Cooking is a creative outlet I enjoy. I seek out novel food items then attempt to make them at home. It saves money while providing tasty variety in my day. When I see something unusual my mind begins to plan how I will make it myself.
During a delivery a customer ordered chicken livers and chicken gizzards. Then they asked for gizzards only if possible. What part of the chicken is a gizzard? As a seasoned trivia host, I was embarrassed that I had no idea. Apparently, the gizzard is a muscle on stomach of the chicken. They use for grinding during digestion. This person wanted to eat 12 of these.
Maybe they know something I don't. It sounds weird and gross but further research said that the chicken gizzard is a very healthy part of the chicken. Not only high in protein and low in fat but also contains important vitamins such as B-12, Iron and zinc. I was sold so I went of and bought a package of chicken gizzards at the grocery store. Like most unusual animal parts, these were not very expensive. only $1.44 a pound. Cheap Cheep.
I decided the best way to prepare them would be in the cast iron skillet. I baked the gizzards with a sliced onion and some Cajun seasoning at 350 degrees for a half hour. When I pulled them out, they didn't look done so I put them in for another half hour. An hour in total.
They were a disaster. I bit into my first gizzard and it was unpleasant. It did not taste like chicken at all. More like beef. Beef flavored chewing gum would have been an decent description. They were not good. I briefly considered throwing them directly into the trash. Then the savings region of my brain kicked in. That would be like throwing $2 on the ground. I wrestled back and forth internally. These were not edible in their current condition, but don't waste them. What to do?
They were too tough to be considered a food product. I decided to compromise. I would put the gizzards into the instant pot and slow cook them for 8 hours. If after that they were still inedible, I would throw them out. My various brain regions agreed that this was a wise course of action.
Often my way of gauging a food project is, would I make it again on purpose? I think I would. I wouldn't make it for company because it would be just a bit too unusual for most people but I could see slicing the gizzards up thin and putting them on some spicy tacos on a bed of shredded cabbage.
Cheaper than going to a movie and much more interesting. I now have more knowledge about chicken anatomy than yesterday which also expands my ability to write trivia questions effectively.
Winner winner, chicken diner? Sort of.