Big Game

Venison Pot Roast

Laura Gressett

Building & Planning

3-4 lb venison roast

4 cups dry red wine

1 medium onion, sliced

1 large bay leaf

3-4 peppercorns, crushed

1 tsp salt

3-4 juniper berries

4 Tbls olive oil

Place roast in a mixture of wine, onion, bay leaf, rosemary, salt, crushed pepper and juniper berries. Marinate for at least 2 hours, turning meat occasionally.

Remove meat and pat dry.

Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven; brown meat lightly; cover and bake slowly at 300 degrees 30 minutes to the pound (1 1/2 to 2 hours). If more baste is needed, use heated red wine, or leftover wine marinade (heated).

If desired, make it a meal. Add 6-8 small red potatoes (leave whole), 1 cup chopped celery, and 1 cup chopped carrots to the pot.


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Organic Fast Food

Blain Lux

Corrections

Wyoming Mule Deer



Elk Burgandy

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Sharon Weinhold

Elections

Elk Burgundy

Ingredients:

1 1/2 to 2 pounds elk stew meat cut into cubes

2 cups red wine (Burgundy, Chianti or Merlot)

1 cup Brandy

2 1/2 cups beef stock

6 thick bacon slices coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 onion diced

1 cup pearl onions

16 ounces sliced mushrooms

1 bay leaf

2 cloves garlic

2 teaspoons thyme

2 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons flour

2 tablespoons cornstarch

Salt and pepper

4 green onions chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Heat Dutch oven pot over medium-high heat and fry bacon until lightly browned. Remove and drain on a paper towel. Leave bacon drippings in the pot. Sear cubed elk meat in bacon drippings until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside. Add diced onion and chopped garlic and sauté. Add meat back to Dutch oven. Sprinkle flour over meat and rub to coat. Place in oven for 5 minutes. Stir meat and continue to bake for 5 more minutes. Remove from oven and reduce temperature to 350 degrees. Add wine, brandy, tomato paste and beef stock into meat mixture. Stir gently. Add thyme, salt, pepper and bay leaf. Put back into the oven with the lid on and cook for 3 hours or until meat is tender. An hour before serving, melt butter in a pan over medium-high heat and sauté mushrooms until browned. Add mushrooms and pearl onions to meat mixture and continue to cook in oven for remaining time. Remove from oven. To thicken sauce, mix cornstarch and cold water together and pour into pot and stir.

Serve Elk Burgundy over mashed potatoes or noodles. Garnish with chopped green onions.

Venison Chili

Kathy Pastor

Health & Human Services

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 1/2 lbs lean cut-up (cubed) venison

2 cans 16oz dark red kidney beans, undrained

1 can 28oz cut up tomatoes (you can buy the whole ones and cut yourself, also) 1 1/2 cups chopped green pepper

1 cup chopped onion

1 can (6oz) tomato paste

4-5 garlic cloves, minced

1 Tbsp Chili Powder

1 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp salt

In a 6-quart Dutch oven or stockpot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add Venison and cook for 8-10 minutes or until meat is no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Drain.

Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for 4-5 hours or until meat is very tender.

Garnish each serving with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and chives if desired.

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Dinner for the Year

Blain Lux Corrections




White Tail Tenderloin Steaks with Chanterelles

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Chelsea Chandler

Health and Human Services

Tops these steaks with a pile of chanterelle mushrooms flavored with a Dijon mustard and sweet red wine/balsamic vinegar reduction for a tangy kick.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup beef broth 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons avocado oil 1 pound chanterelle mushrooms, quartered if large Salt and freshly ground pepper 3 dried bay leaves 2 small red onions, minced

1 garlic clove, minced 1 thyme sprig 1 tablespoons red wine vinegar ½ tablespoon sweet balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 pound White Tail Tenderloin Steaks Butterfly Cut (about ¾ inch thick), at room temperature

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE

1. Light a grill. In a small saucepan, boil the broth over high heat until reduced to 1/2 cup, 7 minutes. Remove from the heat.

2. In a large skillet, heat the 2 tablespoons Avocado Oil. Add the chanterelles, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderately high heat until the liquid they release has evaporated, about 4 minutes. Continue cooking, stirring, until the mushrooms begin to brown, about 5 minutes longer. Add the remaining 4 tablespoons of oil, the bay leaves, shallots, garlic and thyme and cook over low heat, stirring, until the mushrooms are tender, 7 minutes. Add the reduced beef broth and simmer for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the vinegar and mustard. Season with salt and pepper and remove from the heat.

3. Season the steaks generously with salt and pepper and grill over high heat until nicely browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 130 degrees for medium-rare, about 2.5 minutes per side. Transfer the steaks to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Gently reheat the chanterelles on the stove top if needed (DO NOT MICROWAVE) and discard the bay leaves and thyme sprig. Thinly slice the steaks and serve with mushrooms.

MAKE AHEAD

The chanterelles can be prepared 4 hours ahead and reheated.

SUGGESTED PAIRING

Match this hearty meat dish with a hefty Cabernet.

(Adapted from: Bone-In Rib Eye Steaks with Chanterelles by Thom Fox, Food and Wine Magazine, January 2007)

Stuffed Sausage Patties

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Marie Dang

Health Department

Sausage Mixture: 3 lbs ground meat (or a blend of ground meat, I like half to be ground pork) mixed with

2 tsp each: dried rosemary, dried thyme, rubbed sage

1 tsp each: garlic powder, onion powder, paprika

Sea salt & pepper to taste, red pepper flakes for spicy sausage

Sweet Potato and Apple Filling: 1 medium Sweet Potato and Green Apple peeled, cubed and boiled in salted water for 7-10 minutes or until soft. Drain and season with: Pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove

Sea salt to taste

1 T. Ghee or butter

Stuff Patties: Take about 2-3 ounces of meat mixture and flatten in hand, scoop about 2 T filling onto patty. Take another 2-3 ounces of meat mixture, flatten and cover filling. Seal and shape patty, if mixture leaks out it's okay. Repeat until you can't make anymore, may have leftover stuffing mixture (can eat or discard).

Fry patties on medium high heat for 3 minutes each side (oil in pan if needed, I dry fry in my nonstick pan), pour ½ cup water in pan and sprinkle with salt. Cook until liquid evaporates and patties should be cooked through. Repeat as needed, clean pan if needed for each batch of patties.

You can bake these or even make a meatloaf and keep it simple. I would do 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes until cooked through

Bear Roast

Laura Gressett

Building and Planning

3-4 lb roast (rib or loin) salt

pepper

1tsp garlic

1/2 onion, sliced

1/2 - 1 tsp sage

1/2 cup dry white wine

herbs

salt pork or bacon, thinly sliced

Place meat in a roasting pan and season with salt, pepper, garlic, onions, sage and white wine.

**and your favorite herbs as desired.

Anchor salt port or bacon slices on top of roast with toothpicks. Roast uncovered at 325 degrees until tender.

(note: Bear meat is not excessively dry) Serves 6 to 8.

Campfire Venison Stew

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Sharon Weinhold

Elections

Campfire Venison Stew  

Campfire venison stew is a camp cooking favorite. Venison stew is filling fare after a hard day of hiking or fishing and is especially delicious when the temperature drops as the sun goes down. [This recipe serves 6; we usually double it. It takes 1 -2 hours to make.]

Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 celery sticks, chopped
  • 1 large carrot, chopped
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded, minced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 pound venison or other meat, cubed
  • 2 cans kidney beans, drained
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1, 28-ounce can roasted, diced tomatoes
  • 16-ounces vegetable broth
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup flour

Directions

1. In a Dutch oven over coals, or a camp stove, cook bacon until crisp; remove bacon and crumble; set aside. In the bacon fat, cook onion, celery, carrot, and jalapeño, stirring often, until softened; remove vegetables and set aside.

2. Add venison to drippings and cook, stirring often, until browned; add bacon and vegetables back to pot, stirring to combine; add kidney beans, Italian seasoning, tomatoes, and broth; bring to a boil. Set Dutch oven to the side of coals or turn down the stove top heat, cover pot, and simmer for 45 minutes. 3. Taste and season with salt and pepper; stir in flour; cook for another 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve hot.

Gravy Tater

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Marie Dang

Health Department

1 lb ground deer, elk, beef, or pork

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

1/4 tsp. each: onion powder, garlic powder, paprika

1/2 tsp. each: dried rubbed sage, dried fennel, dried thyme

1 cup milk or water, more liquid if needed

Salt & pepper to taste

1/2 bag frozen tater tots

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Preheat pan over medium high heat. Cook meat with seasonings (garlic, onion, paprika, sage, fennel, thyme, salt & pepper) until no longer pink. Drain fat. Add butter and flour, turn down heat to medium low, and constantly stir and cook until flour begins to brown about 10 minutes. Add in milk / water and stir until thickened to gravy consistency you like. Add more liquid and adjust salt / pepper.

Put gravy mixture in 8x8 pan and cover with tater tots. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Bake for 20-25 minutes until tots are browned and crispy.

Serve as is or with fried / scrambled eggs. Topping ideas: chopped tomato, onion, avocado, bell peppers would also be good and great texture to the dish.

Take Out, Fake Out: Broccoli Elk/Deer!

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Chelsea Chandler

Health Department

Ingredients: 1 lb. elk, deer, or moose-roast or steaks cut into thin strips

1 cup broth (bone, beef, veg. doesn't really matter) 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce

1/3 cup dark brown sugar

1 tbsp. sesame oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 tbsp. cornstarch

4 tbsp. sauce (from the crockpot after dish is cooked) Fresh or Frozen broccoli florets (as many as desired, I believe I used almost 2 cups) White Rice or Lo Mein Noodles, cooked

Instructions: 1. In the insert of the crockpot, whisk together broth, soy sauce, dark brown sugar, sesame oil, and garlic.

2. Gently place slices of meat in the liquid and toss to coat.

3. Turn crockpot on low and cook for 4 hours or until meat is tender.

4. When done, in a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and cooking liquid to create a slurry, pour into crockpot, stir to mix well.

5. Toss in broccoli florets and cook on low for an additional 30 minutes to thicken up the sauce. Then serve hot over cooked white rice or Lo Mein noodles.

Notes: DO NOT cook broccoli or meat prior to putting them in the crockpot.

(Adapted from Table for Two Blog)

Lettuce Wraps

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Marie Dang

Health Department

2 lbs ground elk burger

1 tsp garlic olive oil

½ diced onion

½ small can tomato paste

½ c water

Salt to taste

1/3 c chili/taco mix* (make own or store bought)

1 tsp chipotle mix** (optional – make own or store bought)

Butter Lettuce

Toppings (optional):

  • Chopped lettuce, tomato, onions, jalapeno, avocado
  • Shredded cheese
  • Sour cream
  • Olives
  • Just about anything you can think of

Directions:

In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add elk burger and onions and cook until no longer pink. Add tomato paste, water and seasonings.

Assemble:

In a shallow bowl or plate, top lettuce leaves with meat and desired toppings.

*Chili mix:

1/2 c dutch cocoa, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder

1/3 c oregano, cumin

1/4 c sea salt

Cayenne pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients and store in glass jar or tupperware.

**Cajun mix:

1/2 c chipotle powder, paprika (sweet / hot, or both), onion & garlic powder

1/4 c oregano, ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, sea salt

Mix all ingredients and store in glass jar or tupperware.

Asian Lettuce Wraps - Omit tomato paste, chili/taco/Cajun seasonings.

Add to meat:

1 T. grated ginger

1 T. soy sauce

1 T. vinegar (white/apple cider or whatever you have)

1 T garlic chili paste / sriracha

Feel free to adjust these amounts to your tastes and add in / take out flavors.


Mashed Potato Bowl

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Marie Dang

Health Department

2 lbs ground elk burger

1 tsp garlic olive oil

½ diced onion

½ small can tomato paste

½ c water

Salt to taste

1/3 c chili mix* (make own or store bought)

1 tsp chipotle mix** (optional – make own or store bought)

Batch of mashed potatoes (anyway you normally make it, some nice flavoring options are to use cream cheese and/or sour cream, butter, salt & pepper) Toppings (optional):

* Chopped lettuce, tomato, onions, jalapeno, avocado

* Shredded cheese

* Sour cream

* Olives

* Just about anything you can think of

In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add elk burger and onions and cook until no longer pink. Add tomato paste, water and seasonings. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes (or for the time it takes to make the mashed potatoes).

Assemble:

In a bowl, spread out some mashed potatoes then top with meat and desired toppings.

*Chili mix:

1/2 c dutch cocoa, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder

1/3 c oregano, cumin

1/4 c sea salt

Cayenne pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients.

**Cajun mix:

1/2 c chipotle powder, paprika (sweet / hot, or both), onion & garlic powder

1/4 c oregano, ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, sea salt

Mix all ingredients.

Venison Stroganoff

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Sharon Weinhold

Elections

3 pounds venison (cut in 1/2-inch cubes or strips)

6 tablespoons butter

2 cups sliced wild mushrooms

2 cloves minced fresh garlic

2 cups diced sweet onions

1 cup red wine

1 pint sour cream

1 can beef consume'

Johnny's Seasoning

Meat tenderizer

Flour

Pepper

Sprinkle tenderizer, Johnny's seasoning and pepper liberally on venison, then "dust" the meat cubes in flour. Melt butter in a large, deep skillet, and sauté' the vegetables and garlic until they're "soft." Add the "dusted" venison cubes and brown. Reduce heat and remove meat and vegetables from the skillet. Add wine and beef consume' to the pan and stir, then add sour cream, mixing constantly until all three are thoroughly combined. It's important to add the sour cream last, when the pan is cool, so it won't curdle. Add meat and vegetables again, cover and cook slowly for 1 to 2 hours. Serving over noodles is most common, but we prefer serving it on mashed potatoes.




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Man and his dog

Demetrio Flores

Assessor's Office





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Special Hunt Permit Moose

LouAnn L Fowler

Public Works


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Cowlitz County Deer

Ray Tumlinson

Building & Planning