Friday, December 26, 2008

In Praise of Turkey Fat

Each year it fascinates me; how the juices from around the turkey - a single liquid - slowly separates into two; a clear jelly of cross-linked proteins, and a solid waxy mass of fat.


Today I took great spoonfuls of the fat and melted it in a roasting dish for today's potatoes, and once again examined that place where the two layers meet - like a discontinuity between sandstone and volcanic ashes in the face of a cliff.

Almost pure protein and then almost pure fat; one sort of solid sitting on top of another. Only when they are cold can these two substances be easily disentangled; the artery-clogging creamy-whiteness of triglycerides from the golden muscle-building chains of amino acids. It seems a little like a metaphor for a couple who have fallen out of love - now they have had time to cool down and think about things they can no longer see the attraction.

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6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love these sorts of metaphors, found in the often over-looked pockets of everyday life.

Sun Dec 28, 03:12:00 am  
Blogger Unknown said...

'Sackly. Well said that, about the turkey, very well said.

Sun Dec 28, 06:57:00 pm  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

Thanks to you both. I can go on about this sort of thing for ages - and frequently do.

Sun Dec 28, 09:06:00 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Which is the man and which the woman?

Wed Jan 07, 07:27:00 pm  
Blogger sunnymitra said...

What a superb description of something that is essentially so mundane - watching fat from a roast congeal.

Thu Jan 22, 02:09:00 pm  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

Thank you Sunny! That's very kind.

I've just realised I have not replied to Marly. The woman is the fat. I could say why...but I think maybe I'll just leave it there:-)

Thu Jan 22, 07:55:00 pm  

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