I almost stepped on this big boy today, he was so perfectly concealed . . .
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h288/Indianasmith/21Jul07Turtleinsitu.jpg)
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h288/Indianasmith/21Jul07Turtleinhand.jpg)
Don't worry, boys and girls, I safely released him after the picture was taken . . . although I've heard these big softshells are excellent eating!
They are good eating, only thing is they taste just like turtle. Weird.
I've only eaten turtle once. It was turtle soup actually. Wasn't too bad, which surprised the hell out of me. It's still somewhat of a regular meal for a lot of people around here (coast of NC) despite the fact that it's against the law to eat a turtle.
Quoteagainst the law to eat a turtle
What? Even snapper? That's odd why would they make something illegal to eat if it's not endangered and is a known traditional food by some? I mean I can see not allowing eating endangered animals but to outlaw it just because they think it's strange to eat? But you are in NC, I lived there for few years and remember them having some strange laws, like state run liquor sales with ABC stores, that's just weird.
Quote from: Skaboi on July 22, 2007, 07:52:55 AM
I've only eaten turtle once. It was turtle soup actually. Wasn't too bad, which surprised the hell out of me. It's still somewhat of a regular meal for a lot of people around here (coast of NC) despite the fact that it's against the law to eat a turtle.
Every year my dad and his buddies would go down to Ensenada, Baja California on a fishing trip, and each time he would bring back turtle meat that my mom would make soup out of, it's great stuff. I always felt a little guilty eating it, didn't stop me though.
That was a big boy of a turtle. I've never seen one of those in person, but I don't spend very much time wading in rivers in your neck of the woods.
I've had turtle a couple of times, both turtle soup and the meat (neck, legs) fried up like chicken. Pretty darn good stuff. These days, knowing that big snappers take so long to grow, I probably wouldn't do that. Maybe alligator meat can fill in. Those seem to be making a fine comeback and also boast more meat.
(The problem is that most of the time I look at something and wonder if I can eat it.)
It's eat or be eaten ...
From this ...
(http://www.hiltonpond.org/images/TurtleSnappingHatchling02.jpg)
To this ...
(http://www.dausettrails.com/snapturtle.jpg)
Those alligator snappers get huge and live for centuries . . . I was reading a National Geographic article interviewing a turtle hunter in Louisiana who used to harvest them for turtle soup, he said as late as the 60's and 70's he would occasionally butcher a turtle and find a flint arrowhead imbedded in its shell . . . when you consider that flint points were phased out by Louisiana Indians around 1700, and that Indians weren't in the habit of shooting baby turtles, those beasts must have been well over 200 years old !! :buggedout:
As for the softshells, my grandfather (who died before I was born) used to tell my Dad there was no finer meat . . . he said that a softshell turtle had seven different kinds of meat in it. It makes me curious to try one, but I'd have no idea how to even start preparing it.
Quote from: indianasmith on July 22, 2007, 01:34:14 PM
It makes me curious to try one, but I'd have no idea how to even start preparing it.
1. Put live turtle in a 55 gal. drum for 7 days, to allow it to empty it's system, it helps with the smell. Keep fresh water in the drum. Scoop out the feces with a net.
2. Using channel locks, hold him tight by the mouth with neck stretched out. Cut off his head.
3. Hang him upside down to bleed out for about 30 minutes.
4. Put him on his back, cut claws and feet off.
5. Cut skin around shell top and bottom, cut and pull skin away from shell on the front legs until skin is removed.
6. On the soft shell belly outside edge of shell, cut through soft shell contact points and remove.
7. Remove guts and innards.
8. Remove front legs, may need to twist to break the joint.
9. Cut and peel skin from back legs and neck.
10. Remove back legs and neck, again twisting to break joints.
11. Leave meat on bone, but try to remove as much fat as possible.
12. Wash with cold water, repeat until clean.
13. Freeze submerged in water or cook.
What don't know how to cook it either? Jeez ...
ok here ...
http://recipes.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Category:Turtle_Recipes
(http://recipes.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Category:Turtle_Recipes)
or one of the ways it fixed around here ...
~ 1 turtle, cut into serving pieces
~ 1 stalk celery, chopped
~ 1 bell pepper, chopped
~ 1 medium onion, chopped
~ 1/2 tsp vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar)
~ salt and pepper
~ 1 bottle of your favorite bbq sauce (I prefer homemade or some of the local mom and pop brands)
Soak the turtle meat in salt water overnight or at least 1 hour.
In a large pot, place the turtle meat, celery, pepper, onion and vinegar. Salt and pepper to taste. Cover with water and bring to a boil.
Cover and simmer until meat is tender and ready to fall off the bone.
Remove meat and place into a baking dish. Pour the bbq sauce over the top. Bake at 375 degrees until sauce starts to bubble.
Reduce heat to 200 degrees and cook for 40 minutes. Baste often.
edit: PC Disclaimer, make sure you're not eating a endangered or threatened turtle.
:buggedout:
1 turtle, cut into serving pieces.............. :teddyr:
Karma, Cheeze: I have eaten crocodile steaks (not bad) and have had a bite out of a python (not the other way around) but I don't think that I could eat a turtle, as good eating as you make it sound.