Adventures in pseudo-parenting

[sabrinamari]

Trent: "Can you break open a chicken bone for me? I've always wanted to try marrow."

Sabrina, grossed out but determined to remain anthropological: "Why don't you wait for your dad to come home? He can help you do it." [Totally calm, here.]

Later...

Trent: "I really want to try marrow. Why don't we cut it open? My fork made a dent in it."

Sabrina, considering this: "No. I am not certified to deal with child wounding emergencies. That's a separate training."

Trent, (thinking about Boy Scouts?): "Well, I am. If I cut something off, we just stop the bleeding and rush me to the emergency room."

Sabrina: "Why don't we just eat some Halloween candy instead?"

Trent: "OK."

****

Alternate bait-and-switch ideas for later:

1. Explain atlatls. Suggest that he look for one. Redirect to internet.

2. Mention that some people teach themselves to flintnap. Point out that it is very important to start with high quality chunks of obsidian, and he should start by researching the best, most accessible sources. Redirect to internet.

3. Begin conversation about using cut marks on bone to identify butchering styles and study stone tools. Channel discussion to flintnapping. See number 2 above.

4. Encourage Trent to harvest marrow in the truly authentic manner: after he has butchered his own kill with a hand axe.

Comments

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

There's not enough marrow in chicken bones to get anything out to taste. If he wants to try marrow, you want beef. Here's a great recipe:

http://www.thehungrymouse.com/2010/02/17/roasted-marrow-bones/

It's really quite tasty. I love marrow. If you can't bring yourself to make it for him, the next time we're all in one place, let me know. I'll roast some, and he and I can eat them. It's incredibly good on toast.

[diekonigin.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha omg

[karmawings.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha, this is so fantastically funny!

[ingridsummers.livejournal.com]

As his step-mother you did not fail by laughing for 5 minutes. You get to have those moments of laughter.

Actually, had you been his biological parent, you would have been able to laugh too. There are just some things worth laughing about.

P.S. I have to admit that I'm grateful that PG-15 is more squimish than I. I can't imagine she would ever think it tasty to eat marrow. Ugh.

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

Marrow has been good eatin' all the way back into the depths of mythology. "To suck the marrow out of life" didn't become a saying because everyone thought it was gross. :-)

(But people who can't stand any fat on their meat won't like it. It's about half fat, half protein, chock full of nutrients, with incredibly meaty rich flavor. It's like meat butter. :-)

The people in the portion of the science pool from which the Paleo/Primal diets arose also make the argument that marrow and other animal fats are what allowed us to develop such large brains compared to other mammals.

"Animal fat and protein improved the quality of our diet by making digestion less energy intensive. Bone marrow, especially, was highly caloric and nutrient dense, allowing early human ancestors to divert metabolic resources away from the costly digestion of roughage and toward bigger, costlier brains. This spurred the increase in hominid brain size that we still enjoy today."

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

I understand. I just don't do fatty meats.

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know. You'll likely hate it. But you should try one bite on toast.

Anyway, more for Trent and me. >:-)

[deboranter.livejournal.com]

for some reason i thought you were vegetarian

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

Not even close. My freezer's full of venison, I have two kinds of bacon in the fridge (and have had up to four kinds at once, in the past), and I just made a huge pot of chicken soup -- with lamb bones added to the stock I made it from. I just made a meatloaf of venison and beef. :-)

There are very few animals I wouldn't at least try, and assuming a healthy source, very few cuts of an animal I won't eat. The universal exception is liver. I don't eat liver from anything, for any reason, not even high-end paté. I know what livers are for -- why on earth would I deliberately eat that? Why does ANYone? :-P

[citabria]

I get the liver thing. I've had great pate and great chopped liver but can only enjoy them if I don't think about what the liver does.

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

Toxic-waste-dump-and-onions, an American classic! >:-)

[citabria]

Having just cooked same (veal version) just a few days ago -- and had to deal with holding it on a steam table, complete with fumes when the lid came off -- I can say that the phrase "toxic waste dump" applies to its odors as well. Bleh!

[ingridsummers.livejournal.com]

I'm with Sabrina - fatty meats - ugh. I used to like some if they were grilled, but now I can't eat any of them without "disgestional issues". I move closer and closer to being a vegetarian the older I get.

[castalusoria.livejournal.com]

I love you-- and that kid!

Thank you for yet another window on your lives!

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

He is hysterically funny...

[evaelisabeth.livejournal.com]

Or you could have just pulled out the big 9" chef knife and given it a whack :-) Marrow really is quite delicious though I don't usually go for the chicken variety.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Trent would just love you, Eva.

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

More marrow for me, Trent, and Eva! >:-)

[padmaclynne.livejournal.com]

note: learning to knap = bleeding, but you usually don't cut anything off.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm good with flintnapping.

[shades-of-nyx.livejournal.com]

Atlatl will lead to practice of throwing spears. Be wary, and alert the neighbors in advance.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

True. They are very powerful weapons. Well have to be careful.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

"Dear Mrs. M, I am so sorry we skewered your husband. Please accept my sincerest apologies. He had life insurance, right?"

[wgseligman.livejournal.com]

Let's see... Trent expressed a desire to explore something new and broaden his horizons, and the response was to give him candy. You know what you get if you keep doing that?

Me.

I prefer the alternative approaches that you edited into your post. Knowledge, not food!

[deboranter.livejournal.com]

Next time you come down to Sharon and Dave's with Trent, ask Dave to make beef ribs. He'll be happy to grill some fish or low fat meat in addition. Anyway marrow is easy to dig out of beef ribs

[evcelt.livejournal.com]

monsteralice and I are very fond of the word "atlatl" and the concept as well...