What's cookin', good lookin'? Part II

It was in the offal fridge at my supermarket - I only happened upon it because I was getting chicken hearts and lambs fry for my cat.

They had one of those where we shopped before. Just dog owners, little old asian ladies and me digging around there, the little old ladies eying me suspiciously as if I was stealing their soup bones.
Never found beef cheek nor pig(pork?) cheek though. I think it’s because so many restaurants here have started making it since the eat the whole animal trend swept through.
It used to be easier to order special cuts than it is now, but it might be worth a try.
 
They had one of those where we shopped before. Just dog owners, little old asian ladies and me digging around there, the little old ladies eying me suspiciously as if I was stealing their soup bones.
Never found beef cheek nor pig(pork?) cheek though. I think it’s because so many restaurants here have started making it since the eat the whole animal trend swept through.
It used to be easier to order special cuts than it is now, but it might be worth a try.

I'm not sure if there had been beef cheeks in there before or not - I only started looking for them last week. However, they are likely to turn up from time to time, as I'm pretty sure my supermarket gets whole beasts and butchers them there. (I think ... I'm sort of surmising there, but it does seem likely.) So they'll have all the bits and pieces. I am a fan of the nose-to-tail eating - part of the reason I started feeling my cat offal. Those chicken hearts have to go somewhere.
 
I'm not sure if there had been beef cheeks in there before or not - I only started looking for them last week. However, they are likely to turn up from time to time, as I'm pretty sure my supermarket gets whole beasts and butchers them there. (I think ... I'm sort of surmising there, but it does seem likely.) So they'll have all the bits and pieces. I am a fan of the nose-to-tail eating - part of the reason I started feeling my cat offal. Those chicken hearts have to go somewhere.

Chicken hearts and livers are really tasty to eat yourself, too. :)
 
Chicken hearts and livers are really tasty to eat yourself, too. :)

I only eat free range chicken myself ... I do eat chicken livers (which I can get free range), but can't quite bring myself to eat the tiny little hearts. They're just so ... tiny.
 
Chicken feet might be the nastiest things I've ever seen in a market. I'm okay with hearts and livers, but feet? NFW. And tripe.Ugh.
 
Chicken feet might be the nastiest things I've ever seen in a market. I'm okay with hearts and livers, but feet? NFW. And tripe.Ugh.

When I was a kid, my mother had a collegue who had chicken. We used to get hens for fricassée. They were not prepared at all so it involved some work.
Once she gave us a rooster for coq au vin. I still remember the feet, because both my mother and I were horrified that they looked like baby hands. I had to cover them up with paper towels before cutting them off and it was still very *shudder and low level whining*.

We are celebrating midsummer here, so there will be matjes, new potatoes, sour creme, chives and strawberries and cream for dessert. I’ll make little savoury bites of puff pastry filled with salami, mozzarella, tomato and basil. Maybe some sweet with nutella and strawberry too, haven’t decided yet.
 
Last edited:
I love cooking butternut squash and carrots in soups and stews. Without adding tomatoes, what do you add to ensure the natural sugar of those two doesn't overwhelm the dish?

I've tried various things and usually use a bit of lemon juice.
 
I love cooking butternut squash and carrots in soups and stews. Without adding tomatoes, what do you add to ensure the natural sugar of those two doesn't overwhelm the dish?

I've tried various things and usually use a bit of lemon juice.

Lemon and with carrots I sometimes add ginger. For butternut squash I have contrasted it with feta cheese.
 
I've tried chicken feet once or twice. It didn't squick me, I'm not generally squeamish about food, but it just felt like a lot of effort getting a fairly small amount of meat off what was mostly bone. Is there a trick that I'm missing?
 
Another Pizza last night. This time with provola, zucchine and anchovies.
It was delicious.
 
I've tried chicken feet once or twice. It didn't squick me, I'm not generally squeamish about food, but it just felt like a lot of effort getting a fairly small amount of meat off what was mostly bone. Is there a trick that I'm missing?

No I've had it at restaurants and home cooked by 1st gen chinese aussies and yeah, a lot of effort for no real reward.
 
It's been uncomfortably hot in the apartment for a good while now, so cooking has been minimal.

But I have found my love for watermelon, feta, mint, cilantro and red onion salad again. I marinate the red onion in lime juice like Elle taught me years ago (I wonder how she's doing, I think she left in a turmoil) and it completely changes the onion. :)

As for chicken feet, I also don't get them, there's so little to be eaten there. Pig ears are an excellent beer snack, though, especially smoked.

Oh, and tripe is great. Wouldn't want to cook it at home myself, but eating it? Yes please!
 
Last edited:
I love cooking butternut squash and carrots in soups and stews. Without adding tomatoes, what do you add to ensure the natural sugar of those two doesn't overwhelm the dish?

I've tried various things and usually use a bit of lemon juice.

I use this recipe to roast the butternut squash and then add chicken stock and some plain yogurt (to taste) to get it the right consistency. In the roasting mix I use one sweeter apple like a Macintosh or a Empire (both still fairly taart) and one tart apple (almost always a Granny Smith) The balsamic and the tartness o f the apple cut the sweetness, the maple and curry add a wildcard element and the yogurt give balance.

Kitchen Parade Butternut Squash
 
Back
Top