Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Wild Turkey and Dumplings

Wild turkey doesn't exactly cook like a regular store bought bird. Cooking one in the oven tends to turn out a bird that is pretty dry. I have tried cooking the breasts in the oven in a casserole dish and totally wrapped in bacon....nope still really dry. Then I tried deep fried. BINGO! We tend to do turkey nuggets quite a bit during season :) But the legs are a different story. I boil the meat off and make a rich stock then package it and freeze it for use later.
 
Well, today is later for one such package :)
 
I plopped the frozen broth and meat into a medium sauce pan with some more water to begin the process for dumplings :) I will simmer it for several hours adding some onion, garlic, salt etc along the way to get the flavor of my broth just right.
 
JUST before dinner I will mix up my dumpling dough and start dropping those bad boys in. I usually make two different batches of dumpling dough as I like fluffy dumps and hubs likes them firmer. The only difference? The amount of baking powder I use :) Below is the basic. If you want your dumps more fluffy just add a little more powder but remember....a little goes a LONG way :)
 
  • 1   cup all-purpose flour
  • 1   teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2  teaspoon salt
  • 2   tablespoons shortening OR oil
  • 1/2  cup milk OR broth

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Venison Crock Pot Stew

2 pounds fresh (or thawed) venison cubed
5 potatoes peeled and cubed
a dozen or so baby carrots peeled
Green beans (canned or frozen will work and make it pretty easy
green onion tops
garlic powder
salt


I start by tossing my meat, salt, and onions into the pot and letting them cook for about 6 hours. I then ad my spuds and carrots for the final 2 hours or so. I add salt and garlic along the way and season to taste. Near the end I toss in the beans and then I make a quick gravy by shaking 1/4 cup flour in a jar with about 1/2 cup of water and adding it to 2 cups of the broth in a sauce pan and cooking until it starts to get thick...then I toss it all back in the pot :)





Hunting season has arrived

As controversial as some people find hunting, my family and I depend on the harvesting of animals to sustain us through the year as we buy no meat from the store. Bow season has just kicked off and we were lucky enough to have our first deer of the season down. Now comes the processing, packaging, freezing and of course...the eating :)


While hubby takes care of all the manly aspects of the hunting, I take care of the packaging and the cooking. We usually turn out game into a number of different things. Ground meat, steaks and roasts as well as tips, and sausage.


Yesterday I made the first stew of the season. Tonight we will be enjoying stew day two with homemade flatbread.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

The Move

I grew up on a working ranch and am so excited to be moving back with my husband and children. The big day is coming up fast and I still have a TON to do. Please bear with me while I finish up the move and be ready to join us with all the wonder that is to come :)

Monday, June 16, 2014

and so it begins......

I have been a country gal my entire life. Recently a dramatic change in events made it possible for my family and I to make the move from our small rural home to my family ranch. Complete with pecan groves, cattle and river frontage, we are excited about getting BACK to our simple way of life. Join me in this journey as we not only pack and move to our forever home, but open our children's eyes to a simple way of life. I will be posting a little of everything here. From cooking tips and recipes, to canning triumphs and tragedies. Home school ideas to gardening faux pas. It's an unobstructed view into our journey to get back to our roots and live a better life.