A Murdered Squirrel

As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.

Today I was doing chores, February 15th, and being observant I spotted a white Ford Ranger, with a topper creeping along the road. I surmised or hoped it was a coyote hunter. As I had the baby calf with me, I could not go down the driveway, until the pick up passed. As they turned the corner, they stopped and started shooting. I started looking for coyotes, and then a kid got out, picked up a squirrel, carried it to the driver, and then threw it in the ditch.

I was stunned and hurt, as the squirrels have a hard time in the winter, and have to travel some distance to dig corn out of a field, go on highline poles and then eat. That is where this horrid creature, using a high powered rifle, shot this squirrel. It required two shots to blow the head off.

Forensic psychology is frustration, needing to prove himself in front of a younger male, needing to vent.

The reality is, it was illegal shooting off of highline poles. It was dangerous as it was up at an angle, in other words his high powered rifle was probably lobbing bullets 2 miles. As a hunter, I of course cursed these horrid people.

I also drove out on the way for our day out to town, picked up the squirrel, and when we returned skinned it out. It was a large old male, and the cats enjoyed the fat and innards. My Grandpa was so poor, he only ate apples for an entire winter to survive. I loathe waste of food and the waste of life.

I prayed this squirrel is in Heaven with God. Such  types as these wanton waste, which is another crime in this, will be in hell. As for us, we will dine on this squirrel. It will be placed in a #40 Presto pressure cooker, rendered into broth, deboned and then transformed into a form of Brunswick Stew. The addition will be butter enriched biscuits.

I will halve and brown the squirrel.
 

3 squirrels, cleaned and cut up ~ 1/4 cup all purpose flour ~ 1 teaspoon salt ~ 1/2 teaspoon pepper ~ 2 slices bacon ~ 2 tablespoons butter ~ 5 cups of water ~ 1 - 28 oz can whole tomatoes ~ 1 chopped onion ~ 1 heaping tablespoon of brown sugar ~ 2 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes ~ 1 - 10 oz package frozen lima beans ~ 1 cup frozen corn ~ 3 tablespoons all purpose flour

Combine 1/4 cup flour, salt and pepper. Coat the squirrel pieces. In a Dutch oven, combine bacon and butter over medium heat until butter melts. Add squirrel and brown. Add water, tomatoes, onion and brown sugar and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove squirrel pieces and let cool. Remove meat from bones. Add meat, potatoes, beans and corn to Dutch oven. Heat to boiling, reduce heat and cover. Simmer until potatoes are tender. Mix 3 tablespoons of flour with 3 tablespoons of cold water, then stir into stew. Heat to boiling. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, bubbly.

I hate being poor. I hate self non donors. I hate having to be the person eating murdered squirrel as a good deed.

Soak your squirrel in cold water with baking soda. It will leech the blood out and make the meat sweeter.

Ingredients

• 2-3 squirrels
• 2 cups stock
• 4 tbsp bacon fat
• 2-3 onions, sliced very thin
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp rosemary
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 cup Madeira
• 3/4 cup tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
• 1 cup lima beans , or other broad bean
• 1 cup corn

Instructions

1. Place whole squirrels in a dutch oven with 2 cups stock.  Braise the squirrel meat, covered for about 30 minutes until tender.
2. Remove the squirrels and stock to a separate container to cool.  Debone the squirrels when they're cool enough to handle, and add the meat into the stock.  Reserve it all for adding back into the dutch oven later.
3. Add 4 tablespoons of bacon drippings to the empty dutch oven, and fry the onions until browned.
4. Add in chopped garlic and fry for another minute.
5. Pour the stock and squirrel meat into the hot dutch oven to deglaze the pan.
6. Add in all the remaining ingredients including spices and vegetables.  Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes.
7. At this point, serve immediately or add a few handfuls of fresh breadcrumbs to help thicken the soup a bit, along with fresh parsley if desired.  If adding breadcrumbs, simmer for another 10 minutes before serving.

Nuff Said





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