Squirrel butchering & recipes

dixie_dean_2

Yeah, I'm sure he'll be fine actually. My dad's taking them over so will probably just see how it goes, he comes froma few generations of butchers so sure they can figure it out between them.

On a separate note, on the one I attempted to do, it had in its guts what I can only decribe as looking like love beads! It was a strand with like little balls every 5mm or so and they were quite hard to the touch. What was it?

windowshopper100

dixie_dean wrote: »

On a separate note, on the one I attempted to do, it had in its guts what I can only decribe as looking like love beads! It was a strand with like little balls every 5mm or so and they were quite hard to the touch. What was it?

Food in the process of digestion probably, nuts (speaking of love beads) and whatever else they eat. Boluses (blobs of food) get pushed down by a movement called peristalsis where the gut contracts in waves and moves the food along and just compacts it a bit along the way.

When I did a brace of pheasants, the bit in their gizzards where they store the grit to help them digest their corn/seeds (no teeth!) was soooo hard I could barely cut it open for a looksee. I almost didn't want to eat the bird because I thought it had a growth or something.

You live and learn I suppose.

liz545

I was going to transcribe the recipe for braised squirrel from Fergus Henderson's Beyond Nose to Tail but it's the same as the one from the Independent link; looks really good though (I'd probably use chicken stock rather than trotter stock just b/c it's less work) so let us know how you cook them!

moanymoany

I've had to wipe my eyes from laughing at some of these posts! I long to see what you make out of the 24 little pelts- a rug may be easier for a beginner than a jacket - how about a bedspread - ette!

I used to teach English as a foreign language. I had a Japanese group who were working here. One of them had seen squirrels in his garden and asked me if you could eat them.

Quick as a flash I replied - 'If you can catch them, you can eat them'. It made me laugh!!!!!!

I'm sure I remember Elvis liked squirrel - to eat, to eat......

windowshopper100

moanymoany wrote: »

I'm sure I remember Elvis liked squirrel - to eat, to eat......

Another recipe idea here then .... deep fried... with a peanut butter dip.

CravingSaving

oldMcDonald wrote: »

Here you go, how to do it with piccies to help.

http://www.downsizer.net/Projects/Processing_Food/Squirrel_Nutkin%27s_Great_Feast__or_Preparing_a_Squirrel_for_the_Pot/

Any questions, ask on the forum over there, what these guys don't know about being self sufficient aint worth knowing

If they are smelling that offensive, are you quite sure that the squirrels are as fresh as you were told they were?

Wow, what a great website, thanks for the link. I just wish I hadnt scrolled down the squirrel page! _pale_

oldMcDonald

CravingSaving wrote: »

Wow, what a great website, thanks for the link. I just wish I hadnt scrolled down the squirrel page! _pale_

There was a warning on the top of the page that it is a bit gorey, but you are obviously like me and just couldn't help yourself, could you?:D

Justamum

Poor Tufty!

(and all his family too?)

dan1979

I know HFW prepared squirrel in his a cook on the wild side series

dixie_dean_2

The butcher has said they stink and he can't imagine anyone wanting to eat them! I presume he would have said if he thought they were dangerous to eat but has anyone who has eaten them before found them to smell? Would this just be because the guts were left in for a few days and if so this isn't an issue health-wise?

Cheers.