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January 15, 2004
Deep Fried Brains
IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH, DON'T READ THIS.
The mad cow scare isn't stopping people in Evansville, Indiana, from enjoying one of their favorite treats....deep fried cow brain sandwiches. (Click on the link. There's a picture.)
The brains, battered with egg, seasoning and flour, puff up when cooked. They are served hot, heaping outside the bun.
They are traced back to a time when southern Indiana newcomers from Germany and Holland wasted little. Some families have their own recipes passed down over the generations.
And they think chitlins are gross. Wait, they are. And so is this...though it's apparently not a Yankee thing.
In California, in cities such as Stockton, cow brain is commonly sold as taco filling and sold from trucks. They are referred to by their Spanish name, "sesos."
In Texas border towns, barbacoa, made from the cow's head and brain, is served during the holidays.
Nasty.
Across the Ohio River in Kentucky, eating squirrel brain served with fried eggs was once considered a rural delicacy in some parts. Its popularity declined, however, after researchers in 1997 found a possible link between eating squirrel brains and contracting mad cow.
Now wait a minute. Squirrel brains are pretty tasty...like mild chicken livers. Except Mom usually boiled the entire cleaned head, then you crack the skull open and eat it like lobster. (And I know what you're thinking Bob. You're thinking "Ah, that explains everything." I don't have mad cow. I haven't eaten a squirrel brain in prolly 20 yrs. But what about you, Indiana boy, hmmm?)
Have I grossed you out yet?
Cool.
Posted by Rita at January 15, 2004 04:10 PM
Comments
Actually, Rita, I've had cow brains ... and, to be totally honest, the only gross part of it is the "thought" (bad pun, I know).
It was actually very good . . .of course, I didn't know what I was eating until WELL after the meal.
Posted by: Tony Rosen at January 15, 2004 06:00 PM
So how were they cooked?
Posted by: Rita at January 15, 2004 06:37 PM
My brothers love pig brains... Right from the skull after cooking the whole pig in a chinese box.
Not me...
No, never...
Not in a house, not with a mouse.
Not in a train, I WILL NOT EAT BRAIN!
So Rita Bonita, you let me be...
I will not eat brain, you wait and you'll see!
Posted by: Mike S at January 15, 2004 07:11 PM
How do you know you haven't?
Ummm....honey? I've uh, you know, been meaning to tell you...you know that mystery meat stuff that was in Mom's dressing at Christmas? You may've not noticed I didn't eat any.
Bwahahaha!
Posted by: Rita at January 15, 2004 07:17 PM
Cripes, this stuff sounds worse than scrapple.
http://www.globalgourmet.com/food/sleuth/0998/scrapple.html
Posted by: Keith at January 16, 2004 12:23 PM
My sister is married to a Tejano and they eat menudo (cow stomach, I think?) and barbacoa, which is the cow head and brain. I have no idea how they're cooked, but I do know that my brother-in-law allegedly makes a mean chorizo, potato, scrambled egg and brain enchilada. I've never tried it but I think the brain is scrambled up with the egg.
Uck, I've just made myself ill now.
Posted by: picklejuice at January 16, 2004 07:32 PM
Whoops - in order to avoid grossing myself out I skimmed over the "food" part of your post. Just noticed the mention of barbacoa already.
Sorry 'bout that - but when I saw you compare squirrel brains with chicken liver, I threw up a little bit in my mouth.
Posted by: picklejuice at January 16, 2004 07:33 PM
"My sister is married to a Tejano and they eat menudo..."
What? They eat boy bands?!?
Posted by: Ralph Gizzip at January 16, 2004 09:26 PM