Getting used to eating your own meat

riaketty · #1 02/12/13, 06:31 PM

We just bagged two wild rabbits and I'm dreading cooking them tomorrow. The killing doesn't bother me. The butchering doesn't really bother me. But for some reason, the cooking and eating does.

I don't know why but I'm just eeked out by it. The last time we got one, I made stew, and as I was eating it I was picking out the rabbit bits. I DON'T want to be like that. I need to be able to eat home-grown/hunted/etc meat.

I grew up 100% mainstream, so this whole homesteading thing is pretty new. Any advice?

itsb · #2 02/12/13, 06:52 PM

ifn yous had somen to show ya hows to throw a good fryin on that criter hed taste yum yum

7thswan · #3 02/12/13, 06:58 PM

Honestly, I have a problem (20+ years later) with killing animals I've raised with my own hands. Yes, I can and will do if the time has come. Until then, whatever.

jennigrey · #4 02/12/13, 06:58 PM

Make sure you're good and hungry. Then you won't care as much where the meat came from. Works on kids.

Rick · #5 02/12/13, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riaketty

We just bagged two wild rabbits and I'm dreading cooking them tomorrow. The killing doesn't bother me. The butchering doesn't really bother me. But for some reason, the cooking and eating does.

I don't know why but I'm just eeked out by it. The last time we got one, I made stew, and as I was eating it I was picking out the rabbit bits. I DON'T want to be like that. I need to be able to eat home-grown/hunted/etc meat.

I grew up 100% mainstream, so this whole homesteading thing is pretty new. Any advice?

I sympathize.

Maybe cook it down to stock, or introduce very small portions to eat in rice or noodle dishes.

Bettacreek · #6 02/12/13, 07:08 PM

Just keep making it. I had a problem as well and just couldn't eat it. It took several meals before I could actually eat my own stuff.

katheh · #7 02/12/13, 07:41 PM

It helps to introduce it in ground form if you are coming from a grocery-store meat life. Put it in a nice spaghetti sauce.

MO_cows · #8 02/12/13, 07:49 PM

Look up some yummy gourmet recipe and have a Julia Child day. Keep in mind you would pay big bucks in a restaurant for what you are about to partake. You have to remind yourself what you are eating is above and beyond what can be had at the grocery store or some fast food place. I confess, I get a twinge when we open the first package of beef since I knew him from birth and probably gave him a name. But wild game is pretty much guilt free for me. And by the second package of home raised meat I am at peace with helping the animal fulfill its destiny. A nice juicy steak will do that for ya!

Good luck, hope you have a delicious meal and feel proud that you provided for yourself.

Farmer Willy · #9 02/12/13, 08:02 PM

dredge it in seasoned flour, pan fry it and make gravy. Serve it with fried taters and maybe some hot pickled red cabbage and stewed apples. Fried taters and hot bisquits. As the saying goes your tongue will slap your head pop eyed silly trying to get a spread like that.

If that's not to your fancy let it marinade in a pickle bath of spices and vinegar and then slow roast it and serve with buttered noodles and spiced pears and some crusty frenchie type bread.

If that don't do it, eat spam and beans for a month and rabbit will look awesome.

Lizza · #10 02/12/13, 08:11 PM

It is an odd feeling isn't it. For me, I put a little distance between harvest day and eating day. I don't feel nearly has weird about it a few weeks down the line as I do right away.

Happy eating!

||Downhome|| · #11 02/12/13, 08:13 PM

goodness... your thinking too much.

watch a few videos on how that plastic wrapped stuff ends up on your table, then go over the guide lines for whats permitted in "food"...

you will either be a true vegatarien, or happy you have some more or less unadulterated meat and thank the forces that be ( not PTB )

Awnry Abe · #12 02/12/13, 08:16 PM

Just take comfort in knowing that if you had to do it, you could do it. I've gone through the same transition. It only takes one or two truly amazing meals to put the weebie-jeebies behind you.

jamesdaclark · #13 02/12/13, 08:20 PM

It might help to do the butchering and prepping, then put it in the freezer for a while to separate the two parts of it. Make the stew, then eat it a week later. Plus you get an easy meal that's already to heat and serve.

Buckhuntr · #14 02/12/13, 08:21 PM

I guess I'm lucky, having grown up eating wild game. OP, once you get your mind around it, you won't ever look back.

geo in mi · #15 02/12/13, 08:43 PM

I haven't eaten wild rabbit in ages, but you can help the gamey taste by gutting it and cooling it as soon as possible after the kill. Soaking in ice water for several hours helps, too. I never liked to have wild and tame rabbit on the same plate, either. There IS a difference in taste.

geo

secuono · #16 02/12/13, 08:48 PM

I just cover foods I don't want to eat in mashed potatoes and shove em down. Eventually, I don't mind eating them.
Plus, thinking that if I don't eat it, I'm being wasteful and disrespectful to the animal and who made it, helps getting it down and getting me over being a brat about it.

CherieOH · #17 02/12/13, 09:06 PM

I've always been this way too, just can't eat an animal I've seen before it was processed. Not even a fish! I like that idea of putting it up in the freezer and cooking it a couple of weeks later. That might just work.

Miss Kay · #18 02/12/13, 09:16 PM

We've raised and eaten our own beef, pork, chicken, turkey, and geese which I enjoy and have no problem with but I would never eat a wild rabbit. I always wondered if it had worms or ticks or something and then those little bones just freaked me out. My guess is you'll enjoy your meat much better than wild game.

Oldcountryboy · #19 02/12/13, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckhuntr

I guess I'm lucky, having grown up eating wild game. OP, once you get your mind around it, you won't ever look back.

Same here! I have no problem eating wild game and don't have much problem eating meat I've raised so long as I send it to a processer. But if I butcher what I raised myself, I have a hard time eating it.

**highlands** · #20 02/12/13, 10:22 PM

Many hands, many mouths.
On our farmstead we do many different tasks. Lots of overlap but also lots of specialization too. Find out what parts you are good at, what parts you want to learn.
Appreciate the support and ability of those who can do what you don't like to do or can't do. It's a team effort.