My Dad used to get us a rabbit every now and then and fry them really well. I haven't hunted rabbit in 20 years but I am having a huge "hankerin" for some after seeing some in my grocer's freezer no less. Though I'd be commiting a sin to be buyin' it frozen rather than catchin' my own, I JUST HAVE TO DO IT! What would you suggest for cooking it? Side dishes? I am going to make a big deal of the dinner and invite my best friend over to share in it! GRINNIN' BIG!

-- Sonya (clb@watervalley.net), July 21, 2001

Answers

My favorite which is not to healthy is to roll it in flour and pan fry it, and then make gravy out of the grease to pour over mashed potatoes.

-- Russell Hays (rhays@sstelco.com), July 21, 2001.

We like to put the big ones in the oven in a baking bag like you use with a turkey. we sprinkel it with Lemon -Pepper and bake. My niece who will "NEVER" eat rabbit, thought it was the best turkey she ever had.

-- grant (organicgrange@yahoo.com), July 21, 2001.

Fry it, roll in flour/pepper and fry it! By all means, make that gravy and serve with baby potatoes and onions, fresh lettuce from the garden......yummmm. :) tang

-- tang (tang@mtaonline.net), July 22, 2001.

Chopped bacon, onions and mushrooms, jointed rabbit (leave the ribs and backbone out - they make bones which are too fine and troublesome) - casserole, serve with potatoes and your choice of carrots and/or pumpkins and greens. Try it once so you can judge what orange vegetables and greens suit your taste. Leaf vegetables are good, and this dish particularly suits silver beet with lemon juice, but English spinach is always good, as is barely-cooked cabbage, or brussels sprouts, or broccoli, or zuccini or beans. Somehow peas don't seem to work for me here.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), July 22, 2001.

I agree with Grant We like to put the big ones in the oven in a baking bag like you use with a turkey. we sprinkel it with Lemon -Pepper and bake. My niece who will "NEVER" eat rabbit, thought it was the best turkey she ever had.

-- grant (organicgrange@yahoo.com), July 21, 2001.

My wife also puts it in the oven like turkey with sage stuffing and you can not tell it's not turkey. Mike

-- ourfarm (ourfarm_deja@my-deja.com), July 22, 2001.

My husband's favorite is just to slow cook it in the crock pot with BBQ sauce.

-- Cheryl (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), July 22, 2001.

A crazy thought (from someone who'se never eaten rabbit) ... you may want to try a marinade ... an easy one is italian dressing, or find a good BBQ chicken marinade recipe, and grill it like chicken.

-- Dave (peasedj@sparc.isl.net), July 22, 2001.

Our very first rabbit meal was a cacciatore. Every bite was eaten! Our next litter will be butchered soon, and I'm going to try frying and roasting as were suggested.

-- glynnis in KY (gabbycab@msn.com), July 22, 2001.

Fryin' is the best!! But you can cook them anyway you would chicken or turkey. I even canned some once- they were great for quick casseroles- even entered a jar in the local fair and won a red ribbon!! Good luck!! susie

-- susie yeager (susiemby@samlink.com), July 22, 2001.

susie, can you tell me how you would go about canning it? we butcher our rabbits on a regular basis and i'm running out of freezer space. thanks

-- lisa (lisasnat@aol.com), July 23, 2001.

How To Can a Rabbit-

The hardest part of this is deciding which rabbit you are going to can.

Use a wide mouth quart jar, sure makes it easier getting a whole rabbit in and getting it out when you are ready.

Make sure that the jar is very clean and sterilized by placing it in boiling water for a few minutes.

Now go out and get your bunny, talk real nice to it so that it will calm down. Bring your bunny into the house where you are going to can him. I like to give mine a bath first to that they are really clean then blow them dry. Holding the quart jar in one hand and the bunny by the back feet in the other hand, I proceed to stuff the bunny in the jar. Now I do like to hold the jar up so I can see the bunny going in head first...what really is fun is to watch the bunnies eyes get real BIG as I try to stuff him all the way in! the only thing I need help with is getting the lid on!

Optional: if the rabbit is small, raw carrots can be added.

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), July 23, 2001.

ok, enough silliness here is a site I hope you all like:

http://diju.tripod.com/Rabbit/recipes.html

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), July 23, 2001.

Here's the recipe to can rabbit. If I remember correctly, I got it out of an old issue of Countryside!! Boil 4-5 fryers in a large saucepan with carrots and onions. Season to taste. Let cool. Debone. Pack into jars and pour hot liquid (Liquid strained from boiling) leaving 1 inch head space. Adjust caps. Process quarts 1 hour-30 minutes @ 10 lbs pressure. Good Luck!! I know we enjoy it!! susie

-- susie yeager (susiemby@samlink.com), July 23, 2001.