Liver and Onions with Bacon

We have been very fortunate to have a few deer to put in the freezer this hunting season. So it's been back to "The Shop" to cut it up, then a jaunt back to Mom's kitchen to wrap and label. Dad even bought a new little freezer this year to store the extra meat in, which means we have certainly been blessed with meat to last us quite a while.

Our family has always taken it upon ourselves to cut up our own venison, then we bring it to our local Locker Plant to have the scraps made into burger, deer sticks, summer sausage, and Polish sausage. The steaks, tenderloins, stew meat, and roasts are wrapped and popped in the freezer while we wait for the rest to be ready, thinking about that first juicy burger that will hit our plate soon.

Mom's a bit squeamish about all the blood involved, and has to take a break now and then, but she's a trooper for sure. She is a "Professional Meat Wrapper", and beyond the "Neck Soup with Barley" that Dad makes out of the neck meat right away, she is the creator of all the yummy meals that use what Dad worked so hard to provide for us.

It's a family event that has been mastered over my Dad's 62 years of deer hunting.  He wields the knife and saw like the pro that he is.  He has not missed a year in the woods since he was 10 years old, and he now takes The Kid and I out with him to pass on his legacy. I can't imagine a better man to teach us.

Back in the day, when I was a younger gal, Mom would use the liver from the deer to make "Liver and Onions". Nowadays, you have to worry about diseases, and it's not recommended that you use the organ meat from a deer. But let me tell you, if a friend or family member happens to buy a cow, and is willing to bring us the liver, the skillet is comin' out folks.

Liver and onions is one of those dishes your kids are gonna freak out about.  In my house we have a rule, The Kid has to try ONE BITE of something new, as much as he doesn't think he will like it. Then if it's as gross as he figures, he doesn't have to eat any more of it. Happily this rule has lead to him to liking A LOT of foods that he never would have known he really liked. He even enjoys some of Grandpa's creations that even I can't swallow, like radish sandwiches and raw onions. 

If you are so inclined, and you have no health issues (liver is high in cholesterol and iron), dietary or personal preferences that would keep you from making this dish, give it a go. Just the fact that it's smothered in bacon and onions makes you want to at least try a bite.  This is a dish we only get to make once every few years or so, and to say we enjoy it is an understatement.

We have found that serving liver with a bit of classic yellow mustard gives it an awesome tang, and cuts back on the gamey flavor of the meat.  Our side dish is always boiled potatoes, topped with melted butter and some salt and pepper.

LIVER AND ONIONS WITH BACON               Printable Version

Beef liver

1 lb. bacon

1 large yellow onion

1 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

Boiled potatoes

Classic yellow mustard

Separate the bacon into slices.  Slice up the yellow onion. In a large skillet, fry the bacon and onions until the bacon is cooked and the onions are soft.  Remove from the pan to a plate, leaving the bacon drippings in the pan.

Stir together the flour, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl.  Slice the beef liver into 1/4" thick slices.  Dip the liver in the flour mixture and coat both sides.  Fry in the bacon grease until browned on both sides.  Add the cooked bacon and onions back into the pan.

Pour onto a large platter.  Serve with a squirt of yellow mustard for dipping the liver, and boiled potatoes with butter.

Ducks and Pheasant and Geese, Oh My!

The majority of our meals come from the land and the water that surrounds us.  But during a few special months of the year, our meals come from the AIR.

From my Great-Great Grandpa George and Grandma Ethel...

to my dad and brother...

we enjoy bird hunting, and LOVE bird eating.

Dad used to hand harvest wild rice every Summer, and it would be used in this recipe for "Partridge Hot Dish". Wild rice can be purchased in the grocery store, just look for the kind that isn't commercially made. Commercially made wild rice is almost black in color, and tastes NOTHING like the brown wild rice that is hand harvested. Believe me, it's worth every extra penny to get the real stuff.  

This hot dish can be made with any kind of bird; grouse, pheasant, goose, duck. Some boneless chicken breasts would even work in a pinch. As long as you have a bed of wild rice to nestle it into, it will be wonderful.

Crack open a can of cranberry sauce to serve along side this for a little zing.

Partridge Hot Dish                              Printable Version

Two birds, cleaned and cut up into chunks

Olive oil

1 c. onions, diced

1 c. celery, diced

1 c. cooked wild rice

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 c.water

1 can peas

1 can mushrooms

4 Tbsp. soy sauce

Measure 1/2 cup of wild rice into a large glass bowl. Wash and rinse it with cold water until the water is no longer cloudy.  Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a medium pot. Add the wild rice, then reduce the heat to maintain a low boil. Cook until the rice is tender, about 45 minutes.  Drain the rice in a fine-mesh colander so as not to lose any grains down the drain.  Pour 1 cup of the cooked rice into a large bowl. You can use what's left for another dish, or just sprinkle it with some salt and pepper and eat it as a side.

In a medium skillet, add olive oil, onions and celery and cook until both are soft and nicely browned.  Add this to the bowl of wild rice. Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, water, peas, mushrooms, and soy sauce.

Brown the partridge in olive oil.  Stir it into the wild rice mixture.

Coat a 2 qt. baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and spread the mixture into it. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for about an hour.  Serve with cranberry sauce on the side.

Venison

Our family hunts; birds, deer, elk, moose...Dad has passed on his knowledge and techniques through two generations, so far. Growing up we always had venison in the freezer, and processing and packaging it is a family affair.

We cut up our own deer, and bring part of it to a local meat locker to have it mixed with beef for ground meat. The rest is cut up into tenderloins, pounding steaks, and stew meat.

Thanks to a City bow hunt that Dad participated in this fall, we have already been able to eat some fresh venison steaks and burgers, but there is still room in the freezer for more!  Deer sticks and summer sausage are my favorites, so I'm hoping the next deer we get will be dedicated to them.

The kid finally learned the wrapping process, and was in charge of tape.  

Dad made this handy dandy paper cutter many years ago, and was in charge of ripping off just the right size sheets of freezer paper.

Mmmm...tenderloins.  These will be made into Swiss Steak with Mushrooms very soon.

We started hunting with Dad last year, and though we didn't see a thing, learning patience and enjoying some bologna sandwiches and Pringles in the deer stand was sure fun.  This year we will hopefully get to enjoy the full hunting experience, from shooting to eating.

Our Family Recipe

Our family has a rich heritage full of fishing and hunting, with tips, tricks, and "secret spots" that have been passed on through five generations.

We share birthdays, holidays, adventures, successes and failures with food and drink.

As our ancestors tilled, planted, and harvested, so do we.  

We enjoy the fruits of our labors, and cherish the knowledge and green thumbs passed on to us.

And we always leave room for a sweet ending.

We hope you enjoy the food we share and the stories behind it all as much as we do.

What He Taught Me

It's okay for a girl to play with Barbie dolls AND leeches.

Always get back in the driver's seat, no matter how many times you crash.

Some things require a lot of hard work, sweat, and tears.  But the bounty is always worth it.

Winning isn't everything, but it sure is fun.

Take time for a glass of wine...

and to cuddle up with a good book.

Spending time in the kitchen with family nourishes your body AND your soul.

Having a child is the greatest feeling you will ever have. Until you have a grandchild.

There will always be a man in my life (and my mom's) I can count on...no matter what.

Happy Father's Day, Dad.  I love you so.

The Graduate

It seems like just yesterday your Grandma got the call that you had arrived.  We all jumped in the car and raced to the hospital to meet you.  I brought you a giant teddy bear and some flowers for your mom and probably a great big balloon.  Being the first grandchild in the Hanson family, this was beyond a special occasion.

I can't explain to you how proud I am of the young man you have become.  Always ready with a hug for your aunt, and everyone else, though most kids grew out of that phase years ago and wouldn't be caught dead showing affection in front of their friends.  You are smart, and generous, and kind to your cousins.  You work hard with your dad building houses (including mine) and excel at school and sports.  You watch out for your little sister, even though at times you fight.  I went through it all with your dad, I can relate.

Tomorrow you will graduate from high school.  Forgive me in advance if I cry and embarrass you a little, I'm just so happy that you have done so well, and beyond proud to have you as my nephew.

Love you, Kaleb.

Passin' It Down

What would we do without family recipes?  What if each of us had to start from scratch, searching magazines and cookbooks and the internet and compiling our own arsenal of tried and true favorites?

I am so glad I will never have to find out.  In my family, we all like many of the same things, and when we get together, we know what to bring to complement the menu, what dessert would go great at the end of one of our traditional meals, whether it be a fish fry, a ham dinner, or a traditional Thanksgiving meal, even if it's served in January.

Oh the joy of smelling roasting turkey and my Mom's stuffing wafting through the air.  The beans deluxe, the potatoes mashed just right and dredged in gravy, and a side of cranberries, sometimes the jellied kind out of the can with it's naughty little rings still showing, or if my mom's feeling "lazy" the berry variety with just a tickle of jellied mixed in.

Tonight we had this wonderful meal at my brother's house.  He has mastered all of my mom's dishes and even made us one of our family favorite cakes; chocolate cake with white frosting and "mouse turds", which most of you would probably know a little more mildly as chocolate sprinkles.

Oh it was good.  Especially when it was followed by a round of Rummy and some cold beers.

What a treat to enjoy one of our favorite meals in the middle of a long, cold winter.  And an even better treat to share it with family.

Giving Thanks Wherever You Are

All I have to bring is the deviled eggs.  And probably some wine. 

Thanksgiving this year will be celebrated at my sister-in-law's mom's house, or my brother's mother-in-law's house, whichever way you look at it.  My mom gets out of the cooking and cleaning and fussing about this year, and she is totally due.  We all gathered at my house last year, so I am glad that someone else has taken the reigns as well.

I am a bit sad that there won't be our traditional gathering, but when it all boils down it's all about being with family, enjoying each other's company, and being thankful for everything we are blessed with no matter what the location.

I am blessed to be in a wonderful home, having family near to take care of me when I need them.  I am blessed with caring neighbors and friends.  I am blessed with a wonderful son who is my knight in shining armor.  And I am blessed with a life that is truly wonderful no matter what the day may bring.

Here's hoping that you all are able to surround yourself with friends and family you hold dear during this holiday season, whether in your homes, over the phone, or by Video Kinect!  Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

The Changing Seasons

Spring brings new life and fresh grass and too long ago felt warm breezes.  Summer's unending heat and humidity make us wish for the wind's direction to change and bring us relief.  Fall comes and grants the wish in a furious show of blazing shades of crimson and gold, almost too brilliant in their beauty, illuminated by the sun and the shadows around them.  Too soon they become crumpled brown lifeless piles, swept away by rake and wind, their beauty easily forgotten.  Winter keeps us in our cocoons, cloaked in thick coats and blankets to keep out the chill, cursing the short stay of sunshine and the bitter winds that freeze us to the bone. 

Mother Nature can teach us a lot about living our lives.  There is despair and cold, followed by hope and warmth.  There is annoyance and responsibilities and fear, followed by casting aside what has kept us in hiding and lifting our faces to the sky and the sunshine once again.  And thanking God that we continue to make it through each day, no matter what it may bring.

Today I am lifting my own face to the sky, thanking Him and every brave and selfless person who has cared enough and loved me enough to see me through it all.  No matter the storm, I can weather it.  Whatever I have lost or gained, given up or given in to, I have made it through every possible and unexpected storm and created a loving home for my son that no wind or rain, no contempt or jealousy, can tear down.  We will share every season together, loving each other fiercely, growing up together happily, and knowing that we are all the family we will ever need.

Culvert Ops

"Mom, where's Spooky?"

"Gee, I haven't seen him since last night when all the cats had their bedtime snack."

Proceed to check every nook and cranny, since Spooky lives up to his name, and is spooked under beds and into the smallest spaces he can find whenever anyone he doesn't know comes in the door.  Or when there's a thunderstorm.  Or when his younger brother picks on him.  He's a true scaredy cat. 

While I got out of my pajamas into whatever was the fastest outfit I could grab to go search outside, Riley ran out to start yellin' his name.  As I searched everywhere in the house I kept peeking outside to see if he had any luck finding him.  He was in tears, frantic and worried.  None of our cats go outside, especially not Spooky.  So I was worried too, because I knew he wasn't anywhere in the house.

Soon Riley came to tell me that he looked in the culvert under our driveway and "saw two green circles looking at me and then they disappeared!"  Being 10 he isn't quite into investigating dark and scary culverts without some help, but he had run inside to grab a flashlight for me.  I ran over to look and sure enough, there were "two green circles" staring at me, and then the howling started.

I tried to coax Spooky out of the middle of the culvert with absolutely no movement.  I can only imagine how petrified he was, as he had been in there all night, alone.  We don't have much traffic on our street, but dogs can be heard barking all through the day and night.  Of all the pets to be stuck in such a predicament our scaredy cat was the worst choice.  In 12 years he has made the mistake of going outside a total of three times, and none of them turned out well for him emotionally.  I tried speaking to him in my best "mom voice"  all the time realizing that the metal tube was magnifying it 50 times and no doubt freaking him out even more. I tossed kitty treats towards him to no avail.  Finally I told Riley that although I hated to traumatize him even more, we were gonna have to get the hose.

After I had stationed myself at one end of the culvert with a nice fuzzy blanket to catch and comfort him in, Riley turned on the hose full blast, shooting it towards Spooky and crying the entire time; he thought the cat was going to stay in there forever.  Poor kid.  He tries to be such a cool young man but at heart he is just a softy who hates to see any animal in danger.  He wants to be a vet someday and I know it will be the perfect thing for him.

As the water crept slowly down the tube, the green eyes got closer and closer to me, eating the treats I had thrown along his way.  If cats could talk he would have been saying, "Mom, what the he*$ are you doing to me, but thanks for the treats!" Soon he was at the end of the culvert where I could reach him, and just at that moment one of our neighbors came over to see what we were doing laying in the ditch in the middle of the day and if we needed any help.  (I think my neighbors have become accustomed to seeing me out in the ditch after dark with a flashlight picking crawlers, but never during the day.  I'm sure they've also become accustomed to seeing me throwing empty plant pots across the yard and running my lawn tractor in 6th gear, but that's a story for another day). As soon as Spooky heard her voice I could see his brain working him into full bolting mode, so as he started to turn around and go back into the depths I grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and dragged him out the rest of the way, claws dragging on metal the entire time.

He spent the rest of the afternoon being fed extra treats, given lots of water, and enjoying total pampering until he found his favorite spot on the rug under the dining room table, directly in line with the sun shining through the patio doors.  And there he slept off his nightmare.

Poor kitty.  We still have no idea how he got out, but we're sure glad he's okay.

Fur Ball

Just in case you were wondering, Louie is doing just fine.

It took him approximately two minutes to completely take over our house, and our hearts. Yes, he can be a handful. He gets on the counters, drinks from our milk glasses, and attempts to hang from the curtains from time to time. But if you cuddle him just right, and pet him gently, he calms right down and curls up next to you and purrs very, very loudly.

Did I mention that he still has three brothers without a home at our Beltrami Humane Society? I know I told my entire family who was assembled here for Thanksgiving Day. He spent most of it wrapped in a soft blanket being handed around the living room to everyone who wanted to hold him, sleeping the entire time. I imagine he was quite thankful.

Winnie is adjusting. It helps when she has a warm pile of laundry to curl up in.

And if you act like you aren't looking, you might catch them doing this.

Cats put on such a good show of being tough, but they really aren't. Who wouldn't love this guy?

Oh yeah. Spooky. He isn't quite ready to have his picture taken yet. He's still getting used to the idea of another man in the house.