There has been a long running joke between my husband and my parents for years. That joke is chitlins. Every single holiday my hubby offers to bring chitlins when we are discussing the menu. To my knowledge, he has never cooked nor eaten chitlins...certainly not in THIS house. He swears he loves them, that his mama cooked them all the time. She never cooked or ate them around me. This much I know is true.
The proper spelling is "chitterlings". We don't do all that fancy talking/spelling down here in southwestern Mississippi. We call 'em chitlins and we spell it that way. We don't do formal. Kinda like spelling/saying possum with the delicate "o"...opossum. We just don't do it. Neither should you.
Chitlins are what they are. Pig intestines. (Is the plural of chitlins "chitli"?? Meh.) They have to be cleaned before cooking them. I've heard many tales about cleaning chitlins...which is why I have NEVER eaten them. Shear don't do the piggy poo. Any food you have to slap across a tree stump and run a water hose through before you even cook will have a tough time crossing these lips. Not to mention the "fat pickin'". Shudder.
One of my uncles loves to tell the story of his friend at a chitlin boil. This friend of his would keep spare kernels of corn in his hand while eating chitlins. He'd slip the corn in his mouth when no one was looking and start coughing to draw attention. When he had everyone's attention, he'd spit the corn in his hand and ask "WHO cleaned these chitlins???". Disgusting.
I've seen fried chitlins but never tasted them. When they're fried, they look like just about every other fried food you've seen. A golden brown. It's the smell that's different. Way different. Chitlins have a distinct smell about them. Imagine that. That smell will creep up and take hostage every single pore in your sinus cavity. Wanna take a trip to Nasal Hell? Take a whiff of chitlins.
I've heard you either love 'em or hate 'em. I'm siding on the "hating 'em" part even though I've never even tried them. I tend to imagine that they taste alot like they smell and no, thanks. That smell is nowhere near the smell of bacon frying. Nowhere near it.
I've also heard there are many ways to cook them. Weh-heh-hellll, there are many ways to kill kittens but you won't find me doing that either.
As I stated at the beginning of this entry, hubby likes to joke around about bringing chitlins to every holiday meal. This time it isn't a joke. He bought chitlins last night at the grocery and fully intends to cook them for Thanksgiving. Our family has no idea that he's really going to do this...this time. He's been on the phone with some of his buddies. They have all given him "tried and true" recipes and he thinks he's got this figured out. As long as he doesn't cook them inside, I'll let him have his fun.
He expects us all to at least try them. He says we might even love them. I'm still counting on being a member of the "hate 'em" club, but I'll put on my gastronomical badge of honor and try them. Maybe...if I can get past the smell and he makes a nice remoulade sauce to drown them in. Besides, given a choice between haggis, tripe or chitlins...well.
Maybe it's not to late to have my lips sewn shut. Oh, I know!!! We should invite that Andrew Zimmern guy. Yeah, that dude will eat anything. We'll wrap up the left-overs and send them home with him.
And I should get my gastronomical badge of honor just for blogging this.
Getting in the Christmas spirit - December 10, 2008 everlasting friendship - December 03, 2008 SB Update - December 02, 2008 Our day--with photos - November 29, 2008 Happy Thanksgiving - November 27, 2008
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