Squirrel Questions..

[One_Eye]

I really like Squirrel hunting but I refuse to kill anything I wont eat.
My wife is not thrilled about the idea of eating squirrel at all but will eat venison and game birds. I think I could win her over if I can cook the squirrel in a way that she likes.
I am looking for a stew or similar recipe.
The Squirell will need to be bone free and tender I dont have any pressure cooker so any idea's on that?

[Big Al]

This recipe has served me well over the last few years that I've been developing it. It's easy to prepare if you have an hour or so and in my opinion the taste is worth the prep time.

Ingredients -
2 whole squirrels (skinned and cleaned of course)
2 cans of Campbells french onion soup from beef stock
Small can of kernel Corn
Medium can of peas and sliced carrots
Medium can of diced tomatoes
3 or 4 potatoes (make sure you use big meaty russets)
Seasonings

Prepping instructions -
Get salted water heating on stove. While water is heating peel potatoes and slice to preferred size (my preference is 3/8 to half inch cubes). Place potatoe chunks in water after coming to a boil.
While potatoes are boiling mix soup, corn, peas and potatoes, and tomatoes in medium to large crock pot (do not strain veggies, dump entire can into pot). Start crock pot cooking on medium heat.
When potatoes are done boiling do not dump water, place about 3/4 of potatoe pieces into crock pot. Take the remaining quarter, mash into a gritty pulp and then add to crock pot (this helps to thicken the stew, if you like more of a soupy stew then put all of your potatoes into crock pot w/o mashing them).
Boil your squirrels in the same water you used for potatoes (you may have to add a little fresh water to the pot). When squirrels have cooked thoroughly remove from water, debone, slice into preferred size pieces, and add to crock pot.
Add 1/2-1 cup of potato/squirrel water to crock pot.
Season to taste (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Lawry's etc.)
Cover crock pot and let stew cook on medium to high heat, stirring every 20-30 minutes.

This stew is usually edible after 2.5-3 hours of cooking. The longer you let it cook the better the flavor is. Typically I start cooking this around 10:00 in the morning and let it cook until about 3:00 before eating.

Hint - For thickest stew cook covered but do not let the water that condenses on the crock pot lid drain back into the stew. You may have to add more water periodically to replace what boils away to keep the stew from burning to the pot. Don't add any water for the last hour or so that you cook and it should come out nice and thick.

[Thunderhead]

Boil quartered critter with onions, celery, and carrots. This is the only time I ever boil wild game. Anyway, when the rabbit or squirrel starts to float, it 's about 3/4 done. Strain the water. Take a casserole pan and and coat it with butter. De-bone the squirrel or rabbit and put in dish. Add the veggies you boiled. Put FRESH UN-COOKED brocoli spears over the whole deal. Pour a large can of cream of mushroom soup over the spears and bake in the oven at 350 for about an hour or till the brocoli is done. Take out and cover with about 1/2 in. of cheddar cheese. Pop it back in the oven for aboout 5 min. till the cheese is melted.

This dish is awesome !!

[One_Eye]

Thanks I will give these a try as soon as I can make myself set down the bow and pick up the 22 for a day.
Beter yet I think I will pop two squirrels with my bow. :D

[Salmonsmoker]

One_eye,

There are a lot of older recipies in these several game cooking forums (at the bottom of the listing just reset the date to "Since the begining") . I brought forward the squirrel recipies for you to look at.

Salmonsmoker

[Hunter333]

I cubed some up, browned it, and put it in chili.....