President James Garfield was a picky eater. Historians have noted that he really only loved to consume three things: milk, bread, and squirrel soup, the latter being his absolute favorite. According to The Daily Beast, Garfield so loved his squirrel soup that he commissioned one White House officer to get these rodents from the White House grounds, granting him special permission to shoot them.
What does squirrel soup consist of? The official White House Cookbook of 1887 calls for the squirrels to be cleaned and quartered, then set to simmer for several hours in a closed pot of water. Potatoes, lima beans, and corn are then added, and the bones should be strained out with a colander just before it is served. The cookbook calls for the steaming soup to be poured over toasted bread (which has also been fried in butter) and garnished with celery and parsley.
Sadly, President James Garfield wasn't able to enjoy his beloved squirrel soup in the White House for very long. On July 2, 1881, Garfield was at a train station in Baltimore, Maryland, when he was approached by assassin Charles Guiteau. Guiteau was delusional, angry at Garfield for being denied a government position. He had been stalking the president for weeks, patiently waiting for the right opportunity to kill him (via History). Garfield did not die instantly, but his condition gradually worsened until his death on September 19, 1881, at a Jersey shore cottage.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qL7Up56eZpOkunCCkWlna2xfpb%2Bmv8idnKesXZ%2BurrHSZp6aqpaesq2w0madmq6fp7a1sYymnJqkXay2rbiMrKyrqKKewKZ52KisaA%3D%3D