06 Jan DEER MEAT TREATS!!!
Hunters and gatherers are necessary to feed family and friends. The deer, waterfowl, fish, and other critters are what is for dinner. There is no point in harvesting them if you do not plan to put them on the menu.
Deer meat, or venison, is my favorite of all wild game meats. Whitetails are healthy, free range, organic, and delicious. Many hunters simply do not know how to cook them. Great recipes are available but sometimes it is necessary to sample them first. This is a perfect opportunity to plan a party.
Wild Game parties are great fun. You can invite family and friends. Everyone can contribute their BEST deer or wild game dish. Have them also bring copies of their recipes. Prizes can be fun for the “Tastiest”, “Best Presentation”, “Most Original”, or whatever. Pair the dinner up with a sports game, birthday, or other event, and you will have yourself a wonderful feasting event.
Here are a couple great Deer Meat Treats to try.
DEER SLIDERS
3-4 pound deer roast
Montreal Steak Seasoning
4-5 garlic cloves
Large sliced Red onions
1 cup Italian salad dressing
1 Beer
Place the roast in a slow cooker or crock pot. Sprinkle with the seasonings and place the onions and garlic on top. Pour the beer and dressing over top. Cook on high for 6 hours or low for 8-10. Keep the lid closed. Low and slow is the key.
Once the meat is done, shred it with a fork and mix the cooked garlic and cooked onions together. The juice can serve as a dip, or au jus, that you can drizzle over top the meat.
Use slider buns, biscuits, bread, or the Hawaiian small rolls to place the meat on. Place a slice of Colby Jack cheese atop each meat pile and broil until melted. You can hold them together with a tooth pick and serve warm.
TWO HOUR JERKY
Everyone loves great jerky. This quick and simple recipe is always does a quick disappearing act. Cut deer meat into strips about ¼ inch thick. Cut with the grain and remove all silver skin and fat. If you have tougher cuts of meat, you can cut across the grain. Roasts and steaks can be used for the jerky. Many hunters often find old packs of meat in the freezer. This is a perfect way to utilize them.
Soak the meat strips in a brine. This will safeguard against any trichina or other organisms. Prepare the brine with 2 quarts of water, ½ pint of vinegar, 2 tablespoons of pepper. This amount of brine is perfect for about 10 pounds of meat. Boil the meat stripped in the brine for about 5 minutes.
Place the brined flat strips onto a tray and use a rolling pin, or bottle, to squeeze out any moisture. If the juice is too red, boil a few minutes longer. Your jerky should now be grayish brown in color and have a rubbery texture.
Arrange the meat strips onto an oven rack. Allow for space between each strip. Use the oven’s warm setting, about 200 degrees, and keep the oven door slightly open so that moisture can escape. Remove the meat when it is almost dry. The strips should bend but not crack apart. The drying process takes about an hour and not every piece of meat dries at the same rate. Monitor the process and exchange done strips with additional pieces. Once the meat strips are dry, lay them onto a tray for the final seasoning.
Paint the meat with your favorite steak sauce. Use a clean paint brush or basting brush to apply A-1, Worcestershire sauce, or Heinz 57 sauce. You can also make a sauce from scratch. Try using a mixture of ketchup, vinegar, with your favorite spices. Tabasco, Cajun, or Buffalo Wing spices also work well. The more familiar flavors allow less adventurous eaters to enjoy a taste they are accustomed to.
The dried meat strips soak up the sauce instantly. You can re-paint the meat for additional flavor. You can make samples of several flavors and give them unique names to make them your own. Present them at your party in small baggies and watch them disappear.
For longer storage, place the meat strips into sealable jars and mark the date on them. I have stored the jerky for a year, accidently, when it was hidden in the truck gear box. If your family or friends find it first, it will be gone!
Once you learn how to properly cook deer meat, you will never give it away or donate it to a homeless shelter again. Maybe just drop off some jerky instead.
Feast with your friends!
Montana Grant
For more Montana Grant, visit his website at www.montanagrantfishing.com.