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Cider Squirrels Southern Style
4 lg Squirrels
(gray, fox, or black), or 2 rabbits
Flour
Salt and pepper
1/4 ts Powdered sage
1/4 ts Powdered rosemary
3 tb Bacon or sausage fat
1 qt Dry cider
4 tb Butter
1 c Heavy cream
Skin, eviscerate, and disjoint the squirrels, making sure to remove the
small scent sacs from beneath the forelegs. If these glands are not
removed, a bitter taste will be imparted to the dish. Soak the pieces for
one hour in cold water to which 1 teaspoon salt has been added. Remove,
drain, and pat dry.
Roll the pieces in flour seasoned with salt, pepper, sage and rosemary.
(Prepared poultry seasoning is a good substitute.) Heat the bacon fat in a
deep skillet and brown the squirrel pieces on all sides. Add the cider and
simmer until the meat is alnost tender. Remove the cover and continue
cooking until the meat is tender and most of the liquid absorbed. Remove
the squirrel pieces and put aside to cool. Reserve any pan liquids for the
gravy.
Roll the squirrel in the seasoned flour again, heat the butter in
another skillet, and re-brown the squirrel until golden and crisp. Put the
squirrel pieces on a heated platter, and keep warm, while you add all
juices and scrapings to the skillet. Make a paste of a tablespoon of flour
and the heavy cream. Pour this slowly into the pan juices, stirring
constantly, until the sauce is smooth, hot, and slightly thick. Ladle the
gravy over the squirrel pieces and serve.
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