I guess no one ate the livers, then, because I know how Nathan feels about organ meats. What a shame, because this sounds so good. When you were kids I used to make chicken livers with onions and bacon served over rice and I THINK you ate them, although it’s hard to remember. I browned the livers pretty well in the bacon fat, so they had a bit of texture.

Liver has never been something I’ve been able to do. I’ve always thought maybe when I “grew up” I might, so whenever that happens… hrm…

As for rabbit, you can get whole rabbit at Wholey’s Market here in Pittsburgh in the Strip. Maybe you can get Rebecca to bring you one next time she comes to visit? Though I’m sure any respectable butcher in NYC could point you to a place to get rabbit.

I’m almost surprised Colin hasn’t beaten me to it, but he could give you a great recipe for rabbit sausage that he made a few months ago. It was really quite impressive.

What, liver? Rabbit? I was just outside with my neighbors for a couple hours, and one of the things that came up was the enjoyment I get from making sausage. One of my neighbors, who is a surgeon, couldn’t bear the thought of cutting open a baby rabbit! Ah, well.

Anyway, I don’t know about a recipe… because I don’t use recipes… but I can tell you rabbit meat is a bit dry, so it would be in your best interest to mix it with some fat. I recommend lamb, but I suppose pork would work well, too.

Liver has always seemed a bit fava-beans-and-a-nice-chianti-ish to me, too, but I do enjoy a nice pâté. Maybe it’s because I don’t have to see the lobes you love so much? :)

Nathan was way less squeamish than me tonight; he ate at least three “lobes.” Of course he loves anything that’s this cheap!

Mom: we are so cool with our gravatars and everyone is jealous.

I find an easier way to be initiated into the chicken liver club is to roast a chicken and put the liver (throw away the rest of the innards) in the roasting pan along with the potatoes and carrots or whatever you roast your chicken with. That way it gets roasty toasty, all bathed in chicken juices and there’s just ONE liver to contend with, instead of a whole plate full of them ;)

If you can’t find rabbit at a local butcher, you can order it from D’Artagnan..

I’ve always thought one thing that really separated the British from the Americans was their fondness for eating KIDNEYS for breakfast – at least they’re always eating them in the novels I read. Imagine facing those first thing in the morning, even if they were deviled.

Kathryn, I’m just picturing trying to get through airport security with a dead rabbit in my carry-on!

The cheapness and nutrient richness of livers appeals to me too. I mash them with a fork after cooking and eat them warm or cold the next day. Think about it, nice warm mashed liver, spread on a piece of toast, with nice cool grapes (or any other contrast of flavor and texture and temp) on top. Maybe some onion or mustard. Or apple. With a big big salad it makes for a full meal.

Yum, zp! That sounds really good to me; maybe take Luisa’s liver roasted in the chicken fat along with some onion roasted in the same drippings, mash or chop, season with plenty of salt and pepper, I love the mustard idea, and I would garnish with some capers or just put them in. Serve with toast or Rye Krisp.

Live update:

I’m sitting here with leftovers, reheated by microwave. As I had hoped, the “lobes” are considerably less intimidating on day two. I’m trying to be casual, mashing them as suggested, slapping them around a bit. Wait—for a second there, I think I actually savored a morsel… hold on…

Yes that helps. The problem is they’re so unfamiliar in the mouth, you start to doubt that what you’re eating is “food.” Your mind starts to fill in the blanks, and nothing good ever comes of that. But if you break them up enough, it’s like a sauce. A heavy, think, chalky, insane sauce. It’s a reference point anyway.

I would take down the vinegar a notch. You can’t even relax eating the grapes and onions. With every bite this recipe is screaming for attention.

Gravatars, hm? Let’s see if this works.

Love your gravatar, but if you say “lobe” one more time I’m going to be sick!

That’s good advice from Luisa! I think that’s the only way I’m going to get through a chicken liver. And that still might send me to the fainting couch. As would mashing up a liver and spreading it on toast. Although I do enjoy pâté made with liver, especially with plenty of mustard and cornichons.

Thanks for your comments, everyone!

I used to get rabbit at the grand central market. It’s very reasonably priced and they have both pre-marinated and plain available every day!

I <3 liver.

I really like chicken and beef liver; however, lately, I’ve noticed that when I eat them, 2 things happen. (1) I get a migraine headache, and (2) my stomach hurts. Strange. I’ve eaten both types of liver all my life, but now I can’t.

Anyone know where in Pittsburgh except Wholey’s that has rabbit for sale. There use to be a small market in Blawnox called Hugo’s that sold whole rabbits. These kinds of small places have all but dried up here in Pittsburgh. Unless it’s a small Italian market then forget it. Sad. Places like Giant Eagle carry the same ole thing day after day. zzzzzzzzz!

after you cook the liver and onions in lots of butter, let them cool, throw them in a bowl. Add hard boiled egg and miracle whip and mash and mix with a potato masher. Meanwile, roast a red pepper until black on all sides, put in a bowl and skin it. Bake some baguette until crunchy and cut slices. Layer on good pesto, chopped liver and top with the roasted pepper. Delish. My mom copied this from Amsterdams on Amsterdam in Manhatten back in the early nineties. I came from a family of 4 siblings, 3 or which were 1.7 years apart and then lil sis 7 years my junior (the former baby). The original kids were forced to eat chicken livers, my mom’s reason to live. Lil sis was never forced to eat anything she didn’t like and got special meals while we literaly gagged. Oh, we had the dog under the table, of course, which helped. The point here is the 3 of us who were forced to eat these things love them today. Lil sis, who wasn’t, hates them, likes them this way.

I LOVE chicken liver! I cook them in a non-stick pan with butter, sprinkle on onion powder and garlic salt, and fresh ground pepper with a sprinkle of dried basil. TO DIE FOR. Just like that, plain and simple. Satisfies sooo many cravings! I have read that the if you are watching your cholesterol you should avoid them, but I have also read all about the many vitamins and iron they contain. Don’t think too much about what it is that you are eating, once you get the taste for them, you won’t care anymore!