Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Porterhouse in the House – A Carnivore’s Delight



Of late my partner keeps picking out different frozen dinners to try. In theory I welcome these meat and potato combinations even though trying to limit my intake of starchy vegetables. But the protein is inevitably some 'mechanically separated' (look it up if you dare) chicken/pork/beef by-product/soy amalgamated patty of mush, though I ate every bite out of deference to the animals' sacrifice. And I didn’t even know anyone could give mashed potatoes the consistency of Silly Putty.

So on the way home from swimming at the YMCA Saturday I stopped by a meat market. My initial craving was for a seldom available deli item called souse. Unlike the pre-digested looking lumps from our latest frozen dinners, these less cherished meats don’t pretend to be anything other than what they are.

Souse is essentially head cheese with the bite of vinegar. The cold cut’s unique flavor and texture take me back to childhood, when Mom and I had the souse all to ourselves. ~grin~ We didn’t complain.

Waiting for my savory treat to be packaged, I looked toward the butchery case. There I saw the most beautiful cuts of porterhouse steak. Yes, they were expensive. But now that we know the proper technique for home cooking (as long as you don’t mind your home smelling of smoke for a few days), I could justify the expenditure.

Photo Courtesy of MyRecipes.com
I intended to take before and after photographs of the porterhouse. Unfortunately, my inner lion took over the moment I opened the butcher paper and I forgot all about grabbing the camera. At least I took time to follow all the cooking instructions, like letting the raw meat come to room temperature and even allowing the cooked food to 'rest' after final removal from the oven!

Have you ever tasted head cheese or souse?

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14 comments:

  1. No...I have never had either one of those. I have lived a sheltered life where food is concerned. I think you would call it PICKY! haha....yep, if I did not like the way something looked, smelled or had what it had in it....I did not try it. I have gotten a tad better these days! Porthouse looks great in that pic.

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    1. Most of the people I know are picky, so don't feel bad. My sisters-in-law won't eat mushrooms! That steak dinner was fabulous, I ate more than my half share.

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  2. No, I haven't, but we made it up in Alaska from pigs heads, even once a bear head a neighbor shot. The bear had gone after the pig and both were shot. I came home that night, I lived in their quonset hut out back and Mike was all mysterious and told me to check the pot in the kitchen. The light was always low there, but I went in, lifted the lid and jumped back a mile, not knowing what had transpired during the day with bear going after a pig at the neighbors. A pig's head stared up at me from the pot.

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    1. Oh, wow. I didn't know you once lived in Alaska. What a prank! I hope he didn't make a habit of being a bit mean.

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  3. Well, that was good. *wink* Love you, my friend.

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  4. I have not tasted either and I don't want to :) The steak looks good though.

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  5. Sorry, but that sounds gross. And I'm a picky eater, so I doubt I'd even try it if offered.

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    1. You're in the majority. ~grin~ Meanwhile, my father still buys head cheese (he's not a fan of vinegar) and says it grosses out the lady who works at the local deli to even slice the stuff.

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    1. Understandable, considering the German origins. My hometown was initially settled by German immigrants. ~grin~ I bet I'd love traveling with you and trying new foods.

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  7. Never had souse or head cheese and don't think I want to. A steak sounds great though :-)

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    1. Seems like I'm in the minority once again. ~grin~ It's no wonder so few delis offer it.

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