[MR] chicken feet

[Sandi Rust]

ok with the nails of the claws removed and stewed for a long time, chicken (and duck) feet are gelatenous and tasy.. (also hog trotters)  but it is mostly that.. no meat to speak of and a slightly gamey taste, Haggis has an American "cousin" it's called Boudin (boo-dan), whereas instead of a sheep's stomach, it's put in hog casing and rice instead of oats.. chitlin's need to be rinsed THOROUGHLY inside and out, boiled in salted water OUTSIDE and sauteed in bacon fat..

 yeesh.. 

Some things in medieval cookery are just as bad and you accept that.. how many of you have been to "taste challenge" feasts and come away liking something you hadn't thought would actually have tasted good?

I make it a habit to try something at least three times.. first to see if I would like it, second to make certain it wasn't a mistake, and third to see if I tire of it easily.. 

There are other foods that if not prepared correctly can cause a house to stink.. most organ meats, liver in particular, also kidneys.. Mutton definately, raccoon and other game meats like boar and certain waterfoul..  some fish.. catfish particularly if not perpared correctly can taste like mud..  and it isn't limited to meats.. cetain vegetables can really "twinge" the senses.. shall we mention the Brassicas (cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, kale)?

I suggest watching a program on the Travel Channel, Bizzare Foods.. what some may consider strange, is normal or even comfort food to another. 

Personally, I don't judge, it if doesn't taste good or I get a bad reaction, I don't eat it.. 

I made the mistake of eating a raw balut once.. not realy for me.. I think I will try it again cooked.. 

Marie Hélène of the New Forest


----- Original Message ----
From: Tracie Brown <trbrown at uga.edu>
To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 3:04:32 PM
Subject: Re: [MR] chicken feet

>"What the *bleep* do you people do with *bleep* chicken feet!? And WHY do
>you people not put a neon blinking sign ten yards from the area warning people
>to turn the other way!?"

When I lived in Sherman Oaks CA, I patronized a local supermarket that sold kosher chicken feet as well as kosher chickens. The little old ladies who frequented the place assured me that one cannot make *proper* chicken soup without chicken feet. The gelatin in the feet gives the soup more body.
http://www.koshercooking.com/Recipes/everyday/chksoup.html

I haven't had chicken feet prepared the Chinese way, but I've had duck feet from the dim sum cart.

-- Signy