Jump to content
  • Welcome to the eG Forums, a service of the eGullet Society for Culinary Arts & Letters. The Society is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of the culinary arts. These advertising-free forums are provided free of charge through donations from Society members. Anyone may read the forums, but to post you must create a free account.

Not a Sweet Little Bunny


Recommended Posts

There are more bunny references I did not add to my bunny icon list, too. Mostly because they are rabbits, not bunnies, though they are white. And rabbits are more serious things than bunnies, so the emotional appeal is missing. Plus I had no thesis, and if I started in on this stuff, I'd have to *find* a thesis. :biggrin:

There is the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, always wondering what time it is. There's the song from the Jefferson Airplane "White Rabbit".

On the other hand, it seems to me that both Glenn Close and Michael Douglas look peculiarly like white rabbits. Too scrawny for my taste, though, and the lack of emotional appeal makes them unappetizing to me.

If I needed something to eat, and had to find something, and had to make a choice, I'd still have to choose

, grass-eating symbol of sweetness ( and symbol of all that is wrong with society, in *this* house :laugh: ), and hope that a bunny-like gentleness would imbue me. While hoping the bunny I chose to eat was not Bunnicula. :sad: Edited by Carrot Top (log)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Last Sunday's New York Times Magazine section had an interview with the author of the Rumpole of the Bailey books (can't recall his name.) He said he and his wife had recently acquired three pigs, as she grew up on a pig farm and missed the animals. The pigs were named Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Carrot Top -- You forgot the most familiar bunny of all (especially at this time of the year): the Easter Bunny!

Glad to hear your son's has gotten a reprieve!

BTW, friends of ours have a rabbit as part of their menagerie. It lives in a cage in the dining room, but is let outdoors in the fenced yard to play. Their other pets -- 2 dogs and several indoor/outdoor cats -- get along with said bunny just fine, as does our dog whenever he visits. :smile:

SuzySushi

"She sells shiso by the seashore."

My eGullet Foodblog: A Tropical Christmas in the Suburbs

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The pigs were named Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

:laugh: If only they could get two of a smaller breed and name them Snack One and Snack Two. :raz:

Carrot Top -- You forgot the most familiar bunny of all (especially at this time of the year): the Easter Bunny!

Glad to hear your son's has gotten a reprieve!

BTW, friends of ours have a rabbit as part of their menagerie. It lives in a cage in the dining room, but is let outdoors in the fenced yard to play. Their other pets -- 2 dogs and several indoor/outdoor cats -- get along with said bunny just fine, as does our dog whenever he visits.  :smile:

It's snowing outside at the moment, Suzy, otherwise Bunny (see, now his name's capitalized, the crafty creature) would be outside. No fenced yard, though. But I'm thinking "playpen". :laugh:

...............................................

Bunny's fate has probably been finally sealed, yes. This morning he kissed my finger when I gave him his carrot. How can you eat a bunny that has kissed you? I realize it was probably only the salt we humans have on our skin, not being covered with fur like he is, but anyway.

Sly Bunny.

.................................................

It's interesting, though, where we draw the lines and how we draw them, on what we will eat or not. :wink:

P.S. Suzy - The Easter Bunny must have received a religious deferrment or something, in my mind. He is the Sacred Bunny. :biggrin:

Edited by Carrot Top (log)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My husband and I have lived with rabbits, cats and dogs. All creatures, including humans, vary in intelligence, but in general the rabbits are no dimmer than the cats or dogs. We have had at least one rabbit who was much brighter than our cats.

Rabbit nails must be clipped. Rabbits can easily be litter trained, although you may need to have your rabbit neutered, as you would your cat or dog, in order to achieve the best behaviour (and to keep your rabbit from dying an early death from cancer).

Rabbits will chew. They must, in order to keep their constantly growing teeth worn down. Rabbit homes need to be "bunny proofed," which mostly involves covering exposed wires and providing alternative chewables.

Read the FAQs at the House Rabbit Society or buy a copy of the House Rabbit Handbook. If you are have questions or problems with your son's bunny, feel free to drop by The Pets Forums and ask in the Rabbits section. I'll be there.

(And by the way, if your rabbit licked you, he was grooming you. It is social behaviour -- he's trying to be friends! See The Language of Lagomorphs for more about rabbit language and social behaviour.)

Diane (and Wilson the house rabbit)

Remember: Friends don't let friends eat friends.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bunny's fate has probably been finally sealed, yes. This morning he kissed my finger when I gave him his carrot. How can you eat a bunny that has kissed you? I realize it was probably only the salt we humans have on our skin, not being covered with fur like he is, but anyway.

You figured it out on your own. That fiendish bunny was tasting you. Once they've had a taste . . . .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bunnies are cute but I would have no problem eating one, even if it was my pet. It probably wouldn't taste very good if it died of natural causes but if it was, say, electrocuted from chewing on those wires I'll gladly eat it. Homer Simpson has it right, being eaten is what it would've wanted.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Carrot Top, I am a 4-H Youth Specialist for University of Missouri Extension.

I am sorely afraid that you are (I am so sorry to have to say it) too advanced in years to become a 4-H'er.

If, however, you were between the ages of 5 and 19, you could work on a rabbit project.

The first year's book is called "What's Hoppening?" Second year is "Making Tracks" and the third book is "All Ears."

Unlike beef and pork projects, you don't have to sell your animals at the end of the fair, so they wouldn't have to end up on someone's plate.

They could go on to live long and happy lives. :biggrin:

(Though most 4-H'ers with rabbit projects are well aware of the culinary delights of their project. Farm kids, ya know.)

When my kids were little, their dad used to hunt rabbits. My youngest told my mom that "Daddy killed the rabbit, and Mommy turned it into chicken, and I ate it!"

sparrowgrass
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My grandparents, Bertha & Adolph (I am not making this up!) emigrated from Germany. When my brother was growing up, my Grandmother would give him a little bunny every spring. Each year, it would escape about a week before a Sunday dinner of haasenpfeffer (sp). It took him about 3 or 4 years to figure it out and claims he was scarred for life. This all happened before I was born, and I'm just sorry that I never had a chance to try her traditional rabbit stew - she was a marvelous cook.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My grandparents, Bertha & Adolph (I am not making this up!) emigrated from Germany. When my brother was growing up, my Grandmother would give him a little bunny every spring.  Each year, it would escape about a week before a Sunday dinner of haasenpfeffer (sp).  It took him about 3 or 4 years to figure it out and claims he was scarred for life.  This all happened before I was born, and I'm just sorry that I never had a chance to try her traditional rabbit stew - she was a marvelous cook.

Gariotin that is so mean! You were my cheese idle...now I don't know what to think about you!!! Kidding, but that really is cruel! To take a childs pet and cook it!!!

"One Hundred Years From Now It Will Not Matter What My Bank Account Was, What Kind of House I lived in, or What Kind of Car I Drove, But the World May Be A Better Place Because I Was Important in the Life of A Child."

LIFES PHILOSOPHY: Love, Live, Laugh

hmmm - as it appears if you are eating good food with the ones you love you will be living life to its fullest, surely laughing and smiling throughout!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just be glad that your son's bunny isn't this little white bunny

Wow. Yes, I'd forgotten about that addition to the Bunny Hall of Fame. :blink:

(And by the way, if your rabbit licked you, he was grooming you. It is social behaviour -- he's trying to be friends! See The Language of Lagomorphs for more about rabbit language and social behaviour.)

Diane (and Wilson the house rabbit)

Remember: Friends don't let friends eat friends.

I enjoyed your links very much, Diane. And I'm still musing on that last line you wrote. :laugh:

You figured it out on your own.  That fiendish bunny was tasting you.  Once they've had a taste . . . .

I'm being careful and carrying both my carrot and my big stick, Dignan. :biggrin:

Bunnies are cute but I would have no problem eating one, even if it was my pet. It probably wouldn't taste very good if it died of natural causes but if it was, say, electrocuted from chewing on those wires I'll gladly eat it. Homer Simpson has it right, being eaten is what it would've wanted.

I used to be that macho. I really don't know what has happened to me, Kent. :sad:

I am sorely afraid that you are (I am so sorry to have to say it) too advanced in years to become a 4-H'er. 

(Though most 4-H'ers with rabbit projects are well aware of the culinary delights of their project.  Farm kids, ya know.)

When my kids were little, their dad used to hunt rabbits.  My youngest told my mom that "Daddy killed the rabbit, and Mommy turned it into chicken, and I ate it!"

Funny how one is either too old or too young, throughout life. :wink:

I do have a rural perspective on rabbits, but this may change. I believe it's all due to the fact that when we had to give my son a middle name (his father is Catholic so you have to choose a saint's name) I chose "Francis" as in the guy with the animals. Sigh. Mistake, for culinary purposes.

a Sunday dinner of haasenpfeffer (sp). 

Hassenpfeffer is still my favorite bunny . . .er . . .rabbit dish. It is a thing unto itself, a thing with a name that is strong and a taste that is itself. :smile:

Gariotin that is so mean! You were my cheese idle...now I don't know what to think about you!!! Kidding, but that really is cruel! To take a childs pet and cook it!!!

Rabbit dishes cooked with cheese are very good too, LindsayAnn. :shock:

:raz:

..............................................

Here's a site with a lot of rabbit recipes. It's a ferret site, which reminds me that ferrets are used to hunt rabbits.

Anybody ever eaten a ferret? :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, that's just so wrong!!!!

Depends, depends. I'm thinking the lady from Cork posting might have been having a bit of a laugh. :rolleyes: But it got me to thinking about other things that one culture might not eat that another one will.

Before having this fine little bunny for a pet, my son used to have lizards.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've had monitor lizard (grilled over charcoals). It tasted like chicken, I'm serious.

It seems that the huge monitor lizards up in the mountains of Negros Island in the Philippines eat only chickens or birds.

It was delicious! The only weird thing about it was that there were 4 drumsticks on the roasting spit and they were huge! :blink:

Doddie aka Domestic Goddess

"Nobody loves pork more than a Filipino"

eGFoodblog: Adobo and Fried Chicken in Korea

The dark side... my own blog: A Box of Jalapenos

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Almost a month since my dilemma. *This* specific dilemma, anyway.

Following the general trend of advice given, I decided to not eat the bunny.

He/she/it has been somewhat better behaved, and has forced us into making a generous space of the house available for it to be comfortable in without destroying everything we own. It is better at doing its business where it should, but still is not perfect. I've learned that in order to have it be perfect, it must be spayed.

I called the vet today to find out how much it would cost to spay the little bunny. The delicate, delicious, Springtime Feast of a little bunny oh no I mean my son's pet.

Two hundred dollars *without* pain medication.

More, if I want pain medication for it during the process.

This is the most expensive meal I have *not* decided to partake of. Yet. Two hundred dollars. I could eat the bunny *and* fly to NYC and have a decent lunch at a good restaurant, too.

There's got to be a saying about this. If there isn't, one should be made up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I called the vet today to find out how much it would cost to spay the little bunny. The delicate, delicious, Springtime Feast of a little bunny oh no I mean my son's pet.

Two hundred dollars *without* pain medication.

More, if I want pain medication for it during the process.

This is the most expensive meal I have *not* decided to partake of. Yet. Two hundred dollars. I could eat the bunny *and* fly to NYC and have a decent lunch at a good restaurant, too.

Your Post inspires me to start a Topic called "The Most Expensive Meal I Never Ate", which I shall endeavor to get to later today.

There's got to be a saying about this. If there isn't, one should be made up.

How about a haiku?

Bunny in the home,

Emblematic of Spring Time,

Spay or eat, you choose.

SB (is the "pain medication" for the bunny, or you?) :wink:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mooshmouse- that kinda sounds like what happened to my mom as well... she grew up in greenhills and they did the same thing with her pet pig. She was so upset she got a fever. An uncle of mine had a nice pet down which he grew up with- and one day when he got back from school he was wondering where his pet dog was- and they told him, "You know those meat chips you were having a while ago? that's browny.." poor guy.. needless to say, my mom and uncle are vegetarians now, and so am I- I haven't eaten any meat whatsoever..

A neighbor of mine stole one of my rabbits and ate the poor thing and another time my dog killed one of my rabbits and offered it to me. That really freaked me out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

He/she/it has been somewhat better behaved, and has forced us into making a generous space of the house available for it to be comfortable in without destroying everything we own. It is better at doing its business where it should, but still is not perfect. I've learned that in order to have it be perfect, it must be spayed.

Two hundred dollars *without* pain medication.

More, if I want pain medication for it during the process.

You're doing the right thing, and it sounds like everything is going well. Perfection takes time to achieve, and you can expect to find some pellets here and there always -- accidents happen -- but bunny pellets are odorless and harmless. We keep a dustbuster on top of the cage for those times.

Please pay for the pain medication. And for some to take home to give her in the days afterward. I'm assuming that your bunny is a female? Males are typically a bit less expensive, but it's the females who really need the operation (extremely high incidence of ovarian cancer).

If your rabbit is actually male, you might wait and see, as he may calm down with age and no surgery. He's probably an adolescent and will settle a bit -- although if he starts to exhibit sexual behaviour you are probably stuck with neutering him anyway.

I invite you to drop by ThePetsForums where I am the rabbit section leader, any time you want to vent. We can share our version of rabbit stew -- a lovely vegetarian meal you can enjoy WITH your bunny!

Diane

and Wilson, who says: Bunnies love banana!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dear Diane (and Wilson of course),

You are astonishingly sweet and you are right, of course, given this circumstance.

A bunny stew without bunny in it *is* the way to go, to "take the high road", so to speak, as we sit here in our home where eating the bunny is not a necessity nor really a cultural tradition either.

It would be a pose of some sort, for us to really eat this bunny.

It still is fascinating to me how one animal can be, outside the window as I look in my backyard, considered fair game for hunters and eaters . . . while the same animal inside my house, is considered something to love and cuddle and bond with, something tabu, really, as far as hunting or eating goes.

Same thing. Different mindset dependent on luck of circumstance, on chance.

Fascinating, and touching, deeply touching.

This happens with people, too, I think. They might be separated, sometimes, by virtue of our human nature, into categories that hint of similar attitude.

I'm not sure where the dividing line should be between what we hold dear and what we scorn or consider fodder for survival, or if there should even be one, except that of course, it is a eat or be eaten world and always has been so.

But in this place, this house, that we try to make a home in large and small ways, this bunny will not be eaten.

Sometimes it's hard to stop and think about what we eat, and why we do so. Do we eat from real hunger? From habit? From neccesity? Sometimes from simply wanting to "eat" in a metaphoric sense, to consume? Sometimes, to prove something to someone else or to oneself?

This adorable little white bunny, who will have cost me around five hundred dollars all in all by the end of the week (yes, of course pain killers) . . . this pain in the butt adorable difficult little bunny who makes me wonder at what we choose for pets and what we choose to eat and why . . . is perhaps worth more than five hundred dollars in terms of what he or she might "teach" us, just by being itself.

I'm not sure there's a really good "answer" to the musings bunny will bring, but we're going to listen and watch, and not bite and chew, this time round.

Heh. If Bunny finally becomes "perfect", then perhaps I might have a chance to, also. :smile:

Each to our own ideas of perfection, of course. :biggrin:

Off to wrap more cords,

Karen

Edited by Carrot Top (log)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...