Snap Crackle Pop
Gmail is funny because along the top and side bar of the program it gives a constant stream of links, which pop up with personalized ads tailored especially for me. I don’t know how they do it, exactly, but somehow they scan the content of my emails and then pull up correlating ads that should be of great interest. This morning I was presented with an ad for spam breakfast burritos. If it wasn’t so funny I might have been insulted. What sort of content did they find in my emails to match me up with spam breakfast products? Good heavens. So anyways, I had a very excellent weekend. It started on Tuesday or Wednesday when I got an email from a lady who said, “Hey, I read your blog and I’m coming thru east TN and I’ll meet you at your most excellent church” And, sure enough, they were there on Sunday — and this lady is *funny*; she made me literally laugh my head off. I was bummed that I did not have the foresight to invite her and her family to sleep over on Sat night. But she’s coming back in July so I am going to absolutely force her to spend at least one entire day with me. I love meeting fellow bloggers, and I’ve made a lot of neato friends who have emailed out of the blue when they’ve been traveling thru my neck of the woods. I *love* that! In other news, look at what the cat dragged out of the pond. Two mammoth snapping turtles. Aren’t they ENORMOUS?
They are boy and girl turtles, and we know this because when Emmiko caught them they were, um, well, I guess they were waltzing. Anyhow, we’re pretty sure they’ve been eating our ducks. Perhaps we’ll wrap them up nice and cozy and bring them to the Knoxville Zoo, because, as you know, there is certainly nobody in my family who would consider killing any critter that may or may not be on the overwhelmingly long list of federally protected nuisances that wreak havoc on a small farm. And if chicken hawks and snapping turtles want to eat our poultry, by all means, who are we to stand in their way? So, yeah, don’t even consider the idea that Emmiko de-shelled them and cut out the meat to make turtle soup. Nope, not us, no-way, sister. We’re all about peace, man. |
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March 31st, 2008 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments No Responses to ' Snap Crackle Pop 'Leave a reply |
on March 31st, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Wow
Those are very scary looking turtles!
Turtles taste like chicken .. no?
on March 31st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
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Good golly, those are huge!!!
~Theresa
on March 31st, 2008 at 3:06 pm
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Ack! Double Ack! This absolutely shores up my determination to never wade, swim nor even dip my baby toe in that pond. Holy smokes! Does this mean that there might be a colony of those things living way down there?
Now I know that those turtles will live long, happy protected live, but, just in case you run into a good deal on turtle meat at Wally World, I found this Cajun Turtle Soup (and no, don't save me any unless the world as we know it is coming to an end and there is a shortage in the food supply and I am living in a tent in your backyard, in which case, you would be very lucky to find turtle meat at Wally World, but I digress):
TURTLE SOUP
INGREDIENTS
2 Pounds of Turtle Meat (cubed)
3 Bay leaves
2 Sticks Butter (unsalted)
1/2 Tsp. Oregano
1 Cup All Purpose Flour
1/2 Tsp. Thyme
1 Cup Celery (diced)
1 Tsp. Course Black Pepper
2 Cups Yellow Onions (diced)
1 1/2 Cups Tomato Puree
3 Tbs. Minced Parsley
1 Quart Beef Stock
Juice of One Lemon
6 Hard Boiled Eggs (chopped fine)
Salt and Pepper to Taste
INSTRUCTIONS
In heavy saucepan melt butter. When melted add flour and cook until the flour turns the color of a penny. This roux must be stirred at all times so it will not burn. When roux reaches the desired color add your vegetables and turtle meat and cook until turtle is brown and vegetables are clear. Add the tomato puree and cook for about 15 minutes on low fire. In stock pot simmer beef stock. While boiling add the mixture from your saucepan and stir until soup is mixed and roux is dissolved. Stock should be smooth and have body. Simmer soup until turtle becomes tender at which time you may add your lemon diced eggs and parsley.
on March 31st, 2008 at 3:36 pm
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Mom, please don't make that for dinner. Well, anyways, you can't because the turtles are gone. They're probably at the bottom of the pond by now. Thank goodness!
Mrs. Williams, please don't be offended, but if you got a close up you would know how ugly those things are and would never even imagine having it in your stomach…or in your mouth…
I have a thing for you (actually it's for My-Little-Buddy). I was supposed to give it to you when you came over last, but I forgot to. I'll ask Coie to bring it to you along with the diaper bag. Sorry, I'd tell you what it is, but I don't know what it's called!
on March 31st, 2008 at 3:36 pm
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Mom, please don't make that for dinner. Well, anyways, you can't because the turtles are gone. They're probably at the bottom of the pond by now. Thank goodness!
Mrs. Williams, please don't be offended, but if you got a close up you would know how ugly those things are and would never even imagine having it in your stomach…or in your mouth…
I have a thing for you (actually it's for My-Little-Buddy). I was supposed to give it to you when you came over last, but I forgot to. I'll ask Coie to bring it to you along with the diaper bag. Sorry, I'd tell you what it is, but I don't know what it's called!
on March 31st, 2008 at 4:06 pm
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I vote for 100% turtle soup. Is it illegal or something? By rights, if it's eating your animals I say eat it. 🙂
Emily
thelearningneverstops.blogspot.com
(who most likely will never see Tennessee and get to be asked to 'stay over'. *sigh*)
on March 31st, 2008 at 4:39 pm
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I'm back in TX now and this is what I look like…:( We miss the hills of TN muy mucho. I had a most grand and glorious time meeting you and your adorable family AND your most excellent church (even though the baby wailed like I said she would and I missed the majority of the service…but hubs told me it was good stuff!). I absolutely cannot wait for JULY! Ack!
BTW, the..um..waltzing turtles amused me greatly. I must see them when we visit. I can't believe I typed that! WHEN WE VISIT!!! Ack!
on March 31st, 2008 at 4:46 pm
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I thought turtles were cute…those things look nasty! I say, "Fry 'em up sista!"
on March 31st, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Holding it in…
the laughter that is! Those aren't anything like the cute turtles we have. What I want to see it the video of them being hauled out of the pond.
I read your convention schedule and compared it to the ones I'll be at, and big bummer, none of them match for now. We'll just have to catch you when we drive through one year and invite ourselves over for dinner, but no turtle please. I'm a chicken and steak kinda girl. Do you think gmail would know that?
Jennifer
on March 31st, 2008 at 7:02 pm
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Oh those are SCARY!
The camp I went to as a kid had snapping turtles in the lake, and in order to swim in the 'deep end' you had to pass a test by swimming across the lake. I wasn't a great swimmer, but I was so scared of the turtles I 'booked' it across the lake!
Turtles are yucky! ;-p
Michelle
on March 31st, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Bon Appetit !
How to Clean a Snapping Turtle
* Slice around the edge of the bottom shell and cut through the joint between the top and bottom shell on each side.
* The bottom shell will lift out like a can lid. Remove the entrails.
* Slice the legs and neck loose from the inside of the top shell.
* Skin out legs and neck. Parboil or pressure cook to make the meat tender before using in your favorite stew.
turtle cleaning
Steve's "Pretty Good" Turtle Recipe
This is one of the best snapping turtle recipes we've encountered.
Meat from one medium-sized turtle, cubed
1 large onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
4-5 potatoes, cubed
2 14.5 oz. cans of peeled tomatoes or 8-10 fresh tomatoes, coarse chopped
1 11 oz. can of corn or N package frozen corn.
1. Brown turtle meat with onions and garlic in a hot skillet with a little cooking oil, (get the skillet real hot and drop the pieces of meat into the hot oil.) When the meat is browned on all sides drain oil and transfer meat, onions and garlic to a Dutch oven. Add potatoes, tomatoes and corn.
2. Season the mixture with salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste. Add water to just cover ingredients and cook covered at a high simmer for 45 minutes or until the potatoes are thoroughly cooked.
3. At this point the stew is ready to eat. However, some people prefer to thicken the sauce with a whole wheat flour/water mixture. If you do this you should simmer the mixture for another 15 minutes.
Haven't tried this myself. Let us know how it is !
on March 31st, 2008 at 10:01 pm
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One word answer to your query about the Spam Breakfast Burritos: IGARASHI.
Did I ever mention that my mom used to sell Spam on the black market in Korea back in the old days? Spam and coffee. She was a wild woman!
As to those turtles. They look more like tortoises. Not that I know anything about turtles, but aren't snapping turtles supposed to be… well… small and snappy? Those don't look the least bit snappy at all.
But I bet they'd be good eats. Come on, are you an IGARASHI or not?!
on April 1st, 2008 at 12:01 am
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Those aren't turtles! Those are dragons with shells on 'em!! Those are HUGE!!! I'd keep an eye on 'em…I bet if they get any bigger they will sprout wings and take flight! (wink)
on April 1st, 2008 at 12:05 am
Tell me it's not true
C'mon, seriously now, you did NOT eat those things.
Kim
on April 1st, 2008 at 12:07 am
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That Emmiko is quite the woman.
on April 1st, 2008 at 1:21 am
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Love the turtles and if I ever get to TN, and am so there at your house!
Susan
on April 1st, 2008 at 2:06 am
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That is tooo funny. I don't know that I have ever seen a snapping turtle that big before. As for the all about peace thing, we would have to forgo some of that for ducks!!! We love our ducks and chickens.
Blessings,
Trixi
on April 1st, 2008 at 4:09 am
Why are you wondering????
I would say that the spam burrito add would be because of you wacky sense of humor! So why are you so suprised?? I don't think anything surprises me on your blog anymore (unless you said that you were giving up blogging, sending your kids to public school, on a schoolbus, and eating a fully preserved chemical ridden diet from now on, and encouraging them all to have boy/girlfriends by the age of five! LOL!) So why would you find spam surprising???? :o)
Oh and by the way, we *may* be coming to your neck of the woods in January next year! No details yet, but we are hoping. We are having Christmas with my family but we are hoping to stay stateside for the whole month of January so *maybe* we can make it back to beautiful Tennesee!! We will keep you posted – but this time I refuse to leave Tennesee without meeting the famous Igarashi's!! LOL!
on April 1st, 2008 at 6:29 am
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I love all the Spam recipes when I'm in my gmail spam section. They're so creative. And I'd eat those ugly turtles before I'd Spam. =P
Lessons learned from country living:
The "3 S" method.
1. Shoot (whatever varmit you need to)
2. Shovel (to bury it- unless you eat it)
3. Sssh! (don't tell and no one will know)
=P
on April 1st, 2008 at 7:57 am
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Those are some big turtles.
We have quite a few turtles around here…
I have some pics of them on my nature blog.
on April 1st, 2008 at 8:50 am
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I just love turtles!
on April 1st, 2008 at 8:55 am
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Jen,
It's so great that you were able to meet yet another fellow blogger and friend.
I can't believe the size of those snapping turtles. Are you craving turtle soup.
Blessings,
Ruth
on April 1st, 2008 at 11:26 am
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I'm pretty sure I know someone who shot the turtles in their pond and they were in TN so there ya go. (their ducks were being eaten too) But I wouldn't eat turtle soup either.
Did you see how many eggs I got in ONE day??? From just 19 hens??
Lyn at http://lynan.blogspot.com
on April 1st, 2008 at 1:18 pm
…
I bet that in some cultures they dip them in chocolate. :+)
ME
on April 1st, 2008 at 2:30 pm
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Holy Cow! Them are the biggest turtles I've ever seen! and they lived in your pond?? wow!
on April 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 am
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Emmiko is very hearty to be able to do that. Those things look like they out weigh her by quite a bit.
on April 2nd, 2008 at 11:07 am
Where do I begin???
#1 – Thought of Dip in Sunday School Class when we were discussing prophets… most of their prophesying began with "Says the Lord God of Hosts'…couldn't help but think of your precious Dip and smile and giggle within myself!!
#2 – My children will officially NEVER be allowed to swim in your pond!!!!! Those things are hideous!!!!!!! Exactly how many ducks did they eat?????
#3 – I visited your friend's blog (the one that just came to see you)…and YES…she is a hoot!!!!!!!
#4 – We MUST get together before we move!!!!!! If we don't it may be years before our families can see one another again 🙁
#5 – Your Rosetta Stone schedule has nada regarding the Atlanta area…however, I noticed some Florida area shows…will you all need a place to crash on the way there…i.e. ATLANTA!!!! Please say you need somewhere to lay your heads.
#6 – Your brother-in-law's post TOTALLY cracked me up!!!!!!! They are such an awesome couple!!!!!!
Miss you all terribly!
Shay
ps – My edit was putting an apostrophe between the w and the s in "law's"…I didn't want to have any punctuation errors!!!!
Edited by ShayC on Apr. 2, 2008 at 11:09 AM
on April 3rd, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Those look like anteaters with shells…..
but if you say they are snapping turtles, who am I to argue?
So, (replying on the wrong post…) NO GO CO??
Very bummed. Big Sigh.
I think I will go have a hearty cry.
Nancy