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08-05-2007, 11:26 AM
I posted ten squirrel recipes today.

These small fur-bearing animals have scent glands in the small of the back and under the forelegs and the thighs. These should be removed without cutting into them. The fat on the squirrel is usually very spare and most people do not object to its flavor or odor. Squirrel may be cooked successfully by all good recipes for chicken except that fat should be added to give the necessary rich flavor. Young tender squirrels can be fried, broiled, and roasted; older squirrels need to be simmered, fricasseed, or braised. Tasty squirrel meat is medium red in color, tender, and has a pleasing flavor. There is little gamey taste and only the oldest and toughest need parboiling.

Cider Squirrels Southern Style

4 lg Squirrels (gray, fox, or black), or 2 rabbits
Flour
Salt and pepper
1/4 ts Powdered sage
1/4 ts Powdered rosemary
3 tb Bacon or sausage fat
1 qt Dry cider
4 tb Butter
1 c Heavy cream

Skin, eviscerate, and disjoint the squirrels, making sure to remove the small scent sacs from beneath the forelegs. If these glands are not removed, a bitter taste will be imparted to the dish. Soak the pieces for one hour in cold water to which 1 teaspoon salt has been added. Remove, drain, and pat dry.

Roll the pieces in flour seasoned with salt, pepper, sage and rosemary. (Prepared poultry seasoning is a good substitute.) Heat the bacon fat in a deep skillet and brown the squirrel pieces on all sides. Add the cider and simmer until the meat is alnost tender. Remove the cover and continue cooking until the meat is tender and most of the liquid absorbed. Remove the squirrel pieces and put aside to cool. Reserve any pan liquids for the gravy.

Roll the squirrel in the seasoned flour again, heat the butter in another skillet, and re-brown the squirrel until golden and crisp. Put the squirrel pieces on a heated platter, and keep warm, while you add all juices and scrapings to the skillet. Make a paste of a tablespoon of flour and the heavy cream. Pour this slowly into the pan juices, stirring constantly, until the sauce is smooth, hot, and slightly thick. Ladle the gravy over the squirrel pieces and serve.


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