Pitcha Recipes

PETCHAH (CALF'S FOOT JELLY)

Steps:

• Thoroughly rinse calves feet with water and place in a stockpot with enough water to cover.
• Bring the vessel to a boil and remove any scum that appears on the top.
• Drain the calves feet and cover again with a change of cold water. Bring to a boil again.
• Lower the burner to the lowest setting possible. Add the diced carrot and onion, salt and pepper. Cook on the lowest possible heat for a minimum of six hours, preferably overnight until any adherent meat, cartilage, tendons and ligaments separate easily from the bones.
• Reserve everything but the bones and discard the bones. Taste the broth and adjust salt and pepper to your liking.
• Chop the meat, cartilage, softened tendons and ligaments into small pieces (being careful not to miss any bone fragments and to use only those pieces that can be easily cut with the knife) and mix with minced garlic. Alternatively, take the larger pieces and put with cloves into a food processor and process until well incorporated and a ball of lumpy paste is present in the food processor.
• Place the sliced eggs neatly in the bottom of a rectangular glass or enameled baking dish.
• Over the eggs, evenly distribute the meat/garlic mixture.
• Over this, pour the broth including the onions and carrots. Depth of the broth should be no less than one inch though an inch and a half is ideal.
• Allow mixture to cool on the counter or stove top briefly and then place on a shelf in refrigerator to sit, undisturbed, until the mixture solidifies. Any fat coming to the top of the mixture may be removed by skimming with the edge of a knife after mixture gels firmly.
• Following solification, the mixture should be cut into squares. It is served cold as an appetizer or as a cool snack. Garnish with a slice of lemon wedge which may be squeezed over the aspic for additional flavor.

GALARITA (P'TCHA)

Steps:

• Place gizzards in a small saucepan. Add water to cover and bring to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes, then pour off the water. Set aside.
• Bring three-quarters of a cup of water to a boil. Insert chicken feet, one at a time, for 30 seconds. Remove and peel the skins.
• Place all meat in a three-quart pot. Add water to cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for three hours.
• Remove meat from the pot and pick the meat from the bones. Strain the broth.
• Grind gizzards and meat pieces and return to stock. Add garlic, salt and pepper and cook over low heat for 10 minutes.
• Pour into a seven- x four-inch pan. Refrigerate to set.

PTCHA/CALVES FOOT JELLY

Steps:

• Put the the cows' feet into a large bowl and soak in cold water for 1 hour. Drain. Using a large stock pot put the cows' feet into the pot and add water to cover the bones. Boil on medium heat. Add bay leaf, onions garlic, and carrots. Skim off the fat during the cooking process. You may have to add a little water during this process. But you don't want to lose the flavor that is in less water. Use your judgement on this. Cook on medium heat for 2-3 hours. When the meat and gristle is off the bone, it is done.
• Remove from heat. Discard the bones and scrape off any meat that might be left on the bones. Remove the bay leaf and discard it. Reserve the liquid. Put the meat in a dish and chop it finely, adding the salt and pepper and mixing together. Adjust seasoning to your taste
• Put the meat in a large bowl and gradually add the reserved broth. Pour the mixture into a 9" x 13" baking dish. When dish is cool, cover and put into the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, cut into squares and serve with lemon wedges.

EASY HOMEMADE PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt, and butter in a food processor. Pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about 10 1-second pulses.
• Stir water and vinegar in a small bowl.
• Pour half the ice water and vinegar mixture into the flour and butter mixture. Pulse to combine, about 3 (1-second) pulses. Pour in remaining ice water and vinegar mixture. Pulse until mixture just starts to come together, about 8 (1-second) pulses.
• Turn dough out onto a wooden surface, pat into round shape and divide in half. Form each half into a disc about 5 inches wide.
• Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes until ready to use.

SOUTHERN SWEETENED ICED TEA

Steps:

• Fill a 2 qt pitcher (that's pitcha in the South) about halfway up with ice.
• Clip the clothespin onto the side of the pitcher and"hang" the tea bags through it (keeps the paper from getting in the tea and makes the bags easier to retrieve- you don't want to be seen with your hand in the pitcher here in the South).
• Pour the sugar or Splenda on top of the ice cubes and now fill the pitcher up with water.
• Let sit about an hour, pull out tea bags and serve.

PITCHA

Steps:

• Ask your butcher to chop the calf's foot in several pieces; wash well. (If you're using oxtails, leave the pieces whole and do not remove fat or bones until later.) Place the meat in a stock pot with the bouillon cube. Tie the chopped onion, garlic, bay leaf, clove, and peppercorns into a cheesecloth bag. Add the bag to the pot and pour in water to cover. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 3 hours.
• Stir the gelatin into the 1/2 cup of cold water and set aside for 10 minutes. Remove the meat from the pot and let it cool. Strain the cooking liquid into a bowl; you should have about 8 cups of broth. Discard the spice bag. Pick the meat from the bones and set it aside; discard the bones and gristle.
• Spray a gelatin mold with cooking spray. Add the lemon juice and salt and pepper to the broth. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Transfer the softened gelatin into the warm broth and stir to dissolve. Pour the liquid into the prepared mold and refrigerate. Chill the broth until the gelatin has thickened slightly, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Stir in the reserved meat and the egg slices. Refrigerate until set, 4 hours or overnight.
• To unmold the pitcha, dip the gelatin mold into warm water for 15 to 20 seconds. Invert the mold onto a serving plate and serve with parsley and lemon wedges.