Oxtail {What Is It Wednesday}

I was very surprised that so many of you knew what last week’s What Is It Wednesday was. And for those of you that did not know, it was oxtail.

I almost posted this picture last week,

but I was pretty sure that it would really give it away. When it is all lined up like it would be uncut, you really can tell it is a tail.

Now, this not really ox tail, this is a beef tail, but they call it oxtail. And it is not really that new to my family. Each year we have buy half a beef and it often comes with an oxtail.

The first couple of times that we got it, I never used it, and it ended up in the trash. And yes I know some of you are thinking, the trash, you threw it out, but I really did not know what to do with it.

I grew up eating a lot of beef. We often raised a cow/steer every year or two, so I am familiar with beef and some of the more strange cuts that come from it. We often ate the tongue, heart, and liver. None of those are my favorite thing to eat, but my mom did cook and serve them.

Oxtail is something though that I don’t remember ever eating, so I really did not know what to do with it. (And just for the record, I don’t cook the tongue or heart and I only cook the liver now because my husband loves it. I am more than glad to leave those parts for others to eat.)

A few years ago though when I saw a recipe by Paula Deen for oxtail, I knew I had to give it a try. Paula Deen can make just about anything taste good, so I figured her recipe was a good place to start and it ended up being very good.

This year when I cooked it I made another recipe by Paula Deen that uses oxtail, but adapted it for the crock pot. Both of Paula’s recipes have worked well and most of my family has enjoyed them.

And when I say most of my family enjoyed it, that means everyone, but me. I am the one that will eat it, but I am not to the enjoying part yet. I think I just can’t get passed the “it is a tail” part. 🙂

I would love to hear more thoughts from you all on oxtail and how you enjoy it.