ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

MKR
Maureen Clifford © The Scribbly Bark Poet

Puree of possum and ragout of rabbit,
fillets of crumbed cockatoo.
Tenderloin turtle and wallaby ribs
and an excellent kangaroo stew.
Braised loin of Lizard and kebabed koala
served with a tangy quandong jus.
In the bush one can live like an absolute gourmand
if you’ve a camp oven or two.

Fresh cream softly beaten and sweetened with wattle
nectar of the Gods I believe.
Native bee honey – its sweetness fresh gathered
from hidden hives in hollow trees.
These are the bounties the Mother supplies
her gifts are a blessing indeed
All that one needs is a little patience
and a pretty fair turn of speed.

And a cast iron stomach.


You wouldn't really want to make koalas into kebabs would you Maureen ??
Eucalyptus flavoured fillets. eeeak.

See, now I have a dilemma - Matt's dinner party or Maureens? Maureen's or Matts? Braised lizard or the chance to meet Oscar Wilde?

Hey Mausey you & croc would have been a hit in the bush kitchen....

Fox chops and leftover stew.

Ingredients:
One fox, one possum, large carpet python, seasonal greens.

Method:
Skin the fox, the snake, the possum,
set aside the skins to dry;
collect, in season, pods of pisum,
finer fare none can deny.
Boil the possum in a billy
‘till it falls from off the bone;
when it’s cooled, stir in wild chilli,
cover it ere it gets blown.
Bone the fox out, trim the chops up,
save the brush to swat the flies;
use an old one, not a young pup,
chuck away the paws and eyes.
Cut the reptile into ringlets,
salt some down for leaner days;
with the dried skin, patch your singlets...
snake steak’s best cooked lyonnaise.
Uncover possum, skim the fat off,
smear the base of your fry pan;
fry the fox chops, have a good scoff,
satisfy the inner man.
Now the possum, pisum, python,
and left overs from the fox
can all be stewed, sing an antiphon…
store it in your tucker box.
(...keep sealed in a cool place)

Deep fried frog spawn patties in crispy batter.
(...no, perhaps not...)

©croc

I've eaten plenty of Kangaroo and was once foolishly tempted into trying a bit of a poor old Goanna which I don't recommend.
I've also tried native bee honey and honey ants that some young Aboriginal girls were digging out.
Then fortunately I discovered that when fresh food was in short supply, a can opener has a lot going for it.

Terry