What's On Your Menu?

When I was a young boy growing up in the 1950s, the times were tough economically. The weekday evening meal almost always included pinto beans as the protein. They were cheap and easy to prepare, and most always were seasoned with salt pork. Frankly, however, I don't actually remember the other dishes that were on the table. Probably homegrown vegetables and, of course, cornbread. Sunday dinners were either breaded and fried flounder (it was cheap, too), fried chicken, or a beef roast in a dish Dad called "family pan". The family pan was simply a roast with any other ingredients that the "family" wanted to include. The most exotic addition that I remember was apple slices. The family pan was rather straight forward, but we all felt we had a hand in it.

The entire family ate the popular cuts of meat: pork, beef, chicken, and fish. But almost none of the meals consisted of organ cuts. Sure, we had fried chicken livers and I enjoyed them into adulthood, but seldom had pork or beef liver, somewhat less enjoyable. All the meals were delicious and nutritious for the time. However, we never had more exotic meats like sweetbreads, pigs feet (Dad did like pickeled pigs feet), or brains. Kids don't like the idea of eating this stuff unless they have always been served it. Dad ate souse and tried to get us kids to. We wouldn't. I do actually remember a dish of brains and gravy once. We wouldn't eat that either.

But now, since the world is a much smaller place, all kinds of exotic (weird) things are available for human consumption. People with various ethnic backgrounds and cultures have brought their eating habits, and favorites, with them to our shores. Sushi, chicken feet, and many more weird things are here, and being served in homes and upscale restaurants. Just take a look at what's being eaten these days by visiting http://www.divinecaroline.com/22145/76526-forgotten-meats-making-comeback--it-s/

I am now older and wiser. I'm not about to embark on a culinary journey now. Especially if it includes anything from the divinecaroline website's story on so-called forgotten meats. They have never come to my dinner table, so they certainly willl not be making a comeback. I don't eat chicken livers any more, either.