Coquina Daily

Thursday, July 2, 2009

What's for dinner?

Yesterday, I was talking to my cousin, Lisa, about the baby armadillos that can be seen all around Coquina Crossing. She mentioned that she has a reprint of an early St. Augustine cookbook which, if she remembered correctly, contained a recipe for armadillo. It seems reasonable. If local folks were eating alligator and turtle, why not armadillo? Well, it seems armadillo is still popular among hunters (although they hardly require hunting - there isn't much sport in walking over and picking one up). A quick Google search turned up a dozen or more recipes including Armadillo Meat Balls, Armadillo Tacos, Bar-B-Q'd Armadillo, Mexican Armadillo Casserole, Hickory Smoked Armadillo, and even Mu Shu Armadillo. According to one source, armadillos have a very light, tender, tasty meat which is delicious by simply cooking pan fried in butter. Here are three recipes for your consideration (they might be interesting for BYOB):
link1 link2

   
BAKED OR BARBECUED ARMADILLO
2 lbs. armadillo meat
1 stick oleo or butter
Lemon juice
Dash onion salt
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Lemon pepper to taste

Season with salt, pepper, lemon pepper, lemon juice, and rub with butter. Wrap in foil and bake at 325 degrees F. for approximately 45 minutes. Remove foil, add more butter and brown. For barbecued armadillo, baste with barbecue sauce over grill after removing foil.

   
ARMADILLO IN MUSTARD SAUCE

1 1/4 cups dry white wine
1/2 cup oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed (optional)
1/4 cup butter
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. rosemary
1 med. onion, sliced thin
1 armadillo, cleaned and cut into serving pieces
1 1/4 cups light cream
1 tbsp. brown mustard (e.g. Gulden's) or Poupon Dijon
1 tbsp. cornstarch

Mix all ingredients of marinade and add armadillo. Marinate about 8 hrs., turning meat occasionally. Remove armadillo and reserve marinade.

Melt butter in deep skillet and brown armadillo pieces. Pour in marinade and bring to a boil. Stir in seasoning, cover and simmer until tender (about 1 - 1 1/4 hours.) Remove skillet from the fire and place armadillo pieces on a warmed platter.

Mix mustard and cornstarch, then mix in cream. Return skillet to low heat and stir in this mixture a little at a time. Stir sauce until hot, but not boiling, and thickened. Pour sauce over armadillo. Serve with steamed rice.

   
ARMADILLO AND RICE

1 armadillo, dressed and cleaned
4 large onions
1 stalk celery
2 cans chopped mushrooms
2 cups rice, uncooked
Salt and pepper to taste
10 cups armadillo broth

Boil armadillo until tender; reserve broth. Remove meat from bones. Cut onions and celery and cook in butter until tender. Add mushrooms and meat and simmer for 5 minutes. Put in a large baking pan or dutch oven and add 10 cups of hot broth; add rice, salt and pepper; stir. Place in 375 degrees F. oven and cook until tender. Serves 12.

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First Tee Masters Tournament

Noah Church displays his trophy

The First Tee of St. Johns County’s Summer Tournament Series kicked off on Saturday June 27, 2009 with The First Tee Masters.  The tournament had a record 39 competitors competing in 3 divisions 5-7 Years Old, 8-12 Years Old, and 13-18 Years Old.

First off the tee (5-7 year-old division) was Elkton, Florida’s Ethan Church crushing his drive right down the middle of the fairway.  Brookes Burkhardt (St. Augustine, FL) got off to an early lead with a bogey on the first hole, however, the consistency of the left-handed Noah Church (Elkton, FL) proved to be too much, finishing with a final score of 34 on the 6 hole circuit.  Brookes Burkhardt came in second shooting 37, followed by Ethan Church in third place with a score of 39.
submitted by Ron (Noah's proud grandfather)


link (I guess that could be considered a golf pun)

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Crescent earth

An Apollo 17 photo.   NASA

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Today's Activities at Coquina Crossing

7:30 Men s Golf @ Shores
7:45 & 8:45 Aqua Aerobics
9:00 Tennis
9:30 Ladies Bible Study
1:00 Mah-jongg
2:00 Dance Class
7:00 Dominos

Tomorrow's Activities at Coquina Crossing

Business Office Closed
7:45 & 8:45 Aqua Aerobics
10:00 Cribbage
1:00 Hand & Foot
4:00 Pickle Ball
7:00 Men s & Ladies Poker
7:00 Mah-jongg

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Click once a day to help feed rescue animals.

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Coquina Daily Sunset

Niagra Falls Sunset by Betty
Betty writes: Caught a sunset while we were visiting our folks in Niagara Falls, NY. I don't recall ever seeing such pretty sunsets when we were living up there.