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March 27, 2008
Making Your Nut: Squirrel Supper Edition
Picture c/o The Squirrel Queen
In homage to Jessica's cookbook collection, which included the Presley Family Cookbook and not one but TWO squirrel recipes, here's a bit of information regarding the tender, flaky and nourishing rodent, as well as Elvis'* apparent lust for his mama's - ahem! - Squirrel a la King:
"But though there certainly was no beef on the Presley's table, meat did make an occasional appearance. The Presleys were country people. The could live off the land. Nothing was more mouthwatering to Elvis than the sight of his father returning home with a shotgun in one hand and a freshly shot squirrel in the other. [Wouldn't a shotgun have obliterated the squirrel? Just wondering. - Ed.] Gladys cooked squirrels with dumplings - just like chicken - or fried them.
Fried Squirrel
To cook a squirrel, first go out and try to kill a very young one. This is the most important thing as old ones are too tough. When skinning the squirrel, make extra sure to remove all the hairs.
2 young squirrels, skinned and cleaned
Salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
After carefully washing the squirrels, pat dry. With a mallet, gently pound the meat until the bones are crushed and the flesh is tender. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Melt the butter in a skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium-low heat. Dredge the meat in flour, and add to the melted butter. Brown and turn. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the meat is golden brown and cooked through. (Pierce with a knife to check doneness. The juices should run clear when cooked). The process should take 25 to 30 minutes.
Yield: Enough for a small starving family"
Editorial Note: Full disclosure - my Confederate grandmama once copped to eating POSSUM on Thanksgiving. Ever see a possum? No? Click HERE. Ever see a possum's bald, prehensile tail? No? Click HERE. Wonder who got lucky enough to munch the marsupial pouch...
*The Continuous S
The rule of grammar states that if a name has more than one syllable and ends in an s, and the last syllable makes an /ez/ sound (like in Texas), then only an apostrophe is needed.
Posted by Bree at March 27, 2008 01:07 PM