Citrus Melon Chicken

This was an impromptu excuse to use the dutch oven indoors during triple digit heat.

Set regular oven to 350
Then place a dutch oven on a stovetop burner, set to med-high.

Add the following into the dutch oven in whatever amounts suit you:
olive oil
orange juice
worcestershire sauce
salt
crushed red pepper
sriracha

Stir. Just until it tastes spicy good.

Slice an orange into about 16 slices and lay them into the dutch oven with the sauce.

Place 2 chicken leg quarters on top of the oranges. I left them intact.

Then chop about 1/2 to 3/4 of a large cantaloupe and cover the chicken pieces.

Cover the dutch oven and bake in the reg. oven for maybe an hour? 45 min? Until the chicken doesn't kill your loved one. (clear juices ~ 180 in the thigh)

If you are as lucky as I was, the melon gets smoky and meaty savory, and the chicken gets melony tangy spicy.

8

I own 8 chickens. Various breeds. All hens. It sounds like a lot, but they have enough space even on my little urban farm. And as you can see from above, when it's 100+ they really love the insect-ruined cantaloupe. They dig the water hose. Tiny avian toddlers playing in the sprinklers.

As for me, I like eating eggs. And eating chicken meat that has been humanely and responsibly raised.

I don't slaughter the hens often, since we keep them principally for their eggs. So when we do eat one, it's an important meal that I take very seriously.

Shooting and cleaning a dove or a duck I plucked from the sky, or cleaning a fish I reeled in minutes earlier has a profound effect on me. I can't deny that these wild creatures flying past me or swimming beneath me were probably just looking for food or shelter. Just like I search out food and shelter every day. Well, I personally and violently ended their search for shelter, and they became my food.

I love my hens. As much as you love your dog or cat. They all get names. They all have distinct personalities. I feed and water them each day. I give them treats. And they live for years, just like more common pets.

Even though I love them, it's hard for me to reconcile my relationship with my flock. Hens who depend on me for survival and respond to my calls and routines.

Tomorrow morning I will lovingly hold a trusting chicken in my arms as it eats from my hand. And the hen will be thankful. As will I.

The vexing thing for me is knowing that deep down, I have every intention of killing it someday. Knowing for sure, the last time those trustworthy hands pick her up won't be for feeding.