Yesterday Pap and I were talking about the Blind Pig, he’s always asking me what you thought about this or that post. After we’d been talking a while Pap said “Well if you ever get around to it ask them if they’ve ever had or heard of toad frog stew.” Pap said he’d never tasted toad frog stew, but years ago an elderly man told him a story about it.
The man told Pap it was hard times and him and his Grandpa didn’t have nothing to eat. An old Indian lady invited them to come eat with her. It was only after they finished the meal that Pap’s friend asked the lady what was in the stew-she told him it was toad frog stew. The man told Pap he never eat with her again, but he had to admit the stew was pretty tasty.
So have you ever heard of or had toad frog stew-Pap wants to know?
Tipper
Appalachia Through My Eyes – A series of photographs from my life in Southern Appalachia.
I’ve heard of frogmore stew, but not toad frog stew. Wonder if that’s where frogmore stew started?
Me? Frog ain’t for eatin’!!!
We have lots of little toads and frogs around our house. I think they are so cute, but I don’t think I would ever eat them.
I’m surprised my brothers didn’t try to get mother to cook toad frog stew. They had her cook almost anything they killed and brought in.
I went frog gigging with my brothers one night. I’ll never forget the darkness of the swamp except for the flashlight shined on the bull frogs. They seemed to freeze in the light and made perfect targets for the barbed spear. I cried and carried on until I and my sister were put off on a “hammock” in the swamp.
We stood as still as those frogs until brothers came back to get us.
I ate one frog leg before I was told it was not chicken. But never again.
I like the little frogs and think they are pretty to look at and not for eating.
Glenda Beall
I don’t dare mention this to my husband. We have lots of toads at the pond this year and he might want me to fix him a mess of it! 🙂
I HAVE NOT TRIED THE TOADS BUT DID
SEE LOT OF THE OLDER PEOPLE GATHERING THEM WHEN I WAS IN NAM,
GUESS THEY ATE THEM.I’M NOT SURE THESE WERE TOADS BUT SMALL FROGS FROM THE RICE PADDIES.
Just about my biggest fear in life are toads and frogs. Glad I wasn’t served it.
I’ve heard people talk about eating lots of things, including snapping turtle(tastes like chicken, lol!), but no little toad frogs. Mitchell tells me they used to eat songbirds-according to him, they were delicious!
Have heard of Frogmore Stew, but not Toad Frog Stew.
God bless.
RB
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hmmm well i dont think i would want to eat that stew either… but i think if the indian woman cooked it she knew what was edible ..as they knew the land the best… guess it has to be an aquired taste.. but along with the rest of the comments.. i think the little toads should live their (hoppy) lives in the pond and not eaten..
thanks again for some delightful thoughts..
big ladybug hugs
lynn
Yuck!! I agree with Mamabug, I think they’re cute!
One time my grandson (a little tot at the time) put a toad inside a little toy truck; it put it’s “arm” outside just like a human would do. Always made me think of Toad, in The Wind in the Willows.
I realize there are some noisy creatures in our trees, but I can truthfully admit that I have never tried to eat any kind of frog. When I lived in FL, people would boat out into the swamp – Everglades – and find themselves hunting big frogs. I don’t know about the little ones. I am definitely not a frog eatin’ lady and I’m stickin’ to it.
Tipper , I’ve never eaten toad frogs but ask Pap if he’s ever eaten coon or groundhog or possum.
Larry Proffitt
I never heard of Toad Frog Stew!
Amy-I’ve heard of a fish camp-that was like a resturant-is that what you mean?
Blind Pig The Acorn
Celebrating and Preserving the
Culture of Appalachia
http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com
We humans sure are adaptable animals! I can’t imagine eating toad frogs though, and hope times never get that hard again! Thank Pap for sharing!
There’s an old Chinese saying, “Everything under the sun is edible except a wolf’s heart and a dog’s lungs.”
Bill-Pap always heard they were posion too-that’s why he was so curious about the stew. Everybodys fine as frog hair here : ) I’m like Debbie-I just couldn’t resist!
Blind Pig The Acorn
Celebrating and Preserving the
Culture of Appalachia
http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com
Mary-he really was serious about the stew : )
Blind Pig The Acorn
Celebrating and Preserving the
Culture of Appalachia
http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com
Having been raised beside the “Little T” st Needmore, NC where two High Water Sloughs which we called Frog Ponds when the water level was normal since they both held populations of Bull Frogs. These Bull Frogs quiet often found there way to our table and provided fine fare. I have never tried “Toad Frogs” but if faced with starvation I can see where it could happen as I’m sure the meat on the Toad’s Legs would be similar to that on the Bull Frogs. I know I would be very cautious and avoid using any part besides the legs though since I have seen my dogs react to the secretions which come out of the Toad’s back when the dogs tried to pick them up. Hunger can change one’s sensitivities, my Aunt who was living in Germany during and after WWII has told me of her father “acquiring” a piece of Horse Meat which was the first meat they had had for some time. She related that once she got past the aversion to eating “Horse” she remembers it being one of the best meals in her life. I assume “Toads” could fill the same niche.
Tipper, I never heard of Toad Stew but frog legs are considered a delicacy so I don’t know any reason you couldn’t make stew with them.
If you used the size critter in the picture Chitter is holding it would take a lot of them and it might take a while to clean them. LOL
If you’ll make some, I’ll try it! I bet the Deer Hunter would help, he likes to cook.
Ask Pap if he would try it if you make some!
Never heard of it, but I’ve had frog legs. so why not. I suppose….although I’m kinda grimmacing as I type this response.
Well.. I sure haven’t.. unless you count the movies and stories where the old witches are flinging in a few frogs to make their spells work! I do not think I would care for any of that stew though. Can you imagine eating and then not being able to talk! You would have a frog in your throat! (Sorry.. I just HAD to do that.. it was begging me to say it! ) Tipper.. have a hoppy day!
Haven’t had the stew, but I know some people who absolutely love frog legs, deep-fried, of course. I think judging how good something was depends on how hungry you were at the time!
You know, I lived in South Louisiana for a long while, and I tell you, they will eat ANYTHING, so this does not surpise me *laughing!*
I hope to meet Pap one day – you think he’d adopt me? 😀
dont even want to think about this stew , i guess weve eaten a lot we know nothing about , but i,d think it would take a bunch of those little things to make much stew ,
anyway we know we can get out now and if we,re lucky catch a bucket full and when hard times come then
we invite our neighbors and cook up a kettle full of toad frog stew
whhheeeeeee. good for a laugh
Tipper, I believe that I have heard of many things about the old ways of Appalachia, but I have never heard of Toad Frog Stew. Fried Frog legs to be sure, so maybe they made stew from those parts. Sure Pap is not pulling your leg???
Tipper, I have not had toad frog stew or anything except bull frog legs. When I was young everybody always told me toads were poison to eat,that is the only old time thing I have heard but would like to know if that is true. How is everything down your way with everyone? Bill
EEEWWWWW….I think that is what my grand-daughter would say. Can’t say as I ever had the pleasure (sic) of tasting toad frog stew. However I do love to dine on those old bull frog legs. So maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as it seems. Happy Labor Day.
Never heard of that one! Probably tastes fine, as long as we get past the thought of the meat source.
Handled lots of toads when I was a kid. Never got a wart until years later.
Never, have had turtle soup though.
I’ve never tasted toad frog stew but I love frogs’legs with lots of garlic! – a traditional french dish.
Tell Pap this North Carolinian has never heard of toad-frog stew. I have tasted frog legs before…that somebody PAID for at the fish camp. Ever heard of a fish camp?
Tipper–I’ve never dined on that questionable delight, toad frog stew, but I’ve enjoyed frog legs many a time.
I have eaten a lot of other wild meats which might raise some doubts in the minds of those who aren’t up to a culinary challenge–mountain lion backstrap, muskrat stew, gator tail, rattlesnake, armadillo, gar, ‘coon, ground hog, and more.
Daddy had a fit when he learned, many years after the fact, about the muskrat stew. I trapped them a bit as a boy and there was a wonderful old colored lady, Aunt Mag Parrish, who would buy the carcasses after I had skinned the muskrats. She paid a quarter apiece for them, which was good money back in the late 1950s. Aunt Mag was a splendid cook and always offered me something when I stopped by to visit. One cold winter day she had a savory stew with a meat I didn’t readily identify, but I ate two scrumptious helpings before I thought to ask what I was enjoying. I can still see her smile and hear her cackle: “White boy,” she said, “you be eatin’ muskrat stew.”
It was delicious and I now know, their appearance notwithstanding, that muskrats are clean vegetarians.
Jim Casada
http://www.jimcasadaoutdoors.com
Lordy mercy! I have never heard of such a thing! But I’ll tell you one thing! Way back when we were sitting in a fancy restuarant down in New Orleans, I ordered turtle soup! It was expensive but I sure couldn’t finish it. Guess I wasn’t hungry enough!
Eva Nell
Tipper,
I have never eaten toad frog stew…but have eaten fried frog legs with hesitation at the suggestion of family…
Is it like “stone” soup?
Speaking of such, I saw last night a tiny green tree frog climbing up the window..so small that he wouldn’t even make a good H’orderve…ha
Thanks Tipper,
Oh how gross!!! I wouldn’t want to eat with her either. As kids,Mama would tell us not to pick them up cause they’d cause warts. Am sure that was a scare tactic cause she thought they were nasty. Guess if you were hungry enough—well I’d have to starving!!!!!
This post almost made me cry. I couldn’t think of eating these beautiful little creatures. I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for toads. Their little black eyes are flecked with gold and if they are comfortable sitting in your hand they’ll sometimes chirp.
That is a totally new one to me. I don’t think it will be served up here, if we are going to eat frog it will be frog legs!