Easter Tablefare

[Sfritr]

Ok, I realize I am a bit off in the head. That being said, is it wrong to serve fried Rabbit on Easter Sunday????

I happen to really enjoy it and my 11 yr old thinks it is hilarious and he loves it. My wife thinks I am the ant-christ for doing so.

It has now been a three year tradition and as you can imagine, all of the relatives think it is disgusting as well. But, that is what Mother-in-laws are supposed to think

[tipptruck1]

Ok I laughed when I read this. I don't know how you can be a anti-christ for serving rabbit. Rabbit really has nothing to do with the day other then to kids. If your in laws don't like it tell them next year there hosting the dinner.

[GrundleLove]

First of all, this is just my personal opinion of this specific subject:

Are you out of your god d**n mind? Its disgusting. Have we moved back into cave-men times where people are eating rabbits? What's next? Gerbil soup. Its a rodent. And the fact that you actually want to serve it on Easter Sunday is just your own way of getting a rise out of people, which is what will happen OBVIOUSLY. And you wonder why you're relatives think its disgusting? Not that the fact that you are serving it on Easter, but the fact that you would serve it at all.

Your mother in law is probably disgusted thinking "Why did my lovely daughter have to marry some hillbilly who serves fried rabbit on Easter" not "Oh hey it's gross because rabbit doesn't taste good"

That being said you asked for opinion so I gave it.

[bassfisherjk]

Nothing wrong with eating rabbit,don't know about on Easter but have a Great Holiday.

[grimlin]

Rabbit is surprisingly good tasting!

However,I some what agree it's kinda inappropriate eating rabbit on Easter.

If you had me over for dinner though,I'd still eat it....LOL

[SirSnookalot]

It's highly doubtful Christ ever ate rabbit, as rabbit is not a kosher food and many people feel Christ was a vegetarian.

Anti Christ....looks like it.

[Sfritr]

I respect your opinion.

However, if you have never had rabbit prepared you are truly missing out. The meat is very sweet and delicate. It cannot really be compared to chicken as it is more flavorful and tender. Many high end bistros carry a form of rabbit with some type of demi glaze. Often times is will be a rasberry or blackberry. I often prepare it with a cranberry chutney and a wild mushroom risoto. There is a very famous restaurant in Chicago that serves a Rattlesnake/Rabbit appetizer that truly melts in your mouth. You would never know what you were eating if you were not told. Dont be a green eggs and ham....

[JoePhish]

If your in-laws are disgusted with eating a rabbit because it's cute, well, my traditional Easter meal is Leg of Lamb. I have friends that roast whole lamb on a spit in their yards for Easter. A lot of people will rate a lamb higher on the cuteness factor scale.

I've served Rabbit Cacciatore to people who didn't know it was rabbit and they asked for seconds. I only told them it was Cacciatore. Didn't mention the rabbit part of it until we were drinking coffee.

Additionally, rabbits aren't rodents. They're closer to a horse than they are a rat.

[Sfritr]

Caccitore sounds awesome. After hunting rabbit, a hot breakfast of fried rabbit and dumplings is hard to beat.

Easter or not, I am getting hungry for some bunny.

[SDoolittle]

Are you cooking wild or pen raised rabbits?

[Sfritr]

Are you cooking wild or pen raised rabbits?

These are wild cottontails. Pen raised rabbits are much better tasting as they are sweeter and juicier. When I have used them in the restaurants they were all pen raised as well.

Although, wild rabbits work better for frying.

[GTrombly]

I have not tried rabbit, but after reading these posts it is moving up on my list of things to try. And I think it is fine to eat it on easter, an animal is an animal...

[grimlin]

I have not tried rabbit, but after reading these posts it is moving up on my list of things to try. And I think it is fine to eat it on easter, an animal is an animal...

You won't regret it.....It's actually really good.

I prefer pen raised myself.

I had a pet rabbit,which I ate...LOL

[deaknh03]

happy easter to everyone, whatever animal you eat, hope its tasty.

[Sfritr]

You won't regret it.....It's actually really good.

I prefer pen raised myself.

I had a pet rabbit,which I ate...LOL

LMAO!

My grandfather used to raise rabbits and I used to feed them celery when I was a kid. I didn't know why he raised them, just that they were never around for too long. Then, one evening we were eating dinner and I had eaten what I thought was two helpings of chicken, WRONG. There was Fluffy, all crisp and juicy sitting with gravy and mashed taters.

Rabbit Stew with wild mushrooms, corn, celery and leeks is also very tasty. The rabbit compliments the wild mushrooms very well. And, if you can get wild picked Morels, forget about it.......

One of the things I will surely miss about leaving Michigan is the wild Morel season that is about to start in a few weeks.

[Fisher of Men]

I don't see one thing wrong with eating rabbit on Easter. I used to enjoy fried rabbit and rabbit stew when I was a kid growing up. More recently, some of my Vo-ag students would share some of the meat pen rabbit meat with us on the grill. . . very tasty! I agree, if the relatives don't like it, they don't have to show up to your table.

[BassThumb]

Anybody who's tried a good Hasenpfeffer would not complain about eating rabbits.

I'd rather eat wild game than many of the meats from the market. At least you know exactly what you're getting then.

I snatched this recipe from a website and modified it. It's it simple version thats similar to what some family members make for holiday pot lucks. Hasenpfeffer is a rabbit recipe that can be made with rabbit, chicken, turkey, or wild birds, or a mix of two meats. Often made with half rabbit, half dark meat chicken.

1 large onion, sliced

1.5-2 cups white vinegar

3 cups water

1 tablespoon pickling spice

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 bay leaves

8 whole cloves

1 (2 1/2 pound) rabbit, skinned, cut into serving-size pieces

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 cup sour cream

In a large nonmetallic bowl, combine onion, vinegar, water and seasonings. Add rabbit pieces; cover and refrigerate for 48 hours(or less), turning occasionally. Remove meat; strain and reserve marinade. Dry meat well; coat lightly with flour. In a skillet(or Crock Pot), melt butter(or peanut or olive oil); brown meat well. Gradually add 2 to 2-1/2 cups reserved marinade. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 30 minutes. Remove meat to a warm platter. Add sour cream to pan juices; stir just until heated through. Spoon over the meat and serve immediately.

Goes well with asparagus with Béarnaise sauce, and a couple ales.

[GLADES]

I never tried rabbit, but after reading this thread I will try it someday. I do not see anything wrong with eating rascally rabbits on Easter.

We are having pork and beef kabobs on the bbq.

[Bassn Blvd]

I find absolutely nothing wrong by serving rabbit, fried or not, for Easter.

Too bad we can't get into the religious aspect of it.

[whitwolf]

I say eat what you want when you want. I understand some folks think traditional table fare for the holiday's Is Important but In the end It's a personal choice.

A for Instance here; every Thanksgiving when I go home to the coast we have oysters Instead of turkey or ham. It's a tradition but I personally would eat oysters over turkey or ham 7 days a week.

[Hooligan]

Oh man, I love bunny. Used to live on it when we were kids. My Grandmother would fry rabbit over chicken every time. She made the most excellent white gravy with it, too. /hungry now