Pickled Cockles..What On Earth Do I Do With Them?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
August 18, 2011 3:51pm CST
John had bought some Pickled Cockles, one of the many items we brought back from the Pioneer Food Hall a couple of weeks ago.
Anyway, he was about to eat them ON THEIR OWN..you know, by sticking a fork into the jar or something when I told him not to do that as I was up to my eyes in baking at the time and said that I "had plans" for the cockles. What's the point of me baking if he goes into the fridge for his cockles?
Unfortunately, I DON'T have any plans for the cockles as I haven't got a darn clue what to do with them. I've told John I'm in the process of "looking for recipes" which I am, actually but I can't find anything suitable. I don't like anything too arty-farty or complicated.
In the freezer I have a few salmon and haddock fillets so if I could use either one of those fish with the cockles that would be marvellous. Any ideas? Obviously, no recipes here but PM me if you have any..thanks.
I'm determined to stop John from eating cockles out the jar..it's enough to make me feel sick thinking about it.
He's had a big tea as well. It's not my fault he doesn't eat when he's at work.
My biscuits with jam in the middle turned out well by the way..certainly better than boring Rich Tea!
Unfortunately, I DON'T have any plans for the cockles as I haven't got a darn clue what to do with them. I've told John I'm in the process of "looking for recipes" which I am, actually but I can't find anything suitable. I don't like anything too arty-farty or complicated.
In the freezer I have a few salmon and haddock fillets so if I could use either one of those fish with the cockles that would be marvellous. Any ideas? Obviously, no recipes here but PM me if you have any..thanks.
I'm determined to stop John from eating cockles out the jar..it's enough to make me feel sick thinking about it. He's had a big tea as well. It's not my fault he doesn't eat when he's at work.
My biscuits with jam in the middle turned out well by the way..certainly better than boring Rich Tea!4 people like this
11 responses
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
18 Aug 11
Hi Janey,
I love cocles, so why have I not bought them for a long time, lol" I normaly have them with salads or pasta, hugs loves them too. Must get some soon, lol!
Tamra
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Aug 11
No idea what fettuccine and Alfredo sauce is but it sounds yummy GardenGerty!
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
20 Aug 11
Sounds yummy to me too, if I see it, I will get some, don't want to be left out, lol!
Tamara
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
19 Aug 11
Sorry, I do not even know what Cockles are??
Sounds a bit rude to me! 
Sounds a bit rude to me! 
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
20 Aug 11
Explains the nursery rhyme as well. "Mistress Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With Silver Bells and Cockle Shells and Pretty Maids all in a row." Or is that a different cockle shell?
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Aug 11
Well, if your mind is already in the sewer....
Hahahaha!
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
19 Aug 11
They're called something different in Queensland, Bill. I don't think you'll find many there either - try the next state south. My wife told me once what you called them & I thought it was the funniest thing I ever heard!
Can't recall it now, but I'll try & ask again.
Can't recall it now, but I'll try & ask again.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Aug 11
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT A COCKLE IS? You've not lived until you do.
Hahaha!
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
•
19 Aug 11
There is much cockle picking down here in South Wales and loads of fresh cockles that you can buy at the market etc. In Swansea market for instance, you can buy an open bag, like you would chips and eat them. The stall holder usually put on pepper and vinegar. I ate them as a kid, but nowaday, I can't say that I like them very much. They are very salty tasting. I would think that the jar you have, is ready to eat. mabye with salads or something similar as they are. Some people fry them, which gives them a slightly different taste, so I guess you could experiment. 
_Derek
_Derek@derek_a (10874)
•
19 Aug 11
Hi Janey... Cockes are a shellfish. Here's a link to an article about cockle picking not far from where I grew up. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1993817.stm And here is what they look like in their shells - http://www.redsnapperseafoods.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=268 -_Derek
_Derek1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Aug 11
Thanks guys! Yes, I've eaten cockles and mussels when I was drunk one time and I remember their saltiness. Ace smell though!
@changjiangzhibin89 (16534)
• China
19 Aug 11
I have never seen cockle picking.After looking up the dictionary,I am still not sure if it is a sort of shellfish.
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
18 Aug 11
Cockles can be added to a salad or in a fish pie. Just wash them first. If you want to be posh add them to a platter of "fruits de mer" together with just about any other shellfish that you can think of (and afford!). In the East End of London they eat them as they are and yummy they are too. Most of all though enjoy them.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
19 Aug 11
So a Cockle is a shellfish is it? Learn something new every day here I do! 
You can tell that I am not a seafood connoisseur can't you!
You can tell that I am not a seafood connoisseur can't you! @Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Aug 11
I don't know if anyone does this now but a guy used to come round the pubs in Blackpool, armed with a tray of cockles and mussels. I've only ever eaten them when I was p*ssed but some pubs reaked of them and it was virtually impossible to kop off.
Hahaha!
@changjiangzhibin89 (16534)
• China
19 Aug 11
What you said are all western-style foods,so I am utterly ignorant of them.However ,I think you can do them well without recipes.Didn't you make the puff pastry soon before?
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Aug 11
Yes, and I put cheese and tomato in it...I guess I could put cockles in them instead lol.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16534)
• China
20 Aug 11
Good idea!For cooking,sometimes do it by trial and error.
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
19 Aug 11
I'm sorry, but the very idea of pickled cockles makes me feel slightly nauseous! I think the best thing you could do is provide John with a fork, and send him down to the end of the garden to eat them in private! Oh, provide him with some strong mouthwash too!!!!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Aug 11
That's a great idea! Why should I do the cooking anyhow..they're his cockles, let him mess about with them.
Hahaha!
@CelticSoulSister (1640)
• Southend-On-Sea, England
2 Sep 11
Mmmmm cockles...not had them for ages. I like them best with the vinegar drained off, then just eat, on their own.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
2 Sep 11
Hubby's eaten his straight from the jar. Don't think he drained them first though but it was so quick he may have done!
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
19 Aug 11
I had no idea what Pickled Cockles are and had to BING them. I cant help you there as I have this aversion to seafoods. Im sure you'll be able to find a great recipe from what others have said here.
Good for you if your cookies with jam in the middle turned out well. More tasty than the store bought ones!!
Too bad you cant send me some though
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
2 Sep 11
Since this post I've made some almond biscuits as well. They're sooo yummy..wanna try one? Course you do!
As for the cockles, John ate them straight out of the jar.
Did he make a noise?
Yep..but he WAS quick!
@petersum (4522)
• United States
18 Aug 11
Don't be silly - eat them from the jar if you like them. Cooking any kind of shell fish is a very quick affair. Overcook them and you have inedible pieces of rubber!
30 seconds in boiling water is all you need. But as they are pickled, they probably don't need more cooking.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Aug 11
I don't suppose they are the most glamourous of foods..
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
19 Aug 11
Pickled Cockles? Oh, the poor things - they've had too much to drink!
Well, you'd best get them sober again & put them back into the water.
In all seriousness, they're banning people from picking them up down here in this state as the E.coli levels in our polluted waterways are unsafe. The ban has been in place since February & is being extended, again & again.
Hope your new diet is working out well for you Janey.
Well, you'd best get them sober again & put them back into the water.
In all seriousness, they're banning people from picking them up down here in this state as the E.coli levels in our polluted waterways are unsafe. The ban has been in place since February & is being extended, again & again.
Hope your new diet is working out well for you Janey.@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Aug 11
Haha! I've heard of "piddled" for being drunk, never "pickled" lol.
My new diet is going OK thanks. Put it this way, they're aren't as many boxes going for recycling due to the fact processed food is off the menu..well, unless it's fish fingers, although I may even make my own at some point.
I've also learned from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (yes, that IS his real name) that mackerel is a fish that is sustainable so I may eat some in future instead of haddock or salmon. Sorry I've not gone down the veggie route but I honestly think it will be too much for me, making such a big change like that.
My new diet is going OK thanks. Put it this way, they're aren't as many boxes going for recycling due to the fact processed food is off the menu..well, unless it's fish fingers, although I may even make my own at some point.
I've also learned from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (yes, that IS his real name) that mackerel is a fish that is sustainable so I may eat some in future instead of haddock or salmon. Sorry I've not gone down the veggie route but I honestly think it will be too much for me, making such a big change like that.@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
21 Aug 11
Everyone does these things at their own pace, Janey - slowly & surely is the way & learn as you go as well. You've got a good support network here, so do strive towards that ideal. Every single meatless meal counts! And the British are a brave & daring, even fool-hardy bunch, so long as there's any sort of a noble ideal involved, which helps explain why us Aussies are such larrikins - for no real reason at all though!
