The End of the Hunt! - Squirrel and Dumpling Supper (GRAPHIC - LOL!)

[jonnnyboy]

I wanted to share a special time with my GTA buddies.

Recently, my dad came to stay a while with me and he has been requesting some of his favorite dishes for my wife and I to cook for him.  After hearing about my squirrel exploits with “Mighty Mo,” he requested that I cook him some squirrel and dumplings like Mama used to make.  Now my wife makes the most wonderful chicken and dumplings any man could ask for so with her encouragement and a few “cheats” (her recommendations), I made his squirrel and dumplings last night.  I thought some of my online buddies might like to attempt this meal so I decided to record the event for posterity. 

Begin with at least one whole gray squirrel for each person expected to participate.  I used four since Dad, myself and my seventeen year old son would be eating.  (Oh by the way, the boy pronounced them “DEEEElicious!”)

Boil the squirrels in lightly salted water until completely tender.  The way I can tell if they are ready is to attempt to pick one up by the leg with a pair of tongs and if the leg tears away from the carcass, it’s ready.  When tender, remove the squirrels from the water and set them aside to cool, but keep the remaining water at a bare boil.


Next comes the easy (read cheat) part!  Take two store-bought cans of biscuits and lay each biscuit out on the countertop with extra flour and using a rolling pin, roll them very flat.  Take a knife and cut them into strips, drop the strips into the boiling water and push them under every now and then with a wooden spoon.  (My wife makes her dumplings from scratch but not me; I’m too lazy!)

When all biscuits have been added to the pot, reset the heat to simmer and turn your attention to the squirrels.  Laying them out on a plate, remove the tender meat from the bones being careful to remove all of the little bones.  It will take a while but before long you will get the hang of it.  Next, take your small pile of meat and add it back to the pot of dumplings that are barely simmering on the stove.  Mix it all together with your wooden spoon and then, salt and pepper to taste.  If the roux is not thick enough you can add some flour to the liquid but not too much.

I like home-made cornbread to go with my dumplings for added texture to the dish, so a couple of pieces left over from the previous night’s meal were added.  A big glass of cold milk and I am ready to overeat just one more time!
Enjoy, joe

[dk1677]

Great haul there johnnyboy! some nice shooting!

[454 Big Block Chevy]

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rico14]

Looks delicious and easy to make. I'm glad you were able to bring back fond memories for your dad

[longislandhunter]

Joe, that looks absolutely fantastic.  The next time I make squirrel I'm making that ! 

Thanks for taking the time to post the recipe and the pics.   I can't wait to try that.

Jeff

[shadow]

Outstanding looking dish resulting from a great hunt. Ed

[only1harry]

That looks delicious Joe!  Thanks for taking the time to descripe the coooking process  

I boil them too and strip the meat off the bones, and then prepare them a few different ways, but I don't fry them or use bacon, or butter, etc. since I watch my cholesterol.  I usually saute them with veggies (mushrooms, peppers, onions, etc.) with a little extra virgin olive oil in the pan.  I 'm gonig to put them in oven next with garlic, in olive oil and water with lemon juice, the way I cook chicken and pork loin, to see how it comes out, but I 'll need more than 1 or 2 squirrels to do that, so that might take me a while since they are kind of scarce around here now

[airiscool]

That makes me wish I liked dumplings !

Paul.

[JimH]

I know where today's squirrel is going. 

[woogie_man]

That is and awesome idea....

Now just need to convince my wife that she can eat the squirrels I shoot..

[JonnyReb]

 That looks like it was a great hunt Jonnyboy, and a great ending to it. Also want to mention that your rifle looks fantastic!! Love that stock.  J

[bluzjamer]

I bet it tastes like chicken! I don't think I could do tree rats....just me....excuse please     dry heaves coming!

[Progun]

Kudos Johnnyboy on a great climax to a successful hunt. I have no doubt that there are few things finer to eat. bluzjamer, you don't know what you are missing.But that's OK, just leaves more for those of us who enjoy them. Incidentally, Grey and Fox squirrels have been a mainstay on North American dinner plates since the Pilgrims landed.They kept a lot of pioneers from starving too.You know originally those Pilgrims shunned the abundant lobsters that littered the beaches considering them trash food. But they eventually came around to right thinking. Many sportsman are likewise coming around to the delicious, nutritious squirrel as an all natural source of protein.

[lexair]

Squirrel is good fer ya