Linkfest, and a list of culinary to dos....

A quick, somewhat grim video (culled from Ruhlman's blog), detailing the making of Testa, (also called Copa Di Testa, or Headcheese in America, or, in these parts , Brawn). Warning, the video contains a skinned pigs head being boiled and broken down for meat. The squeamish may not be pleased.....


Pigs heads are available for about a fiver, ears intact, from Buckleys on Moore Street, and I may plump for a more authentically Irish/British version from the BBC website. This one is firmly on the todo list, kind of inspired by Fergus Henderson, and Hugh FW and the whole nose to tail eating idea. Seems topical with the slew of credit crunch rationing type recipes popping up in various media. And a fine way to use of the entire animal as any conscientious meat eater should.

Currently banned from all civilised places for chopping up and cooking the above. Looks like a longer term project. I may have to wait until I have my own kitchen to rustle up this little sweetbread.....

Also on the to do list, perfect bangers.




Photographed, a sliced open Common Earthball mushroom, mildly poisonous. Slicing it open reveals the kind of foamy, granular interior which confirms the identification.