"gtr" > wrote in message news:2010042812572557757-xxx@yyyzzz...
| Please--don't go with the easy gags on this one. Be creative.
|
| I found a real treasure trove last weekend in Irvine, CA (just down the
| street). It's called Wholesome Foods and appears to be a Persian
| concern. In one section, near the fresh meat case, I found a bunch of
| smoked meats and fish, mostly with labels indicating it came from a
| place in Chicago. In another area (opposite part of the store by the
| deli) I find a bunch of smoked meats most of which are from Brooklyn.
| Totally cool!
|
| I got some smoked trout, and on a whim got a four-pack of smoked turkey
| necks. My total experience with the latter is dinner with my Granny in
| Oklahoma. We'd be eating the rest of the bird and she would belabor a
| turkey neck for what seemed the entire meal. My mother would get
| frustrated and try to get her to eat some of the "real bird". My
| take-away was the Gran was just so use to eating last and least in a
| family of country folk, that she had acclimated.
|
| So my turkey necks were smoked, refridgerated (not frozen) and packed
| in a plastic bag (not vacuum packed). It says "sell by July 10, 2010).
| So this clearly looks like "ready to eat", right?
|
| Nevertheless "cook thoroughly" is printed in one corner of the label.
|
| I intend to heat it, likely steam it a bit, before eating. But do I
| really need to cook this thing?
|
| Any tips appreciated.

They sound good. According to many websites they do need to be
cooked as they are tough in their just-smoked state. For instance
this is from eHow:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5707663_boil...key-necks.html

"Smoked turkey necks add great flavor to soups and stews. Smoked
turkey necks are pre-cooked but are not tender enough for eating;
boiling is necessary for releasing flavor and eating. Boiled, smoked
turkey necks are excellent for making homemade broth, and are a
healthy alternative to cooking with pork in greens and beans."

Good luck with them.

pavane