beef stew, from scratch, first person
pull me, quivering and bloody, from my mother's womb. let me stand on wobbly legs. when i am big enough, give me grass. let me grow. let me frolic. give me a name. clean up after me. let me lick your face. hold me close even after i am large enough to crush you. lead me to the box chute. keep me calm. hold the gun steady. a bullet centred above the eyes will be painless. cut my throat and drain my blood. do i have testicles? remove them. remove my head entirely, my leg. i don't want you to catch anything from me. load me into the tractor, holding me for the first time since i was small. unload me, careful. chain me to the ceiling, spill my entrails onto the floor. cut carefully. my meat will be tender.
for stew, you want shoulders. wrap in brown paper, tie with string, bring home and chop, small cubes. potatoes, yams, turnips, carrots, same size. do you have my bones? make broth. salt, pepper, onion, water, bones, simmer until flavourful. drain liquids and dispose of the solids. large pot. add cubes of me, potatoes, yams, turnips. when i start to get tender, add carrots, onion, peas, celery, garlic, salt, pepper, rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano. more garlic. let me cook slowly. mix flour, butter, baking soda, milk, until dough forms. cook over stew. when experience tells you i am done, share large servings and enjoy me well.