Pheasant and Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup diced leeks
  • ½ cup diced parsnips
  • ½ cup diced yams
  • ½ cup celery and carrot
  • 8oz roasted pheasant meat
  • ½ cup white wine
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree (canned is fine)
  • 2 tbspn fresh thyme, chopped fine
  • 2 tbspn pure maple syrup

Directions:

  1. In a heavy bottomed pot, add 2T of neutral oil such as canola or vegetable oil. Sweat the vegetables over medium heat. Add the pheasant meat and saute for a few moments until it begins to caramelize and stick to the bottom of the pot a little.
  2. Add the wine and reduce the liquid by half.
  3. Add remaining ingredients and stir well.
  4. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 45min to 60min.
  5. Season to taste with Salt and black Pepper.

Walleye in a Bag

Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 (6-8ounce) fillets walleye
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 thin lemon slices (less than 3/4 inch thick; from 1 large lemon)
  • 8 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 garlic cloves, very thinly sliced
  • 12 cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons drained bottled capers
  • 4 small chunks of butter
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 1 cup panko bread crumb
  • 3 tablespoons whole butter
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley and tarragon

Preparation:

  1. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange a piece of foil 12”x16” and drizzle with a teaspoon of olive oil. This can also be cooked on a grill, campfire or in your fireplace right in the coals.
  2. Pat fish dry and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Arrange walleye fillets, skin side down, in center of foil.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté garlic, stirring occasionally, until pale golden, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, zucchini, roasted corn and a pinch of salt. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are softened, about 1 minute.
  4. Spoon hot tomato mixture over fish, then cover by folding the edges together tightly to seal.
  5. Bake until fish is just cooked through, 12 minutes (depending on thickness of fish); check by inserting instant read thermometer into fish to read 150F.
  6. While Fish is cooking, melt the whole butter in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the panko and stir well to saturate the bread crumb with the melted butter. Keep over heat until panko has turned a nice dark golden tan. Add fresh chopped herbs to panko and cool.
  7. Transfer fillets with lemon slices to plates using a spatula (be careful not to tear foil underneath) and spoon tomatoes and juices over and top with the herb crumb. Serve immediately, discarding thyme before eating.

Wild Turkey Buffalo Bites

Ingredients:

  • 1# Brined turkey breast
  • 1 cup Cassava flour
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 2 whole eggs scrambled
  • ¼ cup clarified butter
  • Juice from 1 lemon
  • 1 medium carrot cut into ribbons (shave with a vegetable peeler)
  • 1 rib of celery sliced thin (reserve leaves)
  • ¼ cup Buffalo style hot sauce
  • ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles

Directions to Brine Turkey:

  1. To brine turkey, place all ingredients listed below into a stock pot and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let steep for 10-15 minutes.
  2. Strain and chill brine by mixing with 1 quart of ice cubes.
  3. Once brine is cooled below 41 degrees’ place turkey breast in brine and chill in refrigerator overnight or up to 12 hours.
  4. Remove turkey from brine and air chill in refrigerator until use.
  • ¾ gallon water
  • ¾ cup of sea salt
  • 3 Tbs sugar
  • 2 Tbs pickling spice
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • Zest of 1 lemon

Directions to Prepare Turkey Bites:

  1. Slice turkey breast into thin strips. Place cassava flour, almond flour and egg wash into individual bowls. Start by dredging turkey strips into cassava flour, shake off excess and dip into egg wash. Remove from egg wash and dredge in almond flour. Repeat this process until all turkey has been breaded.
  2. Set breaded turkey aside and preheat large sauté pan over medium heat. Add a generous 2 Tbs clarified butter to coat bottom of saute pan and gently place turkey cutlets into pan. Cook until golden brown and flip. Once turkey is golden brown on both sides and internal temp. is 165 degrees remove from pan and place on a plate with a paper towel to remove excess oil.
  3. To plate toss carrot ribbons and celery leaves with a touch of olive oil and fresh lemon juice. Arrange on a plate and place cooked turkey cutlets over vegetables. Spoon sauce over turkey and sprinkle plate with blue cheese crumbles.

Serves 4 appetizer portions

Wild Turkey Burger (Morel Mushrooms)

Ingredients
-------------------------

  • 2# ground wild turkey (white and dark meat combined)
  • ¼ cup yellow onion - small dice
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 Tablespoon roasted garlic puree
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • ¼ cup egg whites

Directions
-------------------
Gently sauté the onions over medium heat using a small amount of olive oil. Once soft add the salt, garlic puree, fresh thyme and black pepper. Stir to combine and remove from heat to let cool.

Once cooled scrape onions and garlic into a mixing bowl and combine with remaining ingredients. Mix thoroughly using hands. Cover with plastic and let rest in refrigerator for up to a day.

Portion ground meat into approx. 6 oz balls and shape into a patty. (makes 6 patties)

Place patties on preheated 450 degree grill. Cook on both sides for approx 3-4 minutes or until an internal temp. of 165 degrees. Remove from grill and place on a sheet pan.

Top burgers with sautéed morel mushrooms and ramps (wild leeks) if available and melt thin slices of brie cheese over the top. Serve on a toasted bun with sherry scallion sauce or your favorite condiment.

If wild mushrooms and leeks are not available you can easily substitute sliced button mushrooms and caramelized onions for a similar effect.


Sherry scallion sauce

1 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup ketchup
2 Tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 0unce Scallions, sliced 1/16th inch thick
1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/3  teaspoon salt
¼  teaspoon white pepper, ground
1 Tablespoon Sriracha

*Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk to combine evenly. Place in a covered container and keep refrigerated for up to 7 days.

Elk Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:

  • 2 lb. ground elk
  • 4 strips Applewood smoked bacon – small dice
  • ½ Cup Onion – fine diced
  • ½ Cup Celery – fine diced
  • ½ Cup Carrot – fine diced
  • 1 Cup Beef Stock
  • 1/2 Cup Ketchup
  • 1 T. Tomato paste
  • ¼ cup Dijon. Mustard
  • 3 T. Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 T. Cider Vinegar
  • 2 T. Honey
  • 1 ½ tsp. salt
  • Ground pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Pre-heat large skillet or sauté pan to medium high heat. Add diced bacon and stir to prevent burning. As soon as bacon begins to brown and fat has been rendered add ground elk. Continue to stir and break meat into small pieces.
  2. Add diced vegetables and reduce heat to medium, stir occasionally.
  3. Once meat has browned and vegetables are soft, add remaining ingredients and reduce heat to a simmer. Continue to simmer until liquid is reduced enough to just coat meat.
  4. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Keep warm until serving.
  5. To serve place a generous amount of meat on sliced hamburger bun. Serve them as is or top with your choice of ingredients such as onions, pickles, cheddar cheese, etc...

Recipe yields approx. 10 sandwiches

Holiday Roast Beast (Venison Back Strap)

Ingredients:

  • 3# venison back strap— with all silver skin removed
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1# small Yukon or fingerling potatoes cut in half
  • 1# carrots peeled and diced 1” chunks
  • 1# parsnips peeled and diced 1” chunks
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1 large white onion, sliced ½” thick


Directions:

Add sea salt, rosemary, thyme and pepper into a spice grinder and pulse to create a fine grind.
Heat olive oil in a large cast iron or sauté pan.
Season back strap with the seasoning mixture; add to pan and sear well on all sides. Remove from pan and place on a roasting rack. Save sauté pan for vegetables.
Place rack into a 350-degree oven and roast to an internal temperature of 125 – 130 degrees for medium rare.

While venison is roasting pre heat sauté pan, add cut potatoes and vegetables. Add a small amount of olive if necessary. Just enough to lightly coat. Toss vegetables over medium high heat until they begin to caramelize. Place pan in same oven as venison.
Remove venison from oven and place onto a cutting board. Let rest for 10 minutes at room temperature. Vegetables are done as soon as they soften. Keep warm until serving.

Slice venison and arrange on a platter. Scatter vegetables around venison. Serve with red wine jus’ on the side (optional).

Venison Red Wine Jus:
Ingredients
1 strip bacon - small dice
1 each shallot - small dice
carrot – rough chopped)
1 clove garlic - minced
1 stalk celery – rough chopped
4oz red wine
16oz beef or venison stock

Directions:
In a medium saucepan, render the bacon over low heat. Add the shallots, carrot, garlic, celery. Cook until tender. Add the red wine and reduce to a glaze.
Add the stock and reduce by two-thirds. Pass through a fine strainer and check the consistency. Return to the saucepan and reduce further if necessary. Whisk in 1 tablespoon butter (optional)

Serve au jus’ on side in a gravy boat or ladle over venison.

Serves approx. 8 guests

 

Duck Nachos

Ingredients:

  • 4 – 8” flour tortillas cut in 1/4th
  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • 2 duck breast
  • ½ cup guacamole
  • ½ cup pico de gallo
  • ½ refried pinto beans
  • 4 oz. cheddar cheese
  • 1 whole lime
  • Fresh cilantro

Directions:

1.    Heat oil to 350 degrees. Fry tortillas until golden brown. Remove from oil and drain on paper towel to remove excess grease

2.    Season duck breast with salt and pepper. Place skin side down in pre heated cast iron pan. Sear until skin is crispy and dark golden brown. Finish cooking in 400 degree oven until duck is medium temp. 135 internal degrees. Remove from pan and let rest before slicing.

3.    Spread pinto beans on tortilla and top with a thin slice of duck breast. Top duck breast with guacamole, pico de gallo and finely grated cheese.

4.    Garnish with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

5.    Arrange neatly on a platter and serve warm.

*Recipe is scaled to serve as an appetizer for approx. 4 people.

Beer Elk Chili

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 3 to 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 pounds ground elk
  • 1 green pepper
  • 1 red pepper
  • 1 poblano pepper
  • 2 teaspoons of smoked sea salt ( or regular sea salt is fine…salt to taste)
  • 3 tablespoons of chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon of ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika ( or regular paprika will do)
  •  1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder
  • ¼ teaspoon ground oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper ( add additional for heat)
  • 1 or 2 (12 ouunce) bottles of stout beer (gauge it pending on how thick you want your chili)
  • 1 can (28oz) of crushed tomatoes (use less if you want thick chili)
  • 1 can black beans ( 2 cans can be used if you want thick chili)

Directions:

  1. Melt coconut oil in large stock pot over medium heat. 
  2. Add onion and garlic and sauteed until onions are Lucite or clear about 5 mins. 
  3. Add Elk and salt and break up meat with wooden spoon into small pieces and brown it.  Once almost browned, add in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cinnamon, oregano, cocoa powder, cayenne pepper.
  4. Cook and stir mixture until It darkens, 3 to 4 mins. 
  5. Add in all three peppers, still together.  Stir in beer..let cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
  6. Add in crushed tomatoes and blackbeans. Bring to a simmer at a low heat and simmer for 1 hour.  If mixture becomes too thick, you can add in more beer or a cup or two of water.   Simmer until peppers are tender.  Chili of course gets better if you let it sit for an additional hour before serving.  Serve with your favorite Chili toppings!