regarding the making of duck soup.  After blowing out 2 blenders a food
processor,and spraying myself and the whole kitchen when the processor
blew,came up with the 'right' tools.
 
You will need either a hand crank grinder, or a grinder attachment for a
heavy duty stand-up mixer (what I'm now using), and also a new blender
(If yours starting screaming and smoking as my 2nd one did).  First, chop
the chicken into small pieces using a cleaver, or butchers knife, then
break up the bone with a cleaver or meat tenderizing hammer (Yes, the
walls DO show a blood splatter...much like a bad horror flick, but less
than the Great Food Processor Massacre).  Then grind the chickens into
a large pot, and add enough water to make a thick soup.  Add what-ever
other ingredients you recipe calls for, and cook for a good 30-40 minutes
stirring frequently.
 
Allow to cool slightly, then place the mixture into the blender, a few
cups at a time and blend to what-ever consistency you need.  Pour each
batch of blenderized chicken into 9x13 pans (I get 3 full pans from 2
chickens).  Allow the chicken to set up overnight in fridge.  At that
point it will have solidified to where you can cut it into cubes
(meal-size or day sized) and freeze on cookie sheets.  Then you can bag
up the cubes in freezer bags, and only take out what you need on a daily
basis.
 
This will give you a ton of food, no bad additives, and while buying the
grin will 'hurt' at first, given what you're paying for baby food, you'll
recoup AND save money!
 
We have 13 ferts (Sid came back), and you may not need to make as much as
we do.  If making large batches, make sure that it's only 2 months worth
(freezer burn).
 
Good luck!
Michelle,( Xena,Maggie, Cos',Matt,Sis,Sunshine,Snowflake,Ellie, Wolfgang,
Leaper,Slick,Zorro,and Cuddles )
[Posted in FML issue 4205]