Possum stew

[HamdenRice]

First, you must kill a possum, because possume is not normally available in supermarkets. Road kill will do nicely if the animal was not squashed in the organ cavity.

Next you must remove the hair and scurf. Do not cut the possum yet. Possum, like pork, is not skinned, but eaten with the skin on, but the hair removed. Collect dry grass, straw or hay. Build a small fire. Place the dead possum carcas in the fire. You are not cooking the possum but burning off the hair and heating the skin until the remaining hair and skin falls off. Scrap the hairless possum with a plastic scraper to remove the scurf.

Now it is time to gut the possum. Slit open the possum from its throat to its genital/anal area, but only the skin. Do not damage the organs. Find where the large intestine empties into the anus, and tie off with a string. Now cut off the possum's throat and gullet at top and tied off rectum at bottom. Cut off the possum's head and feet and cut into quarters and then smaller pieces, as you would a rabbit.

Heat about 4 tbs oil in a heavy iron pot. add 1 tsp of sugar. Let it burn slightly until carmel colored. Brown the possum in the oil/sugar mixture. Add chopped onions. Spice to taste with thyme and chives and a little cumin. Add water or turkey stock and cook for about 1 1/2 hours. Add peeled potatoes and carots if desired.

Possum should not be cooked until it is mushy, but still chewey. Serve over white rice.

Manicoot may be substituted for possum.

[kayell]

1. The way I've always heard to cook a possum

Observe the same basic preparations, but after browning the possum, position it on a plank, surrounded by skinned sweet potatoes. Bake in a 350F oven until possum and sweet potatoes are thorougly softened. Bring to the table, throw away the possum, and eat the plank.

[Baja Margie]

2. I don't know if I could eat a possum !

I mean, they're so cute, even though they smell bad. Poor little things.

[NamVetsWeeLass]

3. But, that isn't a possum....

They have tails like Rats. They are one of only a few animals that frighten me... Dunno why. They make my skin crawl.

[Baja Margie]

4. I think someone might have taken some liberties

with that sketch, I used to be scared of them too until I lived with them in Ramona. there was a little family, and they became fat on my grapes and veggies. But then, I would feel really bad about eating turkey or chicken then too, because we had a pet, Miss Turkey and some chickens.

Here's a baby and a wild one:






Look at this:






Ha, ha: