Sue's Diner: Roast Stuffed Opossum

This week's recipe is featured for only the second time on the Sue's Diner page - mostly because we've no inclination to try it. 

Ron actually grew up eating opossum and never liked it, too greasy, he said. 

So we have a photo of bacon to share (because bacon is used in the recipe) but no actual photo of the completed dish. But for those willing to order exotic meat and try it, we have a recipe for you.

This recipe for roast stuffed opossum was first published in the 1950's Ford Motor Company’s, The Ford Treasury of Favorite Recipes from Famous Eating Places. From the collection of The Henry Ford. Used with written permission.

This recipe also appears in the BryonySeries cookbook Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permanent fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

My mother owned the little cookbook where this recipe first appeared and lent it to me when I was creating the BryonySeries cookbook. The cookbook is out of print, but I still reached out to The Henry Ford for permission to use some of the recipes and written permission was granted.

Many of those "famous eating places" no longer exist. So it's kinda cool that we preserved a piece of culinary history in a cookbook that pays homage to history.

Here's where roast stuffed opossum is referenced in the BryonySeries novel Bryony,

Although Simons Mansion hosted most of Munsonville’s festivities, the villagers reciprocated one summer with a celebration in honor of John and Bryony Simons, with John providing the entertainment. A torn dress kept Melissa away from the refreshment table, but, except for the cake, we doubt she would have eaten anything from it, anyway.

You can try the recipe for roast stuffed opossum on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website. 

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.

If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at bryonyseries.com/merchandise.

Sue's Diner: Roast Stuffed Opossum

This week's recipe is featured for the first time on the Sue's Diner page.

The reason it's a "first" is because we've no inclination to try it. Ron actually grew up eating opossum and never liked it, too greasy, he said. So we have a photo of bacon to share (because bacon is used in the recipe) but no actual photo of the completed dish.

This recipe for roast stuffed opossum was first published in the Ford Motor Company’s, The Ford Treasury of Favorite Recipes from Famous Eating Places. From the collection of The Henry Ford.

This recipe also appears in the BryonySeries cookbook Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permanent fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

My mother actually owned the little cookbook where this recipe first appeared and lent it to me when I was creating the BryonySeries cookbook. The cookbook is out of print, but I still reached out to The Henry Ford for permission to use some of the recipes and written permission was granted.

Many of those "famous eating places" no longer exist. So it's kinda cool that we preserved a piece of culinary history in a cookbook that pays homage to history.

Here's where roast stuffed opossum is referenced in the BryonySeries novel Bryony,

Although Simons Mansion hosted most of Munsonville’s festivities, the villagers reciprocated one summer with a celebration in honor of John and Bryony Simons, with John providing the entertainment. A torn dress kept Melissa away from the refreshment table, but, except for the cake, we doubt she would have eaten anything from it, anyway.

You can try the recipe for roast stuffed opossum on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website. 

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.

If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.

Roast Stuffed Opossum

Although Simons Mansion hosted most of Munsonville’s festivities, the villagers reciprocated one summer with a celebration in honor of John and Bryony Simons, with John providing the entertainment. A torn dress kept Melissa away from the refreshment table, but, except for the cake, we doubt she would have eaten anything from it, anyway.

   This recipe was first published in the Ford Motor Company’s, The Ford Treasury of Favorite Recipes from Famous Eating Places. From the collection of The Henry Ford.

Roast Stuffed Opossum

By Happy Hollow Ranch, Long Beach Road, Branson, Missouri

1 opossum

Salt and pepper

! chopped onion

1 tablespoon fat

1 cup bread crumbs

¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 hard-boiled egg

1 teaspoon salt water

Bacon

Rub the cleaned opossum with salt and pepper. Brown the onion in fat, add opossum liver, and cook until tender. To this add the bread crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, egg, and salt water. Mix these ingredients thoroughly and stuff the opossum with it. Then truss the opossum like a fowl and put it in the roasting pan with bacon across the back. Pour 1 quart water into the pan before placing the opossum in a moderate oven. Roast uncovered, basting every 15 minutes until the opossum is tender (about 2 ½ hours).

From "Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles From 'Bryony'"

All proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties. www.bbbswillgrundy.org.

Order the cookbook at www.bryonyseries.com/Dalton_s_Dry_Goods.html.