forgetting my food films on ink. beef hearts and zombie chickens

Zombies + Fried Chicken = "Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead"

Les Blank Cooks Beef Hearts and Guinea Pigs (Probably) for Cinefamily Screening

No guinea pigs, but Joe and I prep'd the beef heart for Les Blank. I don't know if he actually cooked them himself, but they turned out unexpectedly well. A lot like lamb kabob really and, as you can see, so much cheaper.


Recipe from the Washington Post


INGREDIENTS:
3 tablespoons corn oil
1 tablespoon ground achiote (annatto seed)
1/2 fresh or canned aji amarillo pepper, minced (1 to 2 tablespoons)
1/2 cup water
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground cumin
5 medium cloves garlic, minced
6 pounds beef heart, cleaned and cut into 1 1/2-inch-by-2-inch rectangular pieces*

DIRECTIONS:
Place the oil in a small heatproof container; microwave on HIGH for 10 to 20 seconds. Add the achiote, stirring to form a paste. Transfer to a large resealable plastic food storage bag.

Combine the aji amarillo and water in a mini food processor**; pulse to form a pastelike puree. Add to the bag, along with the salt, cumin, pepper, garlic and vinegar; mix well.

Add the pieces of beef heart; seal the bag, pressing as much air out of it as possible. Massage the marinade into the meat. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours and preferably overnight.

When ready to cook, soak several 12-inch-long bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes, or have ready metal skewers.
Prepare the grill for direct heat. Lightly coat the grill rack with oil and place it on the grill.

Push 4 or 5 pieces of seasoned meat close together, end to end, on each skewer, reserving the marinade. Grill for 3 to 4 minutes (for medium-rare), turning the skewers as needed and using the marinade to brush the meat.

NOTES:
*The butcher can clean the heart for you. At Jons, which was pretty much the only place we could find hearts without at least a days notice, they were already cleaned and packed in cellophane.
**We didn't have a food processor so we just chopped as finely as possible. All combining was done by Joe with his bare hands. Further note, you might want to wear gloves. Also, don't touch your eyes.