Groundhog Day Recipe: Roast Groundhog

Everyone knows what Groundhog Day is, right? Well, maybe so, but then again there are a few who don't, so I'll give a little info about it and afterward give a recipe for roast groundhog.

What's that, you say? A recipe for roast groundhog? Yup, no need to adjust your hearing aid, you heard me right ... a recipe for those who want to run out and chase a groundhog around until they catch it, and then (gulp) roast the little critter.

First, though, a few facts:

When is Groundhog Day? Feb 2, every year, rain or shine ... and the weather really does play into the whole Groundhog Day celebration.

What's another name for a groundhog? A whistle pig or a woodchuck.

Does that famous groundhog on the news have a name? Yup, Punxsutawney Phil, and he has his own website called Groundhog.org. However, because everyone wants to know about the furry fella, his site often can't keep up with the traffic near Groundhog Day, so if it doesn't load quickly, check back during times when Internet traffic may be slower.

What's the scoop on his shadow? Legend has it that when the groundhog steps out of his burrow on Feb 2, if he sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see his shadow there will be an early spring.

There may be a few who are wondering where I came up with a recipe for roast groundhog, and it's a long story. To make it short, though, I have friends whose college years as a married couple were quite lean, and they actually caught a groundhog and cooked it. Thanks go to Sandy H. for giving me the basics for the following recipe ... although, I have to say that the running commentary is all mine.

And now for the cooking instructions....

Recipe for roast groundhog: Find and capture a groundhog. I'm not sure how you do that, so my advice is to look for an old one that can't run very fast. A bald one would be nice, too, so that you don't actually have to skin it. I have no clue how you kill it and since I'm an animal lover, I'll leave that to your imagination. In my opinion, however, a .44 magnum doesn't seem like a particularly good idea. That is, unless you want ground chuck.

Ingredients
Ground Hog
Olive oil
Mrs. Dash seasoning
Salt and pepper
Onions (quartered)
Potatoes (quartered)
Carrots (peeled and sliced)
Water or broth of choice

Instructions:
Rub the skinned ground hog with olive oil. Try not to cry as you think about how he could be foretelling spring instead of being the main attraction at dinner. Sprinkle seasonings on him and place in a roasting pan. Place the onions, potatoes, and carrots around the groundhog. Add a cup of water or broth to the roasting pan. Cover and bake in a slow oven (275-300 degrees) until groundhog is tender and vegetables are done, adding more water/broth as needed.

Serve on a platter, making sure not to tell the kids they're eating Punxsutawney Phil's cousin. And if the roast is tough, try a slow cooker next time ... or maybe even a roast beef disguised as a groundhog.

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