| Rattlesnake meat is a southwestern delicacy. If you | | | | 1 tsp. salt |
| haven't ever eaten rattlesnake, you are in for a real | | | | 1 tsp. black pepper |
| treat. No, it doesn't taste like chicken! It has a much | | | | 2 lb. rattlesnake meatjuice from 1/2 lemon |
| gamier flavor, much more reminiscent of pheasant, | | | | Simmer rattlesnake in water and lemon juice for 1 hour, |
| frog legs, alligator, or even elk. | | | | remove and separate meat from bones. |
| There are two ways to cook rattlesnake meat: | | | | Combine de-boned meat with the rest of the |
| De-boned, or with the bones still intact. If you cook it | | | | ingredients in a crockpot and slow-cook for 6-8 hours, |
| with the bones intact you will have to deal with them | | | | or bring to boil in large cooking pot and simmer for 2 |
| while eating it. This is no big deal really, and in fact | | | | hours. |
| many "just the snake" type recipes (baked snake, | | | | There is an environmentalist movement that is against |
| southern fired snake, etc.) call for the snake to be cut | | | | the killing of rattlesnakes for food. Of course there is. |
| into pieces and cooked with the bones. | | | | They think it's cruel. Despite what these people say, |
| Using the snake meat in chili or other dishes where the | | | | snakes proliferate very efficiently in the wild. Besides, |
| meat is blended into the dish calls for removing the | | | | at least this kind of meat is the result of hunting. |
| bones. This can be done by simmering the snake | | | | Snakes are not bred for human consumption - there's |
| carcass for an hour in a pot of water with some | | | | something humanly honest and ancestrally connective |
| lemon juice and maybe a little bit of spices. Then the | | | | about that. Is the scene of a massive field of cattle |
| meat will come off the bones easily. Be sure to taste it | | | | being gently led to the slaughter their portrayal of a |
| before mixing it in with the other ingredients! | | | | humane meat industry? |
| Here is an easy-to-make recipe for Rattlesnake Chili: | | | | Anyway, I didn't claw my way to the top of the food |
| 1 large onion, chopped | | | | chain to be a vegetarian! Which brings up another |
| 3 large garlic cloves, minced | | | | point: There simply are not enough restaurants offering |
| 1 red bell pepper, chopped | | | | wild game dishes. Why not? These are the best |
| 3 jalapeno peppers, chopped | | | | gourmet plates that can be served! One place I have |
| 1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes | | | | found them a little more is on cruise ship dinner menus. |
| 1 15 oz. can tomato paste | | | | Not enough, but at least some. Of course, I have never |
| 1 28 oz. can chili beans | | | | seen a rattlesnake dish offered while at sea. Maybe |
| 1/4 cup chili powder | | | | on a cruise of the Rio Grande? |
| 2 tsp. cumin | | | | |