So as most of you know my husband is a MAJOR outdoorsman if it runs, swims, or flies; has fur, scales, or feathers... "Chances are" Chance (ha see what I did there) is hunting, fishing, or calling it in!! Now don't get me wrong I love this about him and I sometimes go with him on his hunts, he always follows the rules of game and fish and always has a license, and we never take more than the limit (if we get that far). If you're going to partake in the wonders of the great outdoors you have to follow the rules! I must say that being out on the boat fishing is my favorite of all of the 'outdoorsy' things he does! Here's why:
Yup that's my 5lb bass!! You can be envious, it's ok!
Even though these activities take up A LOT of time I have to say that by hunting and fishing Chance provides the majority of our meat supply for the year. It's really a blessing that he's able to do that because I don't buy meat, except chicken. So since we eat mostly deer meat I've had to get creative with my recipes! Here are a few:
Deer Roast:
First I caramelize the onions, carrots and some garlic in a pan with a little oil, add a little salt and pepper. After the carrots are a little soft I will add them to the Crockpot, then I sear the roast on all sides in the same pan, when it has a nice brown color on the outside (a little crust is fine too) add it to the crock pot. Add one or 2 cans of beef broth (you can add one can broth to one can water too) then add a packet of Lipton onion soup mix and let it cook on low for 4-6 hours. You can add other veggies too if you’d like, as well as potatoes. You can also use the broth to make gravy.
Round Steak:
I tried it with the brown gravy in the crock pot but I didn’t like it too well. So I make it in a skillet, I will cook it until almost done then add water and brown gravy mix according to the package, and let it cook up. I serve that over rice.
Stew:
I will take round steak or tenderloin and cut into bite size pieces, then roll it in flour and cook it in a skillet with a little oil. To a pot I add the cooked meat, onions, carrots (which I’ve cooked like I do for the roast) green beans, corn, and any other veggie you like, then add a can of beef broth and some water, and I use a package of McCormick beef stew seasoning. Let it cook for about an hour and it’s quite yummy.
Ground:
I put ground deer in just about anything I’d use ground beef. HB helper, spaghetti, lasagna, enchiladas, tacos, taco soup, chili, veggie beef soup, casseroles, sloppy joes… the possibilities are endless.
To remove the gamey taste I will boil the meat from frozen and when it’s done drain it and rinse it and it works well. You can also brown it in a skillet and put it in a colander rinse it and that helps too… that also will remove any fat that was added in the processing.
I’ve also made burger patties browned them in a skillet and mixed in brown gravy like Salisbury steaks.
I’ve made meat loaf as well and it’s pretty good, I add to the meat, crackers, an egg, and whatever seasonings you like, then bake it. The ketchup sauce that you put on the top helps to mask the game!
There’s probably more but I can’t remember right now. If you come across some deer meat I suggest you make something with ground deer and not tell your family and see if they notice… I’m a huge fan of deceiving people with my cooking; it’s a hobby of mine! … Especially those that “don’t eat deer meat” (said as they’re looking down their noses at you). So there you have it! There are all my secrets! I'll leave you with some photos of my honey and his 'trophies'!
-Ashley
