I owe some apologies

[Gunslingergirl]

A few months back we had a thread going on this forum about opening a gourmet wild game restaurant. In the course of that discussion we started talking about different kinds of exotic meats that people had eaten. Some people said they had eaten alligator and that it tasted like chicken. I teased those people saying they should be more original.

Well, last Friday, I tried alligator for the first time. It does indeed taste like chicken. Who knew? O.k., everyone who had told me obviously knew.

So, to those of you who told me that alligator tasted like chicken, I guess you're now entitled to say "I told you so".

By the way, it was good alligator. I'd eat it again.

GSG

[GoodOlBoy]

I dunno I think it tastes more like alligator myself. :D

GoodOlBoy

[Gunslingergirl]

Actually, I thought it tasted like chicken with a bit of a seafoody texture to it. Kind of like crab or shrimp.

It was really yummy though.

GSG

[popplecop]

Alligator tastes like alligator and it is fixed a hundred different ways. Have eaten a lot of it in SW Louisiana during my stays there for 17 winters. All most all of it prepared by Cajun friends and will eat it any time I am offered it. Now have had gator in resturants, tastes like chicken, not a real big fan of chicken. Secret is have a good Cajun friend prepare it for you.

[Gunslingergirl]

Guess I need to make some Cajun friends then.

Unfortunately, we don't get a lot of Cajuns in Michigan.

GSG

[BILLY D.]

Hi Lady

I don't know about Michigan but in North Dakota along with the short supply of Cajuns we are also a little short on Gators up here. They don't seem to like our climate real well.

I got a hankerin' for Sassafrass Tea the other day, ya ought to try to find that up here. I wrote LILRED an EMAIL seeking sources.

Best wishes, Bill

[Gunslingergirl]

Yeah, we don't have a lot of live gators in Michigan. They mostly get delivered in frozen chunks to a couple of restaurants up here.

I also can't find sweet tea. I have a friend who grew up in Alabama and Georgia who tells me that no one who is Northern born and bred can make it properly. I keep asking him to brew some up for me, but no luck so far.

GSG

[Lilred]

Hey Billy,
I must have an older than dirt email addy on here cause I aint git it...anyway..I got tons of sassafrass trees on the place, ya want some root, you got it..just pm me the addy.

Best thing to remember bout sassafrass is that the longer ya boil it..the better /stronger it is.

[skeet]

Don't drink too much at one time. It will kinda go right on through some people!!:D Used ta make it all the time back in Md when I was working. Ain't no sassafras out here in Wyoming either.

[skeeter@ccia.com]

Toss a handfull of the green sassafrass leaves in your fire when sitting out there some summer night....it is what the indians used as a skeeter beater ...it works too...I do it all the time at camp and camp is right beside the water....oh and have some tea while at it.

[multibeard]

Newly sprouted sassafrass leaves ain't bad eating in the spring.

Really nice looking wood when it gets big, kinda orange in color.

[skeeter@ccia.com]

Sassafrass canes, walking sticks...yep...can be used for a ton of things. The canes are nice to make because when you dig the root it makes the 90* curve....then I remove the bark it does leave that redish color on it when dry. Then when you sand/carve it makes a nice design.
If eating the leaves keep in mind the Indians long ago dried / crushed them and added to food as a thickening agent. Does it do that to the blood?....I don't know but lard does.....