360 replies to this topic

[Shelby]

Ok, since we're smoking a venison roast, we might as well throw on a wild turkey breast and legs, right?

My husband shot this female turkey. She was pretty big!

Sorry for the blurry photos...I was in too much of a hurry, I guess









We'll use these parts for turkey pot pie later on in the week, does that sound good? Or we could make turkey and noodles....or I'm up for any suggestions.

Attached Images

• 

[suzilightning]

shelby-

i am looking forward to any recipes you have on quail and the pheasant pie. john had his first pheasant last month and loved it(course it was roasted draped with bacon didn't hurt). i used the carcass and the darker meats to make stock and pot pie. i currently have 4 quail and 2 squab in the freezer and john is going to be stocking up on venison and pheasant when he goes home next weekend.

we grew up with the mantra that whatever we hunted/fished/etc we ate so i'm with you. well....except for the groundhogs on the farm that were eating the young fruit trees. do you hunt as well or focus on the preserving?

even though your blog ends before Kansas Day any chance of a K.D. party?

[Shelby]

Startin' up the smoker:

Turkey on the bottom, venison on the top.







BTW, I keep having to switch cameras...don't ask lol. So, forgive any yucky pictures.

Edited because after one Bloody Mary I've lost my mind lol.

The venison roast has been brining in some Morton's Quick and Tender, black pepper, garlic and water.

Edited by Shelby, 02 January 2011 - 01:24 PM.

[Shelby]

shelby-

i am looking forward to any recipes you have on quail and the pheasant pie. john had his first pheasant last month and loved it(course it was roasted draped with bacon didn't hurt). i used the carcass and the darker meats to make stock and pot pie. i currently have 4 quail and 2 squab in the freezer and john is going to be stocking up on venison and pheasant when he goes home next weekend.

we grew up with the mantra that whatever we hunted/fished/etc we ate so i'm with you. well....except for the groundhogs on the farm that were eating the young fruit trees. do you hunt as well or focus on the preserving?

even though your blog ends before Kansas Day any chance of a K.D. party?

Oh gosh, you just brought back memories of kindergarten!!!! Before I moved to Colorado, Kansas Day was a big deal. Doesn't seem to be any more as I haven't thought about it in years! We'd draw pictures of sunflowers and Jayhawks. Might just have to figure something out along those lines!!

Sounds like your freezers are going to be full! I have a couple of recipes up my sleeve that you guys might like. Quail are so good that I like them just roasted with salt, pepper and butter. I've also done them like Cornish game hens and stuffed them. They're also delicious wrapped in bacon and stuffed with jalapenos.

My husband and I have dated since 1994. I took hunters education with a bunch of little boys when I was 19 or 20. Back in those days, I went all of the time. Deer, pheasant, goose, turkey, duck...you name it. Goose hunting scared me, though. Laying in that blind on the ground, those geese looked huge! I was terrified I'd shoot one and it would fall straight down and knock me out. With age, I've come to enjoy sleeping in and not freezing my butt off, so I'm more of the preserver/fixer and he's the outdoors man. Now, in the summer time, you can't keep me away from fishing...that's a warm weather activity.

[suzilightning]

you and my mom would have gotten along famously. she would come home from work any day it was nice, change into her fishing clothes and then head for the docks or one of the beaches. course i don't care if i ever look another bluefish, weakfish or rock fish in the face again!!

[MelissaH]

Even before I moved to upstate New York, my culinary favorite of the Little House books was always Farmer Boy. I've actually been through Malone several times (it's about a three hour drive from where I live) but we've never stopped as we've driven through. But I loved the description of the Christmas dinner at which Almanzo ate and ate and ate and ate and ate, and finally put his second slice of fruitcake in his pocket for later. I'm looking forward to this foodblog!

MelissaH

[Shelby]

Thank you, Melissa!

I'm pleasantly surprised at how many of you share my love for the Little House books! Very cool.


Are you guys sick of looking at my kitchen shelves yet? I hope not because I have more. I've been bustling around this afternoon doing a bit of organizing (I know, I know, I should show you how my cabinets are every day, BUT it was a good excuse to throw away some old old spices).

I also figured out how to get a decent picture of the whole kitchen so you can see the layout. We had it remodeled a couple of years ago. I'd do it differently given another chance, but I still like it.

Here is the baking/spice area:

Attached Images

• 

[Dejah]

An amazing start to your blog, Shelby! I am envious of your kitchen, especially the pull out shelves and the very long counter above your stove. Does your stove have downdraft ventilation?

[ScottyBoy]

Congrats on the first 2011 blog! I'm about to get very jealous as you start bringing in and cooking all that local game...

[toolprincess]

I am so excited about the Little House foods! A couple of years ago I re-read the series with a few friends and we thoroughly enjoyed being in Laura's world again.

[rooftop1000]

Last Sunday during the Blizzard here in NJ I got a text that said..."how will we get back home, or will we just wander out onto the open prarie?"

to which I countered "what was for Christmas dinner?"....and so we went all the way back to green pumpkin pie where I finally stumped her LOL

blog on....



tracey

[Shelby]

An amazing start to your blog, Shelby! I am envious of your kitchen, especially the pull out shelves and the very long counter above your stove. Does your stove have downdraft ventilation?

No

Congrats on the first 2011 blog! I'm about to get very jealous as you start bringing in and cooking all that local game...

Thank you for reading!

I am so excited about the Little House foods! A couple of years ago I re-read the series with a few friends and we thoroughly enjoyed being in Laura's world again.

I wish I had a group that would re-read with me...sounds like fun!

Last Sunday during the Blizzard here in NJ I got a text that said..."how will we get back home, or will we just wander out onto the open prarie?"

to which I countered "what was for Christmas dinner?"....and so we went all the way back to green pumpkin pie where I finally stumped her LOL

blog on....



tracey

I think we should invent a Little House trivia game!

[PopsicleToze]

Shelby, it's an amazing blog and I look forward to all of it! One question -- why was the skin removed from the turkey before cooking?

Thanks!
Rhonda

[Shelby]

Smoked turkey and venison are in and sliced.

Turkey:





Venison:

Attached Images

• 
• 
• 

[Shelby]

Shelby, it's an amazing blog and I look forward to all of it! One question -- why was the skin removed from the turkey before cooking?

Thanks!
Rhonda

The skin on a wild turkey is like chewing on a balloon.

Good to see you again!

[kayb]

I've never had livestock. My husband did when he was a kid, so I suppose that's why he doesn't want any now.

I'd love to have a few chickens, but, the coyotes are so plentiful that they wouldn't last a single night.

Plus, I'm a huge animal lover and I'd never be able to part with any of them.

I recall well when we first raised calves and I named them. I was a vegetarian for a year, at least where beef was concerned. Hogs are mean critters, and I never had any compunction about eating pork, no matter I'd been acquainted with that bacon in a previous incarnation.

[ChrisTaylor]

We'll use these parts for turkey pot pie later on in the week, does that sound good? Or we could make turkey and noodles....or I'm up for any suggestions.

What about mole poblano?

[kayb]

Re: The smoked venison. Can I come live with you?

[nakji]

Smoked turkey and venison are in and sliced.

Oh, incredible. I had a 5-kilo turkey for Christmas to feed 15, which cost me 80 USD imported - and you get them free wandering around your neighborhood! Sometimes I miss a big plate of lean meat. Do you eat all the meat you catch in season, and then preserve it for the rest of the year, or do you give any away?

[Shelby]

I decided to do something I've never done before...I know, not really smart for a food blog.

I made cheesy poblano pepper cornbread to use for the bbq venison sandwiches.

First of all, I roasted the peppers on my gas stove--messy, but effective.





Cornbread fixins'



Cornbread batter





I made mini muffins and used ramekins for the sandwich bread

Attached Images

• 

[Shelby]

To go with I made some coleslaw --bag of pre-made slaw, sugar, milk, lemon, salt, pepper and smidge of mayo.



Also, we wanted some french fries!!! Now, I don't know who is to be credited for this...but I know that it's someone out there...

I slice up the 'taters like so



then place in the pot and cover with vegetable oil



and turn the heat on high

[Shelby]

I sliced the ramekin bread in half and browned them in a skillet so that they'd hold up a bit more.





Thinly sliced smoked venison and Curley's bbq sauce go into the oven for 20-30 mins covered in foil to warm.







Yummmmmm

[nakji]

I would like three plates, please. If I give you my address, will you overnight them to me?

And is that the cold oil french fry method from M. Robuchon we see in action?

[Shelby]

Re: The smoked venison. Can I come live with you?

Sure! On one condition....we can live in Hot Springs during race season

[Shelby]

Smoked turkey and venison are in and sliced.

Oh, incredible. I had a 5-kilo turkey for Christmas to feed 15, which cost me 80 USD imported - and you get them free wandering around your neighborhood! Sometimes I miss a big plate of lean meat. Do you eat all the meat you catch in season, and then preserve it for the rest of the year, or do you give any away?

We eat most of it...some we give to my husband parents and to my parents.

[Shelby]

I would like three plates, please. If I give you my address, will you overnight them to me?

And is that the cold oil french fry method from M. Robuchon we see in action?

I'd send it Federal Express!! We have lots of leftovers...only two of us. It's hard to make small portions.

Yes, that french fry method is the one I use. I had no idea it was from someone famous lol....I just wish I could remember where I read how to do it. Thank you for showing me!

[ScottyBoy]

You're killing me! I just ate a bit ago but these posts are making me starve!

Edited by ScottyBoy, 02 January 2011 - 09:09 PM.

[nakji]

I'd send it Federal Express!! We have lots of leftovers...only two of us. It's hard to make small portions.

I'd find it hard to cook for two if I had a whole deer too!! I assume you have a very large freezer and an excellent labeling system in place.

[Shelby]

You're killing me! I just at a bit ago but these posts are making me starve!

I'd gladly have you in to eat! I'm putting up leftovers as we speak.





Thank you, again, to one and all for reading this. My worst fear was that I'd be talking to myself.

I'm off to have an after dinner wine and watch tv from the couch.

Tomorrow, you guys must meet my furry babies....and, there is a full plate (hee hee) of foodie things on schedule!

See ya in the morning!!

[David Ross]

This is going to be a wonderful foodblog. You've brought back some cherished memories of the times I spent on my Grandparents farm in Prineville, Oregon, when I was a boy. Three things I'm liking right now; your pie safe holding cookbooks, the view from your porch and the thought of sipping wine while looking at the fields, and that canned bacon from the Vermont Country Store. Is it really strips of bacon in a can?