Chicken feet

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy,

I tried to respond a couple of days ago, but something didn't

cooperate and the post was whisked into the ether. Chicken feet are

available from Whole Farm Coop http://www.wholefarmcoop.com.

They are also available at most of the asian grocery stores. There

are at least a dozen along Nicollet Ave in Mpls and another dozen or

two along University Ave in StP near the Capital.

I just bought two pounds of them from Whole Farm Coop a couple of

weeks ago. They made a great stock...but frankly I'm wishing that

I'd first stewed the stewing hen that I also got from them. Then I

could have added the chicken feet to the poaching liquid from the

hen. The poaching liquid was more deliciously flavorful than the

chicken feet stock, but the chicken feet had more gelatin. Next

time...

> Anyone have a source for chicken feet? I have asked in shops all

over even

> Whole Foods without any luck. One place told me they believe most

are

> shipped to China! So what are we Americans supposed to do for our

stock?

> I have a Russian friend who raises chickens but mostly for eggs.

She told me

> she would save me feet, but I have a feeling it will be a long wait.

>

> Kathy

[Guest guest]

Thanks ,

I will either try wholefarmcoop or I guess I may have to venture off of my

beaten path and try some asian grocery stores in St. . My daughter and I

did explore a asian store on Nicollet a few months ago-no chicken feet there,

although they did have organ meats. It was fascinating even though we didn't

know what most of the products on the store shelves were and so didn't know

if they would pass my quality standards. Seems as if there has been a

westernization in that they carry alot of processed foods.

I have sometimes considered stopping in a butcher store I saw on University

in St. -is halal the word I'm looking for? But don't know whether that would

be better or worse. I know it indicates how the animal is slaughtered but

maybe not how is was raised.

As for the tip on using the chicken feet- I was planning on adding them to my

stock, not using only them for the stock. Should have asked me first, !

Maybe at this point, you can make some stock and mix the two together. Now

tell me, did the feet require much preparation? My Russian friend said they

would probably be dirty (as chickens walk on them) and may have a few

feathers still attached. What did you find?

Kathy

> > Anyone have a source for chicken feet? I have asked in shops all

> over even

> > Whole Foods without any luck. One place told me they believe most

> are

> > shipped to China! So what are we Americans supposed to do for our

> stock?

> > I have a Russian friend who raises chickens but mostly for eggs.

> She told me

> > she would save me feet, but I have a feeling it will be a long wait.

> >

> > Kathy

[Guest guest]

--- realfoodie2003 <realfoodie2003@...> wrote:

> did explore a asian store on Nicollet a few months ago-no chicken

> feet there, although they did have organ meats. It was fascinating

Try Shuang Hur. I'm almost positive that I saw chicken feet (as well

as other types of feet) there. It's one of the largest asian

groceries. It's about the size of most Lunds stores. It's at the

south end of Nicollet...I think it's actually just south of 28th

street.

> even though we didn't know what most of the products on the store >

shelves were and so didn't know if they would pass my quality

> standards.

I can't speak for your standards, but very little of the items in

asian groceries pass my " first tier " standards. In other words, I

wouldn't buy there as a first choice. If you can't find it elsewhere

though, get it there. Sally Fallon recommends similar things. Try

hard to get pasture-finished organic meats. If you can't do that,

then try to get organic meats. Otherwise simply get the best that

you can...even if that simply means commodity items. Dietary variety

is *the only* dietary factor that has been consistently shown to

correlate to longer life spans. If health is your primary reason for

eating like this, variety should be the first order of business.

Each of the other dietary principles is secondary (from a health

standpoint) in my opinion.

Variety actually has beneficial effects from an economic and even

animal treatment standpoint though too. Variety discourages

monocultural farming. The more heterogenous the farming, the more

difficult factory farming methods are. Small farms are, of course,

no guarantee of healthy or humane methods, but it at least

decentralizes the choices that are made and links the decision-makers

more directly to the effects of their decisions which increases

individual accountability.

> I have sometimes considered stopping in a butcher store I saw on

> University in St. -is halal the word I'm looking for? But

> don't know whether that would be better or worse. I know it

> indicates how the animal is slaughtered but maybe not how is was

> raised.

Halal is the word. This is just my opinion, but I definitely think

that it is better (on average) than commodity items. Much of it

comes from small local farms. At a minimum, your purchase is keeping

the money within the local merchant community rather than sending it

up to a regional, national or transnational (Walmart, Aldi's) grocery

chain.

> As for the tip on using the chicken feet- I was planning on adding

> them to my stock, not using only them for the stock. Should have

> asked me first, !

> Maybe at this point, you can make some stock and mix the two

> together.

That's actually what I wound up doing. I'd actually gotten the

chicken feet for the purpose of making goose soup from left-over

roast goose. I knew that I'd need a source of more gelatin than the

roast goose carcass because roast carcasses don't seem to break down

as well when boiled. I combined it with another chicken carcass and

the goose carcass. I was just surprised that there wasn't more

flavor at the end of step one (the chicken feet alone).

> tell me, did the feet require much preparation? My Russian friend

> said they would probably be dirty (as chickens walk on them) and

> may have a few feathers still attached. What did you find?

They were clean. Most had even had the outermost extremely yellow

layer of skin scrubbed off, and the outer hard layer of the claws

were gone from about 3/4 of them. I think one shin still had a

couple of small feathers around the top. They had clearly been

cleaned and prepared to some degree. I'm not sure that they're all

from the same producer/processor though, so it might vary somewhat.

[Guest guest]

Lynn,

I haven't been lucky enough to get any chicken feet myself (and believe me, I

have asked around-I think most of them are shipped to China), but I have

heard that they can be very dirty and you really have to scrub them. Maybe an

old toothbrush would do the trick...Good luck and let me know if the resulting

stock is worth my continued efforts.

Kathy

[Guest guest]

Lynn,

Your funny. Listen, if you eat chicken feet, you can eat soup whether it's

hot or if there are mosquitoes. Actually hearing you talk about stinky

chicken feet makes me glad there are so many mosquitoes...if there is a food

shortage, there are enough mosquitoes to eat where I don't need to go

looking for feet that are missing the chicken to eat.

I'm cracking myself up.

Tony

chicken feet

> I finally boiled up my chicken feet. They kind of stink- our puppy

> was chewing on a hoof and it really reminded me of the chicken feet.

> I haven't tried the taste, but I froze it in small bags and figured

> that I'd add a bit to soup when I make it. I'm just not into soup

> when it's hot out- well it's not hot, so how about soup and

> mosquitoes just don't seem to go together.

> Lynn

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynn,

It sounds like the quality of your chicken feet might be suspect. I've made

stock from chicken

feet before and there was no hoofy smell...and I have dogs too, so I know the

smell of chew-hooves

far too well. Mine had relatively little smell (and flavor for that matter),

but what flavor and

smell they did have was pretty much just a chicken smell. The benefit of

chicken feet in stock is

only the gelatin content; flavor and aroma need to come from another source.

Bones, trimmings, or

stewing-water from cooking a stewing-hen (older chickens--usually retired

layers). That stewing

water takes on *fabulous flavor* and a moderate amount of gelatin.

One thing I should mention too is that when I use chicken feet for stock, I chop

them up with

cleaver or sturdy chef's knife so that the water can better dissolve the

connective tissues and

release the gelatin.

--- lhackbarth <lhackbarth@...> wrote:

> I finally boiled up my chicken feet. They kind of stink- our puppy

> was chewing on a hoof and it really reminded me of the chicken feet.

> I haven't tried the taste, but I froze it in small bags and figured

> that I'd add a bit to soup when I make it. I'm just not into soup

> when it's hot out- well it's not hot, so how about soup and

> mosquitoes just don't seem to go together.

> Lynn

[Guest guest]

I have to admit that the chicken feet sat in my refrig for about 5

days after I butchered. I was too tired and sore after butchering to

want to even look at the feet. The feet weren't as stinky as the

chew hooves but just smelled reminiscent of the hooves. I'll have 22

old layers to butcher in the fall and I'm thinking about saving those

to feed the dog. (I really dislike butchering and always rejoice

when it's done. Picking eggs is much more fun than picking feathers.)

Lynn

[Guest guest]

We butcher our own chickens and have to admit we have never used the chicken

feet. One of those cultural things I need to get over. I do make very good

chicken broth by cooking the chicken on a very low flame for several days

until the bones are very soft. Lots of gelatin and rich flavor are the

result.

Shari

Re: chicken feet

> I have to admit that the chicken feet sat in my refrig for about 5

> days after I butchered. I was too tired and sore after butchering to

> want to even look at the feet. The feet weren't as stinky as the

> chew hooves but just smelled reminiscent of the hooves. I'll have 22

> old layers to butcher in the fall and I'm thinking about saving those

> to feed the dog. (I really dislike butchering and always rejoice

> when it's done. Picking eggs is much more fun than picking feathers.)

>

> Lynn

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Shari,

I would take your chicken feet! I also make terrific stock. Almost a meal in

itself! But I am itching to add chicken feet to the mix...they are hard to come

by

in my neck of the woods.

Kathy

> We butcher our own chickens and have to admit we have never used the

chicken

> feet. One of those cultural things I need to get over. I do make very good

> chicken broth by cooking the chicken on a very low flame for several days

> until the bones are very soft. Lots of gelatin and rich flavor are the

> result.

> Shari

> Re: chicken feet

>

>

> > I have to admit that the chicken feet sat in my refrig for about 5

> > days after I butchered. I was too tired and sore after butchering to

> > want to even look at the feet. The feet weren't as stinky as the

> > chew hooves but just smelled reminiscent of the hooves. I'll have 22

> > old layers to butcher in the fall and I'm thinking about saving those

> > to feed the dog. (I really dislike butchering and always rejoice

> > when it's done. Picking eggs is much more fun than picking feathers.)

> >

> > Lynn

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

It will be this fall. I will let you know.

Shari

Re: chicken feet

> >

> >

> > > I have to admit that the chicken feet sat in my refrig for about 5

> > > days after I butchered. I was too tired and sore after butchering to

> > > want to even look at the feet. The feet weren't as stinky as the

> > > chew hooves but just smelled reminiscent of the hooves. I'll have 22

> > > old layers to butcher in the fall and I'm thinking about saving those

> > > to feed the dog. (I really dislike butchering and always rejoice

> > > when it's done. Picking eggs is much more fun than picking feathers.)

> > >

> > > Lynn

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I'll be butchering again this fall and would be happy to share any of

those feet.

Lynn

[Guest guest]

I think I hit pay dirt. At my local farmers market I found a farmer

that brings organic chicken,beef, buffalo, rabbit, lamb and eggs. She

has available chicken feet, all kind of bones and liver. Shehas raw

goat and cow milk. She makes raw goat and cow butter,yogurt,kefir,

cottage cheese, mozarella. My kind of person. I am so excited. I

hope to learn much form her!

Yesterday I tried the chicken feet stewed in the crock pot all

day/night. My neighbor was really grossed out and said she wouldn't

even try it. After I strained it I gave her some of the broth. She

said it was pretty good...I ate the chicken feet spitting out the

bones. Ok- I can do that. I'm sure its good for me. And I have great

stock for soups.

I told my farmer I was having a real hard time finding the chicken

feet. She said the only people she usually has asking for them are

people who have difficulty with digestion.

She has toenail fungus so I traded her Oil of Oregano for alot of feet

and refered her to this group.

(I run into alot of people with toenail fungus.)

Pat B in Kalamazoo

[Guest guest]

What a great message, You're funny Pat! Not sure I could do the chicken feet

though....maybe the next life....

Shirley

>From: " ps16501 " <ps16501@...>

>I think I hit pay dirt. At my local farmers market I found a farmer

>that brings organic chicken,beef, buffalo, rabbit, lamb and eggs. She

>has available chicken feet, all kind of bones and liver. Shehas raw

>goat and cow milk. She makes raw goat and cow butter,yogurt,kefir,

>cottage cheese, mozarella. My kind of person. I am so excited. I

>hope to learn much form her!

>

>Yesterday I tried the chicken feet stewed in the crock pot all

>day/night. My neighbor was really grossed out and said she wouldn't

>even try it. After I strained it I gave her some of the broth. She

>said it was pretty good...I ate the chicken feet spitting out the

>bones. Ok- I can do that. I'm sure its good for me. And I have great

>stock for soups.

>

>I told my farmer I was having a real hard time finding the chicken

>feet. She said the only people she usually has asking for them are

>people who have difficulty with digestion.

>

>She has toenail fungus so I traded her Oil of Oregano for alot of feet

>and refered her to this group.

>(I run into alot of people with toenail fungus.)

>Pat B in Kalamazoo

[Guest guest]

>

> What a great message, You're funny Pat! Not sure I could do the

chicken feet

> though....maybe the next life....

>

> Shirley

>

Its only here I could share that story. My friends at work are

already stretched over raw eggs! The feet definitly would take it

over the top.

Pat B

[Guest guest]

>

> I think I hit pay dirt. At my local farmers market I found a

farmer that brings organic chicken,beef, buffalo, rabbit, lamb and

eggs. She has available chicken feet, all kind of bones and liver.

Shehas raw goat and cow milk. She makes raw goat and cow

butter,yogurt,kefir, cottage cheese, mozarella. My kind of person.

I am so excited. I hope to learn much form her!

==>That's fantastic Pat!

>

> Yesterday I tried the chicken feet stewed in the crock pot all

> day/night. My neighbor was really grossed out and said she

wouldn't even try it. After I strained it I gave her some of the

broth. She said it was pretty good...I ate the chicken feet spitting

out the bones. Ok- I can do that. I'm sure its good for me. And I

have great stock for soups.

==>It is excellent to eat! I use pigs feet and hocks to make bone

broths. I found I can add water to them 4 times and still get

gelatin.

>

> I told my farmer I was having a real hard time finding the chicken

> feet. She said the only people she usually has asking for them are

> people who have difficulty with digestion.

>

> She has toenail fungus so I traded her Oil of Oregano for alot of

feet and refered her to this group. (I run into alot of people with

toenail fungus.)

==>That was a good exchange Pat! Good for you. There seems to be an

awful lot of people with candida nowadays.

Bee

[Guest guest]

> Lynn, I'll take a bunch! How much can I get?

Kristi

>

[Guest guest]

I missed the post about chicken feet. Can some one send it to me??

Kimi

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" Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to His cross I cling. "

[Guest guest]

I've got a big bag of feet that I stuck in my freezer last month so if you and

Jeanne want

some, there's plenty, the only hitch is you have to get them since I won't make

it to the

swap and I'm not sure when I'll go into the cities.

Lynn

>

>

> > Lynn, I'll take a bunch! How much can I get?

> Kristi

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hey Kristy,

I have no problem coming to your house and getting them, your not too far.

Don't/won't you need them though? I am not able to make it to the swap either.

Our church's car club is having a show that day, then my cousin is getting

married. So my whole day is filled.

I need to get caught up on my broth stores, I am nearly out and just so dislike

making it in this hot weather. I think I will drag my wood burning cook stove

out and use that. I have a small two burner size that is not air tight so I only

use it outdoors. Love the thing!

I was wondering if I can try that grain mill we have talked about off and on????

I so need to see what I really want before I spend the $$$$. $$$$ is so short

and I can not waste a penny. I know it will later this fall before I can really

think of buying one. Unless anyone here has one dirt cheep or better yet

free???????

I am really thinking a hand crank is going to be my choice. I just can't stand

the hum of things. That's why I have a dishwasher but do my dishes by hand.

Can't handle that type of noise! Kids on the other hand do not bother me a

bit!!!

Hey, did Kim have her baby yet??? I can not remember when she is due.

Kimi

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" Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to His cross I cling. "

[Guest guest]

Lynn,

Can you email me off list about the chicken feet? I can pick them up on Mondays

in St. Louis Park. Would that work for you? Kristi does not live too far from

me.

kwolffden@...

Kimi

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" Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to His cross I cling. "

Re: chicken feet

> Lynn, I'll take a bunch! How much can I get?

Kristi

>