Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Do Chickens Have Tenderloins?

According to the gal working in the meat department, no. 
Getting groceries last week I stopped into Tops for chicken "tenderloins".  While looking over the chicken section a woman that works in the meat department came up and said all in a panic, " the delivery truck is 4 hours late"!  I told her she must have me confused with someone else, thinking that a customer was waiting for something specific.  She continued to rant about the truck being late with the chicken breasts that were on sale.  I laughed and told her I found the chicken tenderloins that I wanted.  Well...............this little city slicker told me I was wasting money on tenderloins because they are cut up chicken breasts.  I looked puzzled and said, really?  There was no convincing her otherwise from the way she was insisting that tenderloins are chicken breasts and I was paying extra money per pound  for them to cut them up.  I asked her, so you cut the breasts up and package them for tenderloins here?  Huh, well no, we get them all ready cut up and packaged.  BINGO!  I couldn't help get that nasty grin on my face, pick up the package of tenderloins and move along.  Sometimes it is just easier to walk away with a grin or for more satisfaction I could have stamped "I think I know everything" on her forehead.  This farm girl knows there are really chicken tenderloins which are very tender and better tasting than chicken breasts.  The tenderloin is attached to the breast but can easily be removed.  I really don't need 20 chicken breasts to get 20 tenderloins so it is easier for me to pay a little extra for a package of tenderloins.  Now you know, chickens have real tenderloins just as pig, beef, deer and other animals.  It is usually close to the spine and is tender because it is a muscle less used.  It is not plentiful in any animal thus giving the added expense to a cut of tenderloin.  Back to that gal, I would love to take this article in and let her read about a chicken tenderloin.  After all if you are going to state what ya know, ya better know for sure!  My favorite saying when in doubt, I'll google that.  Which I did when I got home and smiled all over myself for being right...at least this time.  There are many times I "eat crow".  There's an old saying!

Here's a little video about chicken tenderloins.  Good grief!  Why do I get obsessed with stuff?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fePddbE7GE
What a great thing google and you tube.  Both have pulled me out of several binds since the techy stage of my life.  The techy part is little to none, I muddle through.  From knitting, crocheting, cooking, gardening, refinishing floors and yes chicken tenderloins it has proved its worth to me. 

What am I doing with those tenderloins?  Chicken tacos tonight.  I buy the fresh corn tacos, rub a little olive oil on each side and heat them on the cast iron griddle until they get little golden brown  spots on them.  It's called fill your own taco with as much of what ever.  Tonight is grilled tenderloins, refried beans, rice, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, Mexican Cheese, salsa, chipotle sauce and sour cream.  That's it a meal in a shell.   Coconut/Almond pudding layered with sliced bananas and graham cracker crumbs for dessert and a hot cup of Jamaican Me Crazy to top it off.  The pudding was homemade and I used Coconut/Almond Milk.  It really makes a nice flavored pudding.
Looks messy and soft tacos are but oh so good!

One thing for sure, the daffodils and other spring flowers will be around for quite awhile.  Freezing temps and snow does not seem to bother them.  Once the sun shines they pick right up and look beautiful.  When we go to North Carolina I am always surprised at how fast their spring flowers bloom and die off.  That warm sun and temperatures make their blooms short lived.  About 28 years ago we visited our son while he was stationed in Germany. It was during the Easter Holiday.  The street vendors were in every city and town selling flowers. There were many other types of vendors, the ones I remembered, flowers and beautiful bolts of lace. What a beautiful time to walk the streets.  So old world or what I think old world should be.  Tall buildings with wonderful architecture designs, cobble stone streets that echoed each step.  At that time, I can't speak for now, everyone was out either walking, setting on steps or at tables along the street.  It was like stepping back in time. There were still the signs of war, many building still had damage where bullets had hit.  Quite an experience and memory of an opportunity we didn't let pass.  I guess my point is, if you have an opportunity to do something that may never come again, do it.