Moonstew

A stew which features Taurus Domesticis meat and Moonshine as its main ingredients, Moonstew is only made when a member of the Taurus Domesticis herd has died from natural causes. If the animal has died by predator attack or disease, it is buried away from the herd instead. The hard liquor involved in the recipe means that this dish is only consumed by adults, though teenagers may receive a small bowl, depending on the family. The dish is freely shared between households and even with outsiders, such as visiting Defenders and Battle Spears.
While Taurus Domesticis herds have joined existing cow herds, Homesteaders do not dare kill them for meat. They fear that if they teach the animals that humans count as predators, the herds will no longer approach humans and thus cannot be used as working animals anymore. This is why Homesteaders only eat old specimen that die of natural causes. Because their meat is chewy, various stew recipes were developed. Due to the meat pairing nicely with hard liquor, people ended up incorporating their own Moonshine into their recipes.

Usual Ingredients

• Taurus Domesticis meat
• Moonshine
• Carrots
• Potatoes
• Onions
• Cow/pig bone broth
• Various herbs & spices

Death of an animal

All Taurus species have been recorded to showcase near-identical behaviour: A dying member of a herd will abandon the herd and die elsewhere. The Science Department theorises that this behaviour has evolved as a way to keep predators away from the herd. Some species will seek out specific Taurus graveyards, others may simply walk great distances until they can no longer move.
Taurus Domesticis herds have learned new behaviour over time, seeking out Homesteaders to accompany until they die. This may be due to having witnessed Homesteaders take care of dying animals, and noting they properly disposed of the corpses. In case of a natural death, Homesteaders started consuming the animal flesh and processing their hides.
After consumption, Homesteaders would bury the cleaned skeletons in dedicated graveyards near their herds. Herd members may end up visiting graves of relatives, showcasing an understanding of the funeral procedures.

Preparation

The first step needed for making Moonstew, is preparing a bone broth. This is done with bones from other livestock. Even though Taurus Domesticis bones have been officially cleared for consumption, the Homesteaders prefer an intact skeleton to bury. Other animal species have not been cleared for consumption, so only livestock bones can be used.
Next is slicing and dicing both the vegetables, and the meat. The meat tends to be cut into large pieces, due to the amount of strength needed to cut its chewy textures. The meat must then be fried until brown on all sides, then set aside. Next, the onions must be cooked in oil. Once they are soft, add all herbs and spices, and stir for a minute. Add Moonshine, cook for two minutes. Add the broth, bring to a boil.
Once the mixture starts to significantly thicken, the meat must be added. The final step is to put a lid on the pan, and let the stew simmer for several hours. If the meat is almost falling apart, but just barely not, the stew is perfect.