Beneath the recipes is a traditional Southern folksong. It nicely illustrates the role of the groundhog/woodchuck in rural Southern culture. Many family members are eagerly involved in catching, cooking and eating this critter. It will quickly be converted into full tummies and new shoelaces.
Woodchuck, also known as groundhog, should be handled in accordance with the general rules for game in the field. The blood should be drained, and the entrails removed and the body cavity wiped clean. When hung for 48 hours, they are ready to skinned and cooked.Groundhog StewWoodchuck meat is dark, but mild flavored and tender. It does not require soaking; however, many people like to soak it overnight in salt water. If the woodchuck is caught just before he begins his winter sleep, there is an insulating fat layer under the skin. Remove excess fat. remove 7 to 9 "kernels" (scent glands) in the small of the back and under the forearms. Parboil the meat of older animals; cook by recipes calling for chicken or rabbit.
Ingredients:Baked Ground Hog1 groundhog
2 onions, sliced
1/2 cup celery, sliced
Flour
Vinegar and water
Salt and pepper
ClovesInstructions:
Clean groundhog; remove glands; cut into serving pieces. Soak overnight in a solution of equal parts of water and vinegar with addition of one sliced onion and a little salt. Drain, wash, and wipe. Parboil 20 minutes, drain, and cover with fresh boiling water. Add one sliced onion, celery, a few cloves, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook until tender; thicken gravy with flour.
Ingredients:Fried Groundhog1. Ground Hog
2. Spicewood branches
3. Salt, pepper to taste
4. Flour
5. Bacon grease or 1/2 cup shorteningInstructions:
Dress and cut the groundhog. Bring water to a boil on the stove, and then place the groundhog in boiling water. Break spicewood branches, and but into the pot. Continue boiling until groundhog is tender. Remove groundhog from pot. Season with salt and pepper, then roll in flour and bacon grease. Put in oven and bake until golden brown.
1 groundhogCountry-Style Groundhog
1 tbsp salt
1 cup flour
2 tbsp fatInstructions:
Clean groundhog; remove glands; cut into 6 or 7 pieces. Parboil in salted water for 1 hour. Remove from broth; roll in flour and fry in hot fat (deep fat may be used) until brown. Serves 6.
Ingredients:Groundhog and Sweet Potatoesgroundhog
1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. soda
1/4 cup cooking oil
1/2 tsp. sugarInstructions:
Prepare groundhog by removing the small sacs in the back and under the forearm. Soak groundhog overnight in salted water. This will help remove the gamey flavor. Combine flour, salt, pepper, and soda; use as a rub on the groundhog. Brown the groundhog in hot oil in the skillet, and sprinkle with sugar. Reduce heat, add 1 1/2 cup water. Cover, simmer for about 30 minutes or until tender. Remove cover; let cook for an additional 10 minutes.
Ingredients:Ground Hog1. Ground Hog
2. Cold water
3. Salt
4. Pepper
5. Sweet potatoes or white potatoes
6. CornbreadInstructions:
Dress the groundhog as quickly as possible, and let soak for several hours in cold, salty water. After the meat is cold, you can trim any excess fat. Parboil to remove any remaining fat. Drain well. Place in oven at medium temperature with potatoes. Season the meat with salt and pepper and bake until brown.
Shoulder up your gun and whistle up your dog;
Shoulder up your gun and whistle up your dog;
We're off to the woods to catch a groundhog.
Oh Ground Hog.
Here comes Granny walking with a cane;
Here comes Granny walking with a cane;
Says she's gonna eat groundhog brain.
Oh Ground Hog.
I cut a long pole for to twist him out;
I cut a long pole for to twist him out;
Great God a-mighty, what a groundhog snout.
Oh Ground Hog.
Here comes Sally with her long pole;
Here comes Sally with her long pole;
She'll twist that whistle pig outta his hole,
Oh Ground Hog.
I dug down but I didn't dig deep;
I dug down but I didn't dig deep;
I caught that whistle pig fast asleep.
Oh Ground Hog.
Put that hog in a big tote sack;
Put that hog in a big tote sack;
Slung that sack right over my back.
Oh Ground Hog.
Children screamed and children cried;
Children screamed and children cried;
They love ground hog stewed or fried.
Oh Ground Hog.
I skinned him, I washed him, I put him on to boil;
I skinned him, I washed him, I put him on to boil;
I thought, by golly, I could smell him half a moile.
Oh Ground Hog.
Y'eat up the meat and y'save the hide;
Y'eat up the meat and y'save the hide;
Make the best shoelaces y'ever tied.
Oh Ground Hog.
Come here, Pa, make Sally stop;
Come here, Pa, make Sally stop;
She'll eat ground hog til she pops.
Oh Ground Hog.
There goes Sally with a snicker and a grin;
There goes Sally with a snicker and a grin;
Groundhog grease all over her chin.
Oh Ground Hog.
Little piece of cornbread sittin on the shelf;
Little piece of cornbread sittin on the shelf;
If you want anymore you gotta sing it yourself.
Oh Ground Hog.
copyright 2013 Myth Woodling, exclusive of recipes and song, which are public domain