice Schultz

DECEMBER 2009 SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER ISLAND