Did you ever wonder where ham hocks got started?

Question

I mean, back in ancient times some guy has an entire animal to eat from and pick the best pieces of meat, yet when it comes to modern times, we are eating pig's ankles in various tasty ways?

What's next, pickled rat tails? Can you see that in a restaurant, '' Waiter there is a hair in my pickled rat tail soup'' ?

Answer 1

I wonder a lot about who was the first one to actually taste many of the foods we enjoy today. Ham hocks are tasty, but I would probably try the rest of the pig first. Leftovers, anyone?

Answer 2

Pickled Ham Hocks

Answer 3

I remember when ham hocks were really cheap to buy, now they are outrageously high. I am with silk on the history of ham hocks. The slaves knew how to make good food out of the remains. We know enjoy them ourselves.

Here is another good reminder. Before Fajitas were a big craze, you could buy the meat really cheap. Then they got popular and they raised the price. Now, they even have chicken fajitas. Com'on, there is no such thing as a chicken fajita. Just a made up American word. The fajitas came from the meat skirts. Amazing. The Mexican population bought the beef skirts beause it was the cheapest and look what happened. The best meat ever.

Answer 4

Encyclopedia ham hock hallah halvah; halva ham ham hock Haman's hats Hamburg parsley Hangtown Fry Definition: The hock is the decrease ingredient of a hog's hind leg, made up of meat, fat, bone, gristle and connective tissue. contained available in the industry, ham hocks are in lots of situations decrease into 2- to 3-inch lengths. maximum have been cured, smoked or the two, yet sparkling hocks can in specific situations additionally be discovered. Ham hocks are frequently used to style dishes which includes soups, beans and stews that require long, slow cooking. See additionally ham. if i choke on it i hock it

Answer 5

Actually, though there usually isn't much meat on them, if you boil them with cabbage and use the water to make dumplings, it is a rather tasty meal. If you don't have a salted ham handy, it makes for good home made bean soup also.

And Wally, I think I'd rather try a pickled rats tail vs. a pickled rats a** anyday. Speaking of that, what's for lunch ?

Answer 6

Wally, I worked in a meat packing plant during the summers when I wasn't teaching and I can tell you that not one part of the pig goes to waste! I use ham hocks to make split pea soup and it's delicious. Now, we have pickled pig's feet here, but pickled rat's tail . . . hmmm, that's at little too scary to think about.

Answer 7

My parents are big pickled pig's feet fans, and my former in-laws would buy the big 10 lb box of pig tails to barbecue. My goodness! They are tasty, but I think some food is based on a dare, as Mike Myers said about haggis.

Answer 8

I remember reading a book set during ancient times where the lord of the manor killed an animal, took what he wanted, passed the remains down to someone beneath him, who took the next parts and then passed it to the serf guy who was left with not much. Voila Sausage and probably ham hocks. Since ham hocks are primarily used to season bean dishes, this bottom guy took the only pig part he got and threw it in the pot and we have been copying him ever since.

Answer 9

I'm thinking that smoking meat was a way to preserve the meats for the coming year... how inventive of poor folk to make such good use of a ham hock... You know the rich didn't want the ham hocks. They were to busy stuffing the apple in the mouth and serving up the good parts!

Snake meat is very good Wally... I have to admit, I never tried Rat... Squirrel, rabbit, snake, never rat (that I knew of) around some of those camp fires you never knew for sure! The teas made up for it though!

Answer 10

Once he started grazing, nothing went to waste -- true connoisseurs will even find oysters or a piece of tail. If you're just eating ankles, for the real good stuff, work your way down to the feet and try them pickled.