Does anybody still cook with rendered animal fat?
My mom used to put bacon drippings in all sorts of meals.
I've tried duplicating her recipes without the bacon drippings and while they come out tasting okay, they are not the same.

I keep a tin in the fridge for bacon drippings but I have yet to use them in anything except fried eggs.

I read on one of the survival sites I frequent that attests to bear fat.
They say you can drink rendered bear fat like a hot beverage and its supposed to give you instant energy.

I'm not looking to drink rendered fat of any kind but I'm thinking of starting to use animal fat drippings when searing meats for stews and casseroles.

Does anyone swear by animal fat drippings in cooking?

What is the strangest thing you've done with bacon drippings which turned out great tasting?

I'm thinking of attempting corn flake pan fried chicken using bacon drippings.

What other animals produce great tasting dripping for routine cooking?
I use turkey drippings in gravys and stuffings (dressings). I don't keep poultry dripping tho...yuk.

I've also seen 'blood cooking' recipes where the blood of an animal is used to make reduction sauces and stews.
Grocery stores add dye to meat to keep it red. I imagine ya wouldn't want that but butcher shops might have pure animal blood for sale in pints or quarts (never looked).

Has anyone used venison or elk fat in cooking?
I've cooked up my rabbits before and they make a lot of fat but I never considered using that fat in cooking, just get rid of it.

Most people tend to use vegatble oil or olive oil. Fewer and fewer people are using lards like Crisco, I know my kids don't keep Crisco in any of their pantries. I keep the Crisco blocks (easy to use) but I don't use them very often. I use various cooking sprays for my pots and pans. I even have Baker's Joy for cookie sheets and baking dishes.

Mom spread bacon grease or Crisco on her pans. It was messy but the food had that wonderful flavor.

What is the strangest animal fat you've used in cooking (kangaroo? LOL)?

yes, in moderation. and depending what I'm making, animal fat/butter is some times required to get the right moisture/flavor content. a lil grease is OK. in a normal healthy diet. I dont do anything with pork. I'm allergic but I some times use smoked fat trimmed from corned beef/ pastrami for a similar result..
chicken/ turkey are also good I aint saying to pour it on everything. but for cooking it adds flavor to some dishes that shortening or veg oil cant..