A Recipe For Paw:

Your companionship will be missed but your succulence will be savored. Paw Paw was on a very special diet all his life. Although lean, his meat should prove to be tasty and tender.



Serves 4
4 paw paw shanks
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup rendered salted paw paw fatback
From a garden tended with paw paw at my side:
2 medium celery stalks,
1 medium carrot, coarsely chopped
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
5 sprigs fresh thyme
1 dried bay leaf
1 whole head garlic, cut in half
1/2 cup tomato paste
2 cups red wine
1 cup white wine
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
3 anchovy fillets
1/3 cup white vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups fresh paw paw stock, or 1 cup paw-glace
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. With a sharp knife, cut about 1 inch from the bottom (narrow end) of paw paw's shank down to the bone and all the way around; this will help expose the his bone while cooking.
Heat rendered paw paw fatback in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add paw paw meat, and sear until brown all over, about 2 minutes per side Then remove. In honor of paw paw I am sure not to over cook, paw paw despised dry grainy meat and besides, his meat will tenderize in his memory much better once fresh paw paw braising liquid is added.
Pour off all but 3 tablespoons of paw paw fat. Add luscious vegetable from paw paw's garden. What better way to celebrate his companionship. Paw Paw would romp in the garden for hours while I tended..... celery, carrot, and onion, and cook until soft and beginning to brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add tomato paste, and cook about 3 minutes more. Stir in red and white wine, thyme, bay leaf, peppercorns, garlic, vinegar, and sugar. Increase heat to high, and bring to a boil. Cook for about 5 minutes to burn off some of the alcohol. Add paw paw's stock.
Add back paw paw and return to a boil. Cover and transfer to oven. Cook for 1 hour. Uncover and cook until meat is very tender, turning the paw paw shanks over every half hour, 2 1/2 to 3 hours more.
Remove paw paw from braising liquid; strain the liquid and discard the solids. Skim any fat that rises to the surface and use the liquid as a sauce. Fat should be minimal since paw paw was very lean and on a strict diet. Spoon some polenta onto a serving plate. Top with a paw paw shank. Spoon sauce around paw paw and serve him immediately because paw paw hated to wait.
In your memory Paw, it's a good thing.