Last week I said this one would be for you Fr Bill.  I forgot why but here it is.

Eating Possum

Once I got over the blood lust stage with my new gun, shooting everything that moved, Uncle Bob told me that I should never shoot anything unless you are gong to eat it, or if it is a pest.

Pests included gophers, blackbirds, and anything raiding  Aunty Mit's garden.  Edible game included quail and rabbits.

One day I shot a possum.  Now possums are not regarded as pests, at least in Salinas.  But I had read in an Outdoor Life or Field and Stream magazine that people in the South ate possums.  Therefore it was food, and I shot it.

It was the first possum I had ever seen.  They're funny little animals, somewhat larger than a rabbit with a long nose and a large rat like tail.
Uncle Bob showed me how to clean and skin it.  Aunty Mit wrapped it in butcher paper and put it in the refrigerator.  I would take it home to San Francisco the next day.

Mom had that 'look' on her face when I unwrapped my prize.  "What's that?" she asked.
"A Possum," I said.
"What am I supposed to do with it?" 
"Cook it."
"How"
"I don't know, but I read in Outdoor Life that people in the South eat them.  They're supposed to be pretty good"
"Do I roast it or bake it or fry it or what?"
"I think you roast it with sweet potatoes."
"We don't have any sweet potatoes."
"Can't you use regular potatoes?"
Mom sighed and look at the animal.  She'd give it a try.

She seasoned the meat with salt and pepper and lit the oven.  Then she peeled some potatoes, carrots, and onions which she sliced and put inside the carcass.  I felt pretty proud when she put my prey in the oven.

The first thing Dad did when he came in the house was sniff the aroma coming out of the kitchen.  "What's that?" he said.
"A possum," I said, "I shot it in Salinas, and Mom's cooking it!"

Dad stared at me a few seconds and then hung up his coat and retreated to his chair and newspaper.

Dinner was ready.  Mom put the possum on a serving platter and spooned the potatoes, carrots and onions into a serving bowl.  We sat down to eat.
Dad carved the possum like a rabbit.  We each got a leg.  I cut off a piece of meat with my knife and forked it into my mouth.  I stopped chewing and looked up.

Everyone else stopped chewing too, and we looked at each other.  It was terrible.

Lee spit his out back on the plate.  Mom, Dad, and I actually swallowed our bites, but we weren't about to eat any more.  The vegetables were just as bad.

Mom cleared the food off the table and made some bacon and eggs, but I was crushed.  I had failed at my first attempt to put food on the table as a hunter.

But I remained undaunted.  I would never shoot a possum again, but I would put rabbit and quail and other game on the table.  

Noel

Ha Ha, enjoyed it very much.  Please tell us about the rabbit or quail

I had to look twice when reading that thread title....

Possum always need to be served with another delicacy. A side order of brains (calf is the best) and/or pigs feet will enhance the flavor of the possum meat as well as enhance your sense of smell. Next time you cook up a possum be sure to let is stew for about an hour and then add in some taters, sugar, and salt as that will get you tasty meat that just falls off the bone. Or, cut the possum meat into small chunks and fry it in some bacon grease...yummy.

People ate possum during the depression, along with domestic animals.I'll pass on the possum dish. Good story Noel.

When chicken gets up to $25/lb, them-thar possum may end up going on the endangered species list!

Guess it don't taste like chicken, eh?🤔

Funny you should bring up possums.  I had one get into my house last Tuesday evening. 

I'm not sure how it got in.  I still have my dog door installed, or, I had just unloaded some groceries, and I had the door to the garage open for a few minutes...maybe it got in that way.  Anyway, if my dog was still alive (he was a 25 lb terrier) he would have ended that problem quickly.  But now it was my problem -- this was a younger possum and so a bit faster than your normal possum speed...I chased him around the house for a good 10 minutes with a broom, trying to get him outside.  He crawled up into one of my couches, so I had to tip over the sofa and shoo him out.   He hissed at me several times but I persisted.  I had things to do, like fly the Piper Arrow IV.

Eventually, he ran out the back door, and the last I saw of him was his nasty rat-like tail disappearing into the night. 

18 minutes ago, w6kd said:

When chicken gets up to $25/lb, them-thar possum may end up going on the endangered species list!

Good point Bob. I will not resort to eating my fur covered buddy Mr.Blazin [cat], or bambi either. LOL!!!!

Edited June 19, 20214 yr by Paul Deluca

5 minutes ago, Paul Deluca said:

or bambi.

Actually Bambi isn't bad eating.  But nothing like prime cuts of corn fed beef.

Noel

Mentioning Bambi always gives me the munchies for venison.

Edited June 20, 20214 yr by Penzoil3

Possums in the house don't respond well to broomsticks.  What I've found that works is a spray bottle filled with water.  They don't like that and will retreat from it, and you can herd them toward a door.  Also works on skunks, with much less chance of getting sprayed in return.

The most likely point of entry is the doggy door.  You might want to block that off.

I've tasted possum and armadillo.  I don't recommend either, but possum was  a little better.

Hook

How about Ground Hog? Tasty, properly cooked.

 Sue

20 hours ago, LHookins said:

I've tasted possum and armadillo.  I don't recommend either, but possum was  a little better.

You actually ate roadkill? Yuck!

Noel, your mom should have cubed the meat and made possum stew. Could have invited Granny from the Beverly Hills Hillbillies for supper... 

...oh wait, she'd have still been a teenager back then and still living in them than hills! 🤓

27 minutes ago, n4gix said:

You actually ate roadkill? Yuck!

Actually, yes, a fresh deer harvested right after it was killed.

The possum and armadillo were from hunting.

One of my rural relatives worked for a small town police force, and they were the ones who cleaned up roadkill deer.  Many of these wound up on their dinner table.  I won't speculate on the legality of such things, but this *was* Oklahoma. 😄 

Hook