What would you do with this?

This morning I went to a Mexican grocery store to purchase corn husks for some tamales I will be making for our football party tomorrow. As I was walking past the meat case I noticed not one, or two but three entire cow heads in the case right there next to the sirloin steaks, chicken breasts and pork loins.

The sensible side of my brain told me to ignore what I was seeing and walk by quickly, but the curious and more formidable side of my brain made me stop and take a closer look. As I peered through the glass there were three completely skinned cow heads staring up with a gentle look in their eyes.

I’m an adventurous cook, but is there something I am missing here? I guess the cheeks might be good, and it looked like there was some meat on the forehead, but everything else looked inedible.

It was a creepy and strange experience but there must be a use for those heads.

I suppose if you have an adventurous spirit, you could make head cheese.

LOL! I had not thought of that, Karen.

Cow head, or calf's head?

Makes a difference.

In some families there is an old world tradition of cooking calf head for a holiday feast. Said feast includes the brains.

There's also a dish in Italy called bollito misto, which is basically a "mixed boil" of all the, um, bits and pieces, let's say, of the cow that doesn't go into the steaks and chops.

It all seems faintly disgusting to me, but to my Mom, a farm girl, it was well in the tradition of "eat everything; throw nothing away". Another reason you don't ask what's in the sausage.

Oh definitely not a calfs head. These were the big suckers. Probably enough brains in there to feed a large family.

Why am I thinking about the chainsaw scene in "Motel Hell"?

Yikes, you watch movies like that. I won't be eating "fritters" at your house.

There's too many people in the world and not enough food. Now this takes care of both problems at the same time.

Mad Cow Disease. Brains are nowhere near my definition of 'edible people food'. Not even in the same universe.

There is a Mexican tradition of burying the head underground on top of burning coals, and letting it cook that way.
When done, the meat is picked from the head to make tacos. I've gone to a few of those parties.
Hell of a fiesta.

Cabeza tacos are easy to find. Try one.

Cabeza tacos are easy to find. Try one.

Recipe?

I mean order a cabeza taco from a taqueria and then you'll see what head meat is like.
Actually, I got reckless and bought beef cheeks at the Mexican market, but it's not on the head, it's a frozen brick. I'm waiting for a cold rainy day when I can cook it all day long. I'm assuming that's what you do with head meat, just cook it with liquid for hours until it falls apart.

When I get brave and cook my brick I'll post.

There's too many people in the world and not enough food. Now this takes care of both problems at the same time.

Meat's meat and a man's gotta eat.

Sometimes I wonder about the karmic implications of what we do.

Sometimes I wonder about the karmic implications of what we do.

Me too. It's quite possible that in the next go-round, you'll still be a vegetarian human while I end up being a lovely pork roast.

Brawn, anyone? http://www.offthebone.net/?p=172

Christ, people! It's called barbacoa. It is made by roasting the head of a cow and picking the meat away from it. It's very rich and decadent; makes killer tacos as someone stated above.
rwj