The word pettitoes popped into my head for no reason… but when I thought about it, trying t remember what it meant, I realised why it had arrived unbidden. Pettitoes is another word for trotters, pig’s trotters, and I bought some the other day. I’m not sure I had ever bought and cooked anymore, I may have done in the distant past, but it is more a memory of my dad cooking and eating them with great relish.
They were nice and clean and obviously from a young pig and I put them into stock with onion, carrots, garlic, and a few other bits and pieces and cooked them gently for a couple of hours. I had a lovely gel from them, to be used in soup, but the actual trotters were bereft of much meat, but what there was, was quite tasty.
I was looking at other recipes and as well as brawn and what was known as ‘cheese’, there were quite a variety of different things to do with pettitoes, and every other part of the creature. I think people must have been less squeamish in past times because lots of dishes were to be served to guests along with offal such as heart and liver; I can’t imagine many dinner guests greeting such a thing with joy these days!
I’m not sure I will bother again with buying and cooking pettitoes, but if I had supper with someone who offered it, I would gladly do my best, and no doubt enjoy!
Lois Elsden 
I will have to be much more careful in restaurants and be very clear when I say, ‘…. And I’ll have some potatoes with it please’
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Always expect the unexpected!
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Mrs Tiggy Winkle (the hedgehog) in the Beatrix Potter stories refers to pettitioes I think (?).
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I think you’re right actually… I’ve just had a quick check and pettitoes can be used for human feet, especially children – although Mrs T is a hedgehog she obviously has human characteristics!
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I once said to an old friend that the only part of a pig that isn’t used is the squeal. He replied that I was wrong because they sell the squeal to the Scotsmen who use it in there bagpipes.
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I must remember that!! Very good!
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