This Pilgrim's Progress

Brunswick Stew (w. Squirrel)

Well, I tried to find that recipe for Brunswick stew on my blog and I couldn't. So doing a little googling heres some recipes:

http://recipes.epicurean.com/recipe/919/brunswick-stew-(squirrel-stew)-for-a-crowd.html

or if you can't catch 20 squirrels, here's a recipe for 2 or 3:

http://www.yum-recipes.com/Recipe/Uncategorized/37899_Brunswick_Stew_Squirrel.html

Actually there are a ton of recipes for Brunswick stew on the web, but most use other meats like rabbit, chicken, or even venison. Apparently you got to get a head-shot on the squirrel otherwise it's ruined for eatable consumption.  Probably aren't that many people out there who are that good of marksmen. I saw one article where the cook was hoping his Springer Spaniel would catch some squirrels for the pot. If his dog is like my black Lab, Toby, he'll have a tough time getting his dog to share, unless it's been trained for retreiving (Toby hasn't, so he gets to keep anything he catches, mostly what he catches we aren't interested in eating anyways!!).

Happy cooking, hunting, whatever!!

Dining on Squirrels

On the squirrel news front is this NY Times article about the increase interest in eating Gray Squirrels in the UK to save their native Red Squirrels:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/dining/07squirrel.html?_r=1

I think I posted a recipe for Brunswick stew (uses squirrel) earlier last year. Use the "For Fun" category to find the post.

Death to Squirrels!!!

Squirrels

Uh Oh, I spoke too soon.

Here's a story about Canadian squirrels who have developed a taste for Christmas lights!

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/12/04/pesky-varmints.html

And here's one about Washington D.C. squirrels eating peoples front porch pumpkins:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2008/12/weather_and_wildlife_where_hav.html

And they are having the same problem up in New England because of the lower than usual acorn crop this year:

http://www.newburyportnews.com/punews/local_story_338235434.html

So, watch out for those hungry killer squirrels!!!

Fun stuff in the News

FoxNews.com had an article about a "Dance Your PHD" contest that one of the columnists of Science had. He encouraged scientists to create a dance piece that discribed their dissertation and put it on YouTube. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,459845,00.html   The winning entries can be seen here: http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2008/1120/2

On the bizarre front is this article from the DailyMail about Lego men that look like terrorists or nazi's!! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1091862/War-games-The-al-Qaeda-Nazi-Lego-men-glorify-terrorism.html    I think they were made by pieces created for the Star War's and Pirate's lego sets (my son used to have both sets, although we never made Al Qaida terrorists from them!).   The muslim and jewish groups are up in arms over this of course. I think they ought to counter by coming up with little ayatollahs and IDF soldiers with little uzi's!!  Anybody out there with extra venture capital???  Oh, and don't forget the Southern Border set with ICE and undocument worker lego-men!!! 

No news on the squirrel front. It's been a pretty quiet week for squirrel news. I guess the little furry guys are keeping a low profile. In this economy they'd end up in the stew-pot!!

Squirrel news

For those of you who are fans of my "Squirrel Series", check out this article from the British tabloid "The Sun":  http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1861944.ece

And here's another one on the culinary thread: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1799285.ece

Have a Great Monday!!

Killer British Badgers!!

This story came out a few weeks back, but I've been busy with my job search so I didn't get a chance to post about it until now.  Apparently Iraqi's in Basra are accusing the British of training vicious badgers to attack their livestock. International Herald Tribune has the story: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/30/news/badger.php

Not only that, but in the same story Iran is accusing the western forces of sending in Spy Squirrels across the border with electronic surveillance equipment to spy on Iran. The truth is the squirrels are NOT working for us but for themselves!!! I guess they are anti-Shiite???

Diseased Squirrels in Paradise

Local news report today says that the squirrels on Mt. Palomar have bubonic plague!!  It's a popular outdoor spot here in San Diego county, so this a bit serious.

http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/news/breaking/2007/07/squirrels_test_positive_for_pl.html

I wonder if these were the squirrels that were transplanted from Balboa Park by Mike Aguirre??

Squirrels in Paradise

This is a little late in coming, because I've been somewhat occupied with my job search.

Our intrepid San Diego City Attorney, Mike Aguirre, expressed concern a few days ago about the poisoning of squirrels in the city parks. I guess he was worried that they had not received "due process" before their death sentence!!  http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070601/news_1m1squirrel.html

I guess the man has too much time on his hands. You'd think being everyone's "thorn in the flesh" would keep him busy enough that he doesn't need to worry about "rodent rights"!!

In Del Mar they're having problems with these evil rodents too, but they are also concerned with "rodent rights" and are seeking a more humane approach to squirrel control. They are going try trapping them and have applied for a Federal program where birth control is being explored. (Save your jokes, I've already thought of all of them and decided they weren't worthy to utter!!).  http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051210/news_1mi10squir.html

Seriously, all this concern for these squirrels is a bit stupid.  They are common carriers of various diseases, including plague,  and with our mild climate their numbers explode over time. Urban environments, like parks, are ideal for them because they have a great habitat and a constant source of food (human garbage).  At La Jolla Cove right now  with all the tourists, you seen them feeding the critters in spite of all the signs saying not too. It's only a matter of time before someone gets bit, and I'll be sharing another "squirrel attacks man" story with you.

New Squirrel Attack!

I was going to ignore this piece of news when I saw it earlier this week, but I decided that wouldn't be fair to those who depend on this blog for their up-to-date squirrel news! This time its a squirrel in the German town of Passau that went amok, attacking three people. The details here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1432171020070614?feedType=RSS&rpc=22

(I'm in the middle of a job search now, so my sense of humor comes and goes with roller-coaster of emotions that I experience.  Looking for a new job is one of the hardest things to do, even when you've had some practice over the years like I have. I covet your prayers for me and my family during this time. Gerry.) 

Not a Feral Hog, it's Fred!!

Latest news is the 1051 hog shot in Alabama wasn't a feral or wild pig after all. His name was Fred and he was sold to the game preserve by his former owners.

Here's the article: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,277097,00.html

I still say Rosie needs to avoid the Southern woods!!!