Full circle: From the field to the skillet

[JohnnyPiston]

This squirrel was taken in the fall. It was a beautiful day, and the spring gun of choice was an HW77 MK2 .20 cal, powerful and accurate.

Cleaned while still warm, thoroughly rinsed, heart & liver intact and straight to the freezer.

Fast forward to the present and I decided to defrost it and prepare it for a hearty, "hunter style" meal. 



After defrosting and a short brine, meat was seasoned and left for an hour for flavor osmosis to take place.



Pics below show how it went down:

JohnnyPiston's Deep Skillet Braised Squirrel with Kielbasa & Chorizo Sausage.

Man this hit the spot!

Thanks for letting me share!

 

[KatoKevin454]

Looks Good enough to eat..... 

 

[willy]

Are you sure you haven't been hangen out at Colonel's.Man that loooks good" Does it taste like chicken?

nn

 

[Ranchibi]

That looks delicious! Nice journey from hunt to eats.

 

[Maineland]

oh that looks good..

 

[Newmember1958]

Way to go Johnny Piston,

I love to hunt and eat squirrel plus the bonus stories that go along with them. Like the cast iron too. Had a hunt myself midmorning. Went for a walk looking for lunch. The fall born crop are almost to the point of needing braising. Found one and Pulled the trigger on the Crown and IU like to say "crowned it in the noggin" young enough to fry. Back at house cleaned it, dusted in seasoned flour and right into a vintage Wagner ware #6 skillet that had a bit of goose fat in it. 

 

[Ghostranger169]

drool.

What time's dinner?

 

[JohnnyPiston]

drool.

What time's dinner?

Heating up leftovers right now, c'mon over and have a bowl!

 

[JohnnyPiston]

Way to go Johnny Piston,

I love to hunt and eat squirrel plus the bonus stories that go along with them. Like the cast iron too. Had a hunt myself midmorning. Went for a walk looking for lunch. The fall born crop are almost to the point of needing braising. Found one and Pulled the trigger on the Crown and IU like to say "crowned it in the noggin" young enough to fry. Back at house cleaned it, dusted in seasoned flour and right into a vintage Wagner ware #6 skillet that had a bit of goose fat in it. 

Good stuff, thanks for the anecdote! 

The deep cast iron worked excellent, as effective as LeCreuset. Will have to do some beef ribs next time, oooh-weee!

BTW, squirrel meat is the bomb. 

 

[BeeGee11]

What kind of meat does the taste off squirrel compare to?

 

[LostinTejas]

I like mine fried, or in dumplings. Looks good.

 

[Newmember1958]

What kind of meat does the taste off squirrel compare to?

I can only relate a comparison to one thing and only to the youngest ones. I mean young with light colored meat. Dust in seasoned flour and fry. These remind me taste and texture of frog legs. Now to the older ones I cannot compare to anything. A taste of their own. The older the squirrel is the more creative one must when cooking. Never had a bad one but have had tough ones. 

 

[JohnnyPiston]

What kind of meat does the taste off squirrel compare to?

BeeGee11, have you ever had freshly killed free range chicken? The ones that run around and peck and eat everything, not only chicken feed? The ones that have strong bones from their varied diet and active lifestyle? Imagine that lean meat, braised. You go for the thigh or drumstick. The meat closest to the thigh bone, savor that. The meat along the spine, that's it. That is what squirrel tastes like, similar texture also, if braised until "fall apart" tender.

 

[qball]

That looks great!!!! However that seems to be a half circle to me......you need to document the return the squirrel back to the forest if you Turkey want a “circle”.

 

[JohnnyPiston]

That looks great!!!! However that seems to be a half circle to me......you need to document the return the squirrel back to the forest if you Turkey want a “circle”.

You sir ask to see the "big picture". I won't be documenting the "return".

Speaking of wanting to see the full circle, it appears your auto correction feature has inserted Turkey in lieu of "truly". Artificial intelligence: scary stuff! LOL

Thanks pal, for the amusing comment

 

[davelarson]

That’s a fine looking meal. Something really satisfying about being involved with the entire circle of it...qball is correct about the full circle, but I think you covered enough! lol.

 

[JohnnyPiston]

davelarson

That’s a fine looking meal. Something really satisfying about being involved with the entire circle of it...qball is correct about the full circle, but I think you covered enough! lol.

I'm dying here! 

Thanks, taking small game with a springer and cooking them up right is good stuff!