oh man... the cockles are moving.

[Hangingbellyofbabylon]

I got a load of cockles in shells from the fish monger today. All the recipes I've looked at go on about soaking and rinsing to try to get some of the sand out. I found a great looking Spanish recipe that involved putting the cockles in salty water so they would open up a bit and any more sand could come out. So they're sitting in a big pan of salt water the crazy freaks are opening and shutting and sticking their crazy 'legs' out . I know they're alive and accept that but it is really freaky to actually see them moving. Dd is getting rather attached to the big boy of the gang who is really moving loads - hope she likes him as much when he's served with garlic and cream later on...

[Hangingbellyofbabylon]

oh my goodness! just picked up one that was partially open and it shot a jet of salty water out of the shell into my face . It's like a science project here.

Surely someone is interested in my cockles?

[differentID]

keep up the mini blog- sounds like a sci-fi film script

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

I am fascinated. And jealous. I want some!

[Hangingbellyofbabylon]

just convinced poor innocent dd2 to pick one up and it shot water in her face. She was not impressed...

[BCNS]

[pointydog]

I am interested in your cockles.

Don;t get too attached.

[Bucharest]

Ah, yes...t'is their way of trying to get you not to eat them. Very smart, are cockles and co.
First time my shellfish-virgin friend and I bought mussels and clams to cook on Sunday...we bought them Saturday night and were advised by jolly fishmonger to leave them in a bowl of salted water out of the fridge overnight, covered in a cloth. My room was next to the kitchen and I was kept awake all night by the splish splosh noise of molluscs making one last bid for freedom....when we got up the next morning there was a stonking great hole in the tea-towel and many fatter, more contented mussels smirking in the bowl.... We ate them anyway, teatowelly insides and all.

[Hassled]

I love cockles. And if you don't eat them, I'm sure they'll make wonderful pets.

[Hangingbellyofbabylon]

Bucharest - did they really eat a whole in a tea towel?

Well, the last water change seems to have settled them down, water is looking clean and they are no longer hopping around. Which is good as they'll be going in the pot in a bit. Will report back later..

[PerfectPrefect]

We went cockling once. Brought back hundreds we kept them all in a huge paddling pool for a few days/weeks/months

[pointydog]

And did you swim with the cockles, perfect?

[PerfectPrefect]

No....we just observed. Then disposed of

[pointydog]

Could be a new tourist attraction for Skegness or Morecamnbe or somewhere.

Why swim with the dolphins when you can swim with the cockles

[weegiemum]

at swimming with the cockles.

Am jealous. We had chicken pie for tea!

[pointydog]

think I'd take the chicken pie, meself. Not much meat on a cockle

[PeachyTheRiverParrettHarlot]

Hmmm
generally I like seafood but

Were they mine i'd be rehoming them by now!

[Sunshinemummy]

Loving the mollusc stories.

[Hangingbellyofbabylon]

ok... am back. The cockles were incredible . I sauteed finally chopped garlic and onion and a little smoked paprika, added the beasts and a generous glug of dry white sherry, finally finished with some single cream. . The texture was lovely, not a single gritty one and they were really firm and meaty. Better than mussels for sure. It was lovely seeing dd1(4) getting her own cockles out of the shells, she obviously didn't get too attached. The whole lot cost £3 and there were more than we could eat so well worth it. The problem is that although I live in Bournemouth by the sea there is only one fishmonger for miles around and you never know what you'll find when you get there. So if you do happen across some fresh cockles, grab them with both hands and enjoy. .

[SoupDragon]

[barf]

[Nappyzoneisabeetrootrunner]

oooo i have done mussels and loved them but sadly only ever had already shelled cockles - i would love to try them though not so sure at them spitting at me mid drowning them! are they shells big or like winkle sized shells?

[Hangingbellyofbabylon]

really quite big shells, about the size of a 50p at least and the meaty bits were huge too. Much bigger than the pre-shelled ones you get in a pot at the seaside.

[zanz1bar]

Altogther now....Alive, Alive Oh

[Nappyzoneisabeetrootrunner]

those pretty shells you find on the beach? awww i have an urge now for some shell fish.

I want to send dh of to tesco but that would be shellfish of me

[GhostOfPsychomum5]

@ cockles.

that said, this stems from cockling in poole harbour as a nipper and aunty not soaking them properly.

too many memories of sandy and poohy cockles now to be able to enjoy them ever again!!!

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

What a fab thread