Through my years of natural eating, I've come to terms with that fact that many, alright most, people don't eat like me. And don't care to.
And that's fine.
I'm not here to push, prod, guilt-trip, or manipulate anyone into thinking butter is better than margarine and we should all be consuming lots of sourdough products.
Which *cough cough* we should.
(Sorry, couldn't help myself.)
I really am fine with the fact that we are each free to eat the way that we most see fit, even if that is different from one another. Praise the Lord, we've been given individual liberty which is a beautiful thing.
That being said, there is one attitude towards my lifestyle and food choices that really grates on my (normally passive) nerves. And that's this one:
EWWWW!!! YOU EAT WHAT?!?!?
Yes, I do eat that. And just because you're unfamiliar with it or not used it it's charm, doesn't mean it's gross.
Every time I hear those seemingly funny and harmful words from a bystander, a little piece of my food spirit dies. And then becomes enraged. And then dies again.
99.9% of the time this cutting remark is made by someone who:
1. Eats hotdogs
2. Sees nothing wrong with eggs from battery hens
3. Eats meat from commercial, confined operations
4. Is completely removed from any sort of animal husbandry
5. Relies heavily on manufactures to tell them what is “healthy”
Because I've made the choice to not only care about how my food was raised, butchered, or prepared, but also have an active hand in doing so, I take this remark to heart. After all, those chicken feet in my stock just aren't some nasty feet from some unidentified, old, diseased hen from a large operation. Those chicken feet came from my own chickens, whom I cared for diligently their entire lives. Each morning and each night, those chickens were fed by me. They were killed by me. They were processed by me. They were cleaned by me. And they were cooked by me. I've followed those feet from birth to death to plate. And I'll be danged if I'm going to waste them simply because, by our modern culture's standard, chicken feet are “gross”.
The same for the heart, tongue, liver, and tail. The same for all those beautiful fat pieces which we turn with little effort into the most beautiful homemade tallow. The same for even the weirdest of bits, like the chicken's head and neck.
It grosses some out that we utilize these pieces. So, I'm guessing they'd rather them be wasted? Or completely removed from their site, ground into fine, unidentifiable bits, and stuffed in their processed bean burrito?
And it's not even just the meat bits. Remarks are often made about the souring of our bread, the kefir and yogurt cultures that continually graze our counter, the kombucha crock that is continually fermenting a batch of homemade brew, or the raw milk that we consume in a million ways each day.
YOU DRINK WHAT?!?!?
It boggles my mind that a culture who raises it's nose at home-squeezed raw milk will open it's arms to commercial animal products.
And I don't speak from inexperience here, my friends. I've spent my time working on cow-calf operations, dairy operations, and even conventional cattle operations. I've seen much of what there is to be seen with regards to how commercial agriculture (particularly animal) operations are run. Y'all. It ain't pretty.
So please, even if you think the chicken feet and necks in my stock pot are gross, keep it to yourself. Because for some of us, this is a way of utilizing the blessings we've been given. It's a way of giving ultimate thanks to an animal that died for our use. It's a way of appreciating the work of bacteria and yeast and the wonderful benefit it can bring to our bodies. It's a way of capturing, creating, and appreciating skills that have been utilized for generations upon generations. It's a nod of thanks to the past and a tough lesson to a generation that is completely reliant on the grocery store aisles for their entire food security.
We won't waste here. We utilize.
And yes, that includes chicken feet in our stockpot.
Not only is this a way to use up all the bits of chicken we can, but it's also a huge boost to the immunity system. Chicken feet are rich in collagen and in turn, gelatin. They're also rich in trace minerals. Many cultures across the world utilize feet in their stocks because of the incredible flavor and golden richness they lend to the broth. They've been noted for helping consistent-broth-drinkers with everything from seasonal allergies to arthritis to Crohn's Disease.
Take note: Chicken feet are a superfood. As are so many of the products that we turn our noses up at (liver, anyone?).
I'm not saying everyone needs to do all the things I do. Or even agree with them. But I'd sure love it if our sterilized culture took a chill pill and let it be.
YES. I EAT THAT.
And it can be a very beautiful thing.
You really have a way with words. Love what you stand for. Wish I knew everything you know when I was your age. I’m trying to convince my hubby to let me have my own Jersey, but don’t know if that will happen,
I love this post so much I can’t even tell you! I eat that too! And you know what? It’s DELICIOUS! SO THERE! We are raising our second batch of broilers, and I would love to hear what you do with the other odd bits! We mostly utilize them as fishing bait for catfish and compost. Some might go to the pigs this round, but I’m willing to branch out!
Oh, and while we’re on the subject, it totally works both ways. I see people drink regular milk or artificial coffee creamer and I’m like “You drink that??” LOL! Hand me the ladle I need more cream off the top of my milk!
Thank you, Heather, and all those who maintain the standards and self sufficiency this country was built on. I so appreciate your work ethic and your efforts to maintain the knowledge that is so quickly being stamped out and forgotten that possesses the keys to survival. Please continue to pass it on to those who will listen.
Having grown up as the granddaughter of a large animal slaughter house owner, the daughter of a meat cutter and then working in my dad’s poultry slaughter house, we ate a lot of things most people wouldn’t.
There is a chasm of disconnect with the food supply in the US. One of the biggest gifts we’ve given our kids is the knowledge of how much effort and care goes in to producing our food whether it’s them helping me bake a loaf of bread or helping Butcher a deer and processing the meat.
P.S. We used to have an elderly woman buy bags of chicken feet to make broth. She said there was nothing better.
When I was a little girl we used to go visit an old German couple down the road. I remember Uncle Willie saying once that when they butchered the pigs they ate everything but the squeal! Lesson learned!
As an adult, my friends used to butcher. When you received your meat from him you would get a strange little package labeled: “One last de-tail”. Yup. It was the tail for soup!
AWESOME!!! I feel vindicated, THANK YOU!!!
I cannot begin to tell you how much I LOVE this post!!! Thank you!
There are some things I can’t bring myself to eat but nothing around here gets wasted. The critters eat it or its turned into compost. I appreciate when someone can eat the whole animal even if I can’t bring myself to eat organs or use heads in my stock. Maybe someday I will get there. That said, I’ve been at the receiving end of the “EWW!!” comments. And I know all about the dieing and raging that follows each comment. Its pretty sad to me that I receive them most often from people who just learned I butcher and eat animals. Its often followed by comments about how they don’t eat their pets, prefer not to deal with that or what not so they buy their meat at the store. I want to beat my head into the nearest hard object. How does that thought process make any sense??? Anyway, YES! I 10000001% agree with you and I will never begrudge you all your strange goodies. Eat in Peace.
You might remind those people that this country was founded by people just such as yourself, who helped pave the way for others such as them. No doubt you treat all your animals well and kindly, but those used for food were placed here by God for just that purpose. The government and the grocery store are great, but self reliance gets the job done.
Awesome post! Have you ever had cow tongue tacos?! Oh my goodness! They are delicious!!!! š I’m sharing this post, BTW š Keep up the good work!
Recipe? How do you cook it?
Great post!!! Keep up the amazing work!
A wonderful post!! I have a question and hoope you will answer it. We are having 20 chicken raised for us at a farm right up the road from our home (wanted to do it ourselves but don’t have our coop ready), anyway…, We will be picking them up freshly killed and I want to keep the feet for stock but I want to know how to clean them before using them, is there something special I need to do???
I’ve used feet for the first time this winter from chickens I helped butcher at a neighbors. I put them in boiling water for a bit and then peeled the skin/scales off and the covering on the toe nails came off too. I found a tutorial of sorts at Kitchen Stewardship to help me get started. They are awesome for making really awesome stock and soup!
I absolutely love everything about this post!!! This past weekend, my husband and the other fellow cowboys, gathered together at the neighboring farm to butcher two pigs for BBQ season. I had to work (from home) but when I heard the shots, I teared up a little knowing what happened, and being grateful for the food that would cross the table. This is not something to take lightly, I know that. But I also know how the animal was treated and how it was killed. That makes all the difference to me….
In my freezer, two cow tongues accompany beef tripe and chicken feet. The dog just licked the rest of the bone marrow from the beef stock bones.
And I add raw eggs to my smoothies (courtesy of the feathered girls out back)….
I expect the questions and the looks now. But my heart swelled with pride when my sister calls me from thousands of miles away, and asks which maple syrup to buy, or what the veggie wash was again. So keep on truckin’, you are doing amazing work, and an inspiration to so many.
I have learned to say “Oh you can eat that? Teach me how!” I was raised on the grocery story, but have really enjoyed learning about real and local food the past few years.Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
I say “YES” to everything and it’s how I’ve discovered some of my favourite foods and meals (congee being the latest!). I’m not going to lie, I do eat processed junk sometimes but most of the time I like to take time cooking my meals from scratch. I really, really wanted to like liver buy can only enjoy the taste of a good liver pate. I’ve wanted to try chicken feet and will one of these days but have a feeling the texture won’t work for me plus although I love eating chickens their feet and beaks are two of many things that make me cringe at the actual animal!
I so agree with you. I am going to share this on my page. š
I totally agree with you on this, but I do wonder, should we be returning the same favor to those who eat differently than we doā¦ to those who eat Oscar Meyer and prefer their milk ultra pasteurized? I know our beliefs about food are in direct contradiction to theirs and we know “we are correct,” so how then do we go about discussing food with those who believe differently than we do?
I agree, they deserve the same favor. I try and leave it up to people to eat what they will – I don’t comment or say they’re gross or anything like that. I extend grace. And hope that they can do the same! I prefer to talk about why we make the choices we do for our family.
I have just purchased an organic chicken share which gives me 9 chickens over the period June to October… They will come dressed like you’d get at the market. I am now definitely going to ask them if I can get the feet. What other parts are useful that I would be otherwise missing—
Necks and heads are great for stock too. Livers are delicious.
As a child/teen I remember being sooo embarrassed by what we ate sometimes, now that I live in a different country everything gets used and its normal. I was in a small village grocery store yesterday and saw frozen beef intestine! When a pig gets butchered, everything but the toenails and eyeballs get used, although sadly it’s not as normal now. I like to take the high road with the weird looks “you have no idea what you’re missing!”
I’ve worked in the medical field with many Pilipina technicians and during our annual pig roast the vied for who would win the eyeballs. I liked knowing that even that part got used.
Great post! I couldn’t agree more!
Question about the chicken feet, and eating feet in general. I have this idea in my head that the skin of feet has had fecal matter on it, and may be embedded in the skin somehow. Can you set me straight on this?
I love this tutorial for how (and why) to use chicken feet for stock – how to peel them and everything!
http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2013/10/30/making-stock-with-chicken-feet-aw-do-i-have-to/
Thanks for a great article. To each his own. I would like to start learning more about eating whole natural foods. I know it would help with my Hashimotos. We have laying hens now and are really enjoying the fresh eggs. I appreciate all the education I can get on the topic of healthy natural eating. Thank you.
Just remember shaye…. Most people aren’t educated about what is GOOD, real food! I always just grin at people and say, “don’t knock it until you try it!”
Keep up the good work! Love your blog!
My dad is dying from cancer and eats very little right now. I took a cooler over with some homemade chicken bone broth and some freshly pressed vegetable juice to help him get some better nutrition recently. My family basically told me that what I brought was useless junk, and that my mom doesn’t have time to heat up bone broth (although she has plenty of time to bake lots of sweets). My sister bought him a chicken wrap from McDonald’s and they were so appreciative for that!
Shelley, I’m sorry you have about your father having cancer that must be painful my dad also had cancer it was in his liver and spread to the rest of his body. I tried to get him to quit smoking cigarettes which he kept saying he would but didn’t and he ultimately died from cancer.
I would like to recommend a book called “over the counter natural cures” by Shane Ellison. He does give recommendations for natural supplements you can buy, most are herbs most of which you could make on your own. There is a section where he talks about avoiding cancer and killing cancer cells, and the importance of avoiding unhealthy foods and drugs(he is against virtually all drugs except in emergency situations). I got a copy from my local library. I am not affiliated with the book or anything like that I just read the book and really feel like it could possibly help. I’ll pray for you and hope everyone gets through this.
I typed up a comment for Shelley, was it deleted? I don’t quite feel like typing it out again basically I wanted to recommend a book called over the counter natural cures. Specifically the section on cancer, the author recommends certain foods and herbs specifically turmeric. I hope it’s not to late for your dad, my dad died of cancer 6 yrs ago I only wish he would of quit smoking since I know that didn’t help but he kept putting it off. I pray your dad can overcame this.
As for the post I’m not as far along in my food journey, do far I only use powdered gelatin which I still get an “ewww! Gross! Do you know what that’s made of??” To which I have to explain that no it’s not made out of eye balls or skin or anything like that. The latest comment would be my mom, after she told me about the pain in her toe and hands and I suggested trying gelatin. I even tried to give her some to take home which she conveniently “forgot”.
Weird after I submitted to second comment the first one pops up go ahead and delete it if you’d like, sorry about that
This post resonated with me. I respect the lives of the animals I eat . I believe that that means using as much as possible of the animal. I raise and kill my own chickens and give them as happy life as I can and a death that is as stress free as possible. Many friends make eeeeeww noises at me , and proclaim that they couldn’t kill an animal- yet they are the ones contributing to cruel animal practices in the purchases they blindly make.
I absolutely LOVE this post! I live just outside of Houston and cannot raise animals however, my family and I also make large amounts of bone broth with plenty of chicken feet. My broth is as thick as the jell-o jigglers that we used to make and we use about a gallon a week. The health benefits are tremendous. I don’t care what other people think about what I eat. What I care about is regaining my health and this is one of the major ways that I am doing so. If someone doesn’t want to know what’s in the pot, don’t lift the lid! LOL
I have to say…I just about teared up at this piece. Thank you so much for sharing your heart. So much of it rings true for my own family. Blessings.
This whole post reminds me of something my sister says to her kids: ” You don’t ‘yuck’ someone else’s ‘yum'”. Great post, thanks. š
Liked your post. I have never eaten chicken feet but what the heck! I love the chicken (and turkey) neck. Its one of my favorite pieces. Also, when I can get it, I buy the beef neck as it makes the best beef stew or broth.
My “favorite” recent version of this was as I was drinking some homemade kefir out of a mason jar at church.
Fully Grown Adult Person (Really, like 60yo): “Do I even want to know what you are drinking?”
Me: “It’s kefir!”
Person: “Gross! What is that?”
Me: “It’s basically drinkable yogurt. Wanna taste it?”
In my head: “WHY WOULD YOU SAY ‘GROSS’ BEFORE YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS?!!?!!”
I’ll confess I’m a bit naughty on the opposite end, but I’m learning to be less so. My MiL jokes about it: “Hand me a packet of that, what did you call it? Ant poison? For my iced tea!” Heehee, at least she’s being good-natured about it! And I figure, the seed is planted, at some point maybe she’ll decide that’s no longer a choice she wants to make. And maybe not. And we’ll both just have to live with that.
A post I read a few years back (no idea where) that made a big impression on me said, “People ask, ‘How can you eat an animal whose name you knew?’ I respond, ‘How can you eat an animal whose name you *didn’t* know?!'”
Amen sister. We are working every day on our whole real foods life style. I love drinking my fresh Kombucha, eating my home made breads, tortillas, etc. Broth in a crock pot simmering makes my home cozy and our bodies happy. Now … I would love to raise my own animals for meat but I just do not think I can do…. So I buy locally raised on grass lands and in natural habitats. Then I have no problem cooking up that yummy meat and simmering up those bones and feet for broth! Ha ha Hope to one day over come it and have my own farm life. Koodos girl you rock.
I just made bone broth from 3 sets of bones from pastured hens, onions, garlic, celery and carrots, water and a splash of ACV in my large crock pot and let in go on low for 24 hours. It doesn’t gel- can you explain why???? When we eat the chicken meat with taters and gravy, the gravy appears to have lots of gelatin so I don’t ubderstand.
Sometimes it just doesn’t. I’ve had that lots of times. Sometimes still mine won’t gel and then other times it does wonderfully. I think it really depends on the bones and joints that you use to make the stock.
I find absolutely nothing wrong with what you eat . I think it’s wonderful you utilize everything from the animals you so lovingly cared for. My family comes from Puerto Rico and majority had their own farms and livestock. If I had the space for more than a pallet garden and some raised beds, I would have my own chicks, goats and pigs. I grew up eating pigs feet, blood sausage and stews made from gizzards and chicken feet. Waste not want not. Farm on little lady!!!!
Mmmmmmmmmmm… liverrrrrr!
We call the heads and feet, Walkie Talkies here in South Africa and it is a African traditional meal…. I personally don’t eat them but think its a fantastic idea to use them In a stock… Thanks for that great idea š
I would give you a high five if I could. Well said. I too cannot stand to hear people make such remarks. I personally LOVE chicken feet in stews and braised (phoenix feet) as well as other organ parts and understand the high nutritional value of such primitive foods. Today’s society is all about convenience and appearance. You walk into a grocery store and fish do not have their heads on, chops or steaks are missing their bones and meat is an unnatural bright red because that is what is “appealing” to the modern consumer. They don’t want to fuss with chopping off a head or will get squeamish and pass out at the seafood counter, they want a boneless steak or thigh because it’s one less “icky” thing sitting in their kitchen trash or because they truly think that they can make a stock with a factory raised bird breast? Dare I talk to coworkers about what nontraditional foods I cooked and I get blank stares and wrinkled faces…as they happily munch on whatever processed food-like item they just took out of the microwave. Oh well what can you do. I will keep enjoying my chicken feet and beef bones and liver as I shake my head to such nonsense.
THANK YOU!!! All your posts are so great and boy do I love how you write!!! I sometimes just sit here giggling to myself and nodding almost to every single sentence.
This one is particularly GREAT because it is (yet again) straight from my heart … out onto the table… and into the crockpot!!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you are using it ALL and that there is no waste!!! This is what makes life beautiful and nourishing and us so grateful for what we got and can do.
So, THANK YOU for this post and the one about how to cook and prepare those little feet with tootsies!!!
And the one from today is all the more earthy – about the potaytoes!!!! I just want to dig into some soil now!!! š
You ROCK this world with your wisdom and funny humor!! Keep it up!!! Please.
These posts bring back a lot of memories to me of a grand old time (when I was growing up in the mountains). My grandmother bless her soul- used to cook just about everything about a chicken in the pot and make (Cooked Cheken she would call it). Yes, the neck, the hearts, tails, and also the Feet — which was what I liked the most besides the Neck! The chickens feet and neck have a flavor of their own- and I really enjoy that. I know most people would stick up their noses at that, but hey– when I was growing up People raised what they Eat, and Eat what they Raised. Hardly anything was Wasted. The crunch of Chickens Feet- are a Delicacy. What is the difference anyhow- of eating Pigs Feet (which a lot of people eat, including myself) and Chickens Feet? I say– if it tastes good, and is good for you—- Go For IT!
Along this topic, since you raise and butcher rabbits, I am curious if you eat the heads? If you do can you please do a post on preparation? As an urban homesteader I raise my own rabbits, but have been composting the heads, I would love to utilize them. Also what if anything are you doing with the skins/pelts? TIA
We feed them to the dog. Thus far, we haven’t done anything with the skins/pelts.
Ty. I think I am going to possibly try to use them for stock, if skinning isn’t difficult.
I realize this is an older post, but I wanted to share my experience because it goes along with this so much. I am a recent covert to the more natural way of living. My husband and I have dreams of a farm to table farm and we have started with egg chickens and now have two goats who will eventually be milk goats. We just acquired 6 acres of land and are anxiously awaiting the day that we can move from our urban-like setting and continue with our dream.
One of the most recent things I have discovered is that of Kefir, Kombucha, and homemade sourdough. My first experience with Kefir did not go well, it wasn’t the Kefir’s fault, but I have had to find my footing once again.
When I had Kefir (homemade) for the very first time, it sent an already sick gallbladder into full-on attack and I had to have emergency surgery to remove it. The Kefir was not at fault, my gallbladder had obviously been sick for years, likely due to my diet, but the lecture I got from the ER doctor about my new, healthier, food choices, sent me into utter shame and I DID blame my healthier lifestyle for my pain and suffering. Ridiculous I know, and I have since come back to my senses, but because of my own experience with food choices plus the shaming I got for this medical professional, it is no wonder people see hot dogs as perfectly people friendly and chicken feet as disgusting.
I think these are lessons I am having to learn to strengthen my belief in real food. To exercise the common American food demon from that of my own mind and the minds of my family and to stand firm in the differences of living in food truth.
Leah
When I was in sixth grade, my family visited Hong Kong (my aunt and uncle were and are still missionaries there), where I was able to eat chicken feet. And I loved it.
Well, I came back home, and for years afterwards, told people my favorite food was chicken feet. The reactions were the same- wrinkled noses, ‘Eww’s and ‘Gross’s. I reveled in that reaction, being a kid that loved hearing that their favorite food was conventionally gross. (I was a strange child. I still am a ‘strange’ person) Yes, people eat ‘disgusting’ food on a daily basis. Yes, that so-called ‘disgusting’ food can be delicious, and better than ‘normal’ food.
Thank you, Shaye, and all of you other readers- homesteaders, half-homesteaders, and hopefuls alike- for daring to look at the world in a new way. The world has turned to processed food and chemicals- let us decide for ourselves what we want to eat. Let us be like the people who eat the ‘disgusting’ food, and do the unconventional. You all are an inspiration!
Thanks again,
Katie
Respect! I love your blog and homesteaders understand. Respect!
I purchased my first bag of chicken feet ftom a local farmer this past summer but not sure how to utalize them. How many do I need for a crockpot of bone broth? What else do you use them for? I heard some Asian revipes cqll gor the feet…interested if you know anything.
Ok so over the past year we have been processing our own chickens, rabbits, ducks, and goats. So far, when my husband gives me the organs, I have just paniced and thrown them into a vacuum sealed freezer bag. Any tips on what to do with all of these frozen organs? Most the time I just labeled them “organs” out of my complete ignorance, so no clue on which animal they came from or which organs they are now. Help! Are they just a waste now?
I would feed them to my doggies!
Love this!
I really enjoy your posts and I am super thankful that you brought up chicken feet in this post. As I navigate how to help boost the immune system of a family member with MS, I am always looking for ways to improve our diets and I appreciate that you speak honesty of the foods and drinks in your home that you find beneficial. I Like that you refer to chicken feet as a super food and I am excited to add them to my next soup stock. How many do you usually add to one pot of soup? Thank you for the encouragement!
We need to get back to this. My grandfatherās family were Welsh immigrants that settled in northern Indiana. Then, the Depression hit. They ate well and shared with anyone that asked for help. (They even had their address written under the train viaduct by hobos as a safe meal location!) How? A HUGE garden in town, and an agreement with the butcher to take the āwasteā off his hands. (Tongue, organ meat, etc.) Iām awfully glad they werenāt picky eaters!š„°