Posted on 11/27/2010 7:04:06 AM PST by decimon
Grey squirrels are ubiquitous in North America - scurrying across our lawns and up our trees, burying nuts and taunting our tantalised dogs.
Bright-eyed and bushy tailed, squirrels are cute, furry and, apparently, very edible.
The notion of stewed squirrel may not tempt everybody's taste buds, but in an age of tightening belts and financial severity, the humble abundance of the squirrel is causing some to reconsider its epicurean virtue.
American hunter William Hovey Smith, a self-described outdoor enthusiast, loves a spot of squirrel stew, made of course from critters he hunts himself.
"It is certainly a very American dish. We've eaten it since colonial days. In fact sometimes, during hard times, a lot of people primarily subsisted from squirrel meat, just for want of anything better," Mr Smith says.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
My husband grew up in Tennessee eating squirrel and dumplings, rabbit, venison and beaver. Actually, beaver can taste like a good roast.
We have lots of wild turkey here too...
Amen!
Soak my pecans in bourbon before putting them into the pie.
Threw the extras out onto the lawn.
Haven’t seen the squirrels in two days - I think they’re sleeping it off.
Your average squirrel only yields about 400 calories or so, but they sure do make a pot full of beans and rice taste pretty good...
Cornbread buttered with a little squirrel fat ain’t bad either...
Very, very greasy....
Eat my outside entertainment? ON NO!
I think I've got about 35 head of squirrel out there right now.
Same here. They're thick this year and they keep bustin' hickory nuts on a tree next to my deck, leaving sharp shards everywhere on my deck. I was just telling my wife it was time to cull the herd......but can you believe it? She's from West Virginia and has never eaten squirrel. Go figure......
I bet it’s healthier than the processed garbage we’re trained to eat.
Squirrels eat good... BUT.. theres this..
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/monkeypox/factsheet2.htm
Smith, the hunter in the article, wears gloves to protect against disease. As with everything else, it helps to know what you're doing.
No squirrel tartar, either....
I’ve got a couple dozen that live around my house. Can’t even shoot them with a bb gun though without violating the city ordinances.
I was picturing the image of the squirrel with the huge testicles and all i could come up with was “appalachian mountain oysters.”
I am amused easily.
Oven Fried Squirrel
One squirrel
4 eggs
Frying magic
Flour
Olive oil
Canola oil/ vegetable oil
Butter
Pat meat dry with paper towel to remove any moisture. Dip squirrel in egg. Combine Frying Magic with flour, dip egg-covered squirrel in mix. Cover bottom of skillet with olive oil and canola oil, add butter and brown meat well (about 20 min). Put squirrel in baking dish and pour contents of skillet over meat. Bake for one hour at 375 degrees.
It takes a half dozen squirrel drummies to make a decent meal. Back in my poor ute I used to pop them out of the trees in the backyard, from the basement door with .22 CB caps. Then send the dog out to bring them in the house. This was in Fairfax, VA suburbs of DC. Neighbors had no clue.
Squirrel pot pie
3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
3 squirrels, boiled and boned
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
3 T flour
1t salt
½ t pepper
½ t dried thyme
Topping:
2C buttermilk baking mix (like Bisquick or Jiffy)
1C milk
Heat oven to 400F. Combine all filling ingredients in a mixing bowl. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Spoon filling mixture into baking pan and set aside. In a medium mixing bowl combine topping ingredients. Spoon batter evenly over filling. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Between Belvoir and a hard place. ;-)
New and hot: Barack Bacon
Sounds good. Best I’ve ever done is fresh groundhog trapped in the backyard. Barbecued up really nice
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