Venison (or goose) Jerky

Clean out the freezer of last year's venison by making some jerky to snack on during this hunting season. Jerky is really quite easy to make, yet it takes some time and reliable, science-based recipes must be followed. One reason to use last year's deer from your freezer for making jerky is because game meat should be frozen at 5 degrees Fahrenheit or below for at least 20 days to kill the Trichinella parasite that causes the disease, trichinosis. Other reasons could be proper rotation of your freezer space, defrosting your freezer before restocking it with this year's quarry, and jerky tastes great!

Preparing Jerky

• Take about 2lb of meat out of the freezer, choosing a cut that will slice well, such as steaks, chops or roasts. Place the meat in the refrigerator to defrost. Partially frozen meat is easier to slice. Do not defrost the meat at room temperature because this will allow bacteria to multiply and potentially cause an unsafe product. Trim fat from the meat and slice the meat into slices no thicker than 1/4 inch. Slice with the grain if a chewy jerky is desired and across the grain if a more brittle, tender jerky is preferred.
• Make a jerky marinade by combining 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1 T. Worcestershire sauce, dash of pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder, and 1 t. of hickory smoke flavored salt (or regular salt if you can't find this). Combine all of the marinade ingredients in a shallow glass or ceramic (not metal) pan and place meat in the pan, being sure to coat all of the pieces with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate the marinating meat for 1-2 hours or overnight (product will taste saltier the longer it is marinated).
• Remove the pan from the refrigerator and place meat along with the marinade in a skillet or pan and place on the stove over medium high heat and bring to a boil. Boil the mixture for 5 minutes (this will kill any bacteria by reaching 160 degrees Fahrenheit). Remove the strips of meat and place to drain on clean absorbent towels.
• Arrange the meat strips on dehydrator trays with the meat close together but not touching. If you are dehydrating in an oven, place meat on metal racks that are placed on cooking sheets to catch the drippings. Place the racks in a dehydrator or convection oven preheated to 140-145 degrees. For more information on using a dehydrator, convection or regular oven to dehydrate food see the Drying Food in NYS publication from Cornell Cooperative Extension. Begin checking the meat after about 3 hours to see if it is dry. It should crack, but not break when bent.
• For more information see "Preparing Safer Jerky" from Cooperative Extension found here.
• Goose breast meat can also be prepared the same way.

Teriyaki Goose Salad

Early season for Canada goose has just ended and will open again on October 22. Marinades are a good call for goose breast to help tenderize the meat and to enhance the flavor. Goose is an excellent source of iron.

photo from:©

© bev edukabc, Georgia, October 2008

Teriyaki Goose Salad

1 lb. goose breast meat

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

1-2 T. rice wine vinegar or sherry

1 T. minced fresh ginger ( or 1 t. powdered)

1 T. minced garlic

1-2 T. brown sugar

cayenne pepper to taste

10 oz. mixed greens (salad lettuces)

2 T. slivered almonds

3/4 cup mandarin orange slices or sliced plums

2 T. Asian flavored salad dressing

To make the teriyaki marinade: mix olive oil, soy sauce, vinegar (or sherry), ginger, garlic, brown sugar and pinch of cayenne in a small glass or ceramic bowl (not metal), using a whisk or fork to combine ingredients well. If using a whole goose breast, pierce the meat all over with a fork and then place it in the teriyaki marinade or you can thin slice the goose and place it in the marinade. The meat can marinate for as little as an hour (turning the meat over a few times) or as long as a day or two in the refrigerator (again turn the meat a few times during the marinating process).

After desired amount of marinating time, remove the meat from the marinade. If using a whole breast, grill, pan fry or broil the goose meat for 5-8 minutes a side. The meat should be medium rare or medium, as it will get tough if cooked longer than this. After cooking, let the whole breast rest a few minutes and then cut the meat into slices. If using goose slices straight from the marinade, pan fry for a few minutes until meat is cooked to medium rare or medium.

Place the cooked goose on the greens with the fruit, nuts, and dressing and gently toss the salad to combine the ingredients.

Serves 3-4.

Snow Geese

Hunting is encouraged for snow geese in New York state with the season extended until April 15, a bag limit of 25 per day, and no possession limit! According the the NYS DEC, there is an overabundance of Snow Geese on the Atlantic Flyway, increasing from about 50,000 birds in the 1960's to over a million birds in recent years. The overabundance of snow geese is detrimental to fragile habitats. Thousands of geese can be found in Seneca County fields. So, stock up the larder and help with conservation efforts!
(photo courtesy of Keith Tidball)

BBQ Goose

breast meat from 1 goose, about 2 lbs, boneless and skinless
1-2 T. of olive oil or butter
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2-4 cups apple juice or chicken stock
favorite barbecue sauce

Heat olive oil in a large skillet and brown the goose breasts for a few minutes on each side. Transfer to a slow cooker and add the onion, garlic, and enough juice or stock to cover the meat. Simmer on low heat for 6-8 hours. This can also be done in a dutch oven or braising pan placed in the oven at 300 degrees for 3+ hours (make sure the liquid does not cook off). The meat should be tender and easily shredded when done. Remove the goose meat from the pan and shred the meat. Discard the cooking liquid. Mix the goose meat with your favorite BBQ sauce and heat through. Great for sandwiches. Should serve about 8.

Corned Goose

The second half of waterfowl season is in full swing until January 9th in Seneca County. There is a daily limit of 3 Canada Geese and 25 Snow Geese per day (hunting of this species is obviously encouraged, and you can read more about this in an earlier post, "Snow Geese Abound"). What to do with all this goose meat? You can freeze some for later use with a vacuum sealer or butcher paper, smoke some, make jerky, and you can corn it, along with many other possibilities. Corning meat is a relatively simple process, consisting of placing the meat in a brining solution, similar to preparing meat for smoking, though for a longer period of time, about 5-7 days, and then slow cooking the meat in water for 3-5 hours with or without cabbage. Here is the recipe...

Corned Goose (or venison)

4 goose breast pieces (from 2 birds) or a 3-5 lb venison roast

2 quarts water

1/2 cup canning or pickling salt

1/2 cup tender quick salt (this is a curing salt which contains nitrates and should not be substituted for food safety reasons, color and taste. A common brand is Morten Tender Quick)

5-6 whole peppercorns or 1 T. cracked black pepper

3 T. sugar

2-3 T. pickling spice

6 crushed garlic cloves

1 T. thyme (optional)

1 t. crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Bring the water, salt, sugar, and spices to a boil for a few minutes (all of the ingredients except the goose!) and then remove from heat and allow to return to room temperature or colder. Place the boneless, skinless goose breasts in a glass, ceramic or plastic container that is large enough to hold the goose with a few inches of head space. Do not use a metal container. Pour the cooled brining liquid over the goose meat to cover it. Cover the container with a lid or plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 5-7 days, turning the meat occasionally. Remove the goose meat from the brine and cook it in a crock pot or dutch oven by covering the meat with clean water and allowing it to simmer for 3-5 hours until tender. Cut it into thin slices for serving with mustard or sauerkraut.

Note: The same recipe can be used for a 3-5 pound venison roast.

Snow Geese Abound!

The Snow Geese have arrived, and there are thousands of them in the county! New York State DEC has once again implemented a special snow goose season from March 11-April 15, 2010 with a daily bag limit of 15 Snows. This is a conservation effort to control the number of Snow Geese which have grown significantly over the past 50 years and are damaging the arctic tundra where they breed. You can read more about this at NYS DEC and get information on the hunting regulations. Also, the Artic Goose Joint Venture (AGJV) is a multi-agency partnership between the federal governments of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, along with some States, Provinces and Ducks Unlimited, that was established to further understand and manage North America's geese. AGJV has a great website, including a snow goose cookbook!

Here is a simple crock pot recipe for BBQ Snow Goose;

Pulled BBQ Goose

boneless, skinless breast from 1 snow goose

cold water

2 Tbsp, plus 2Tbsp salt

bottle of favorite BBQ sauce

Dissolve 2 Tbsp of salt in 2 quarts of cold water in a glass, plastic or ceramic bowl (not metal). Place the snow goose breasts in the water and gently knead the meat to remove blood, feathers, shot, etc. Rinse the meat and set aside. Add 2 quarts fresh, cold water to the bowl along with another 2 Tbsp of salt. Add the meat and put in the refrigerator to brine the meat for about 4 hours or overnight (this step is optional). Rinse the goose and cut into thin strips. Put goose meat in a crock pot and add enough BBQ sauce to coat and/or cover the meat. Stir to combine and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours. You can serve the goose meat on whole wheat rolls as a sandwich or over noodles or rice. Serves 4-6. Each serving of meat has about 180 calories and 3.5 g of fat (no saturated!).

(note: source of snow goose photo was the National Fish and Wildlife Service, National Digital Library)

Cagey T's Cherry Goose Recipe

Wow your family and friends with this elegant and delicious appetizer

2 goose breast halves (from 1 goose)
1 1/2 cups of port
1/2 cup of olive oil
2 garlic cloves or 1 T. minced
2 T. maraschino cherry juice and ~15 cherries for serving
1/4 cup dried cherries
2 T brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste
dash of chili powder or cayenne pepper
Dark chocolate sauce (such as a melted bar or Hershey's sauce)

Marinate the goose in about 1 cup of port, 1/2 cup of olive oil, 1 T. of minced garlic, and a dash of salt and pepper mixed in a glass, ceramic or plastic bowl. Cover and refrigerate for about 2 days, turning the goose occasionally.

When ready to cook, have ready a skillet, tooth picks and a serving plate. Drizzle the dark chocolate on your serving plate in a decorative pattern and set aside. Heat 1 T. olive oil over medium high heat in a heavy skillet until hot (about 300 degrees). Add the goose breasts and sear both sides, 1-2 minutes a side until brown. Remove pan from heat and remove goose from the pan and cut into bit sized chunks (when cool enough to handle). Lightly flour the goose (about 1 T. of flour sprinkled over meat). Put skillet back on medium heat and add 1/2 cup of port, 1-2 T of Maraschino cherry juice, and 1/4 cup of dried cherries. Bring this mixture to a gentle boil and scrape up any bits of browned goose from pan. Add the goose chunks back into the pan, along with 2 T. of brown sugar and cook the goose a bit more, turning it in the sauce as the sauce thickens. Stir the sauce constantly as it thickens, about 3-5 minutes. Add a dash of salt, pepper and chili powder to taste (just a sprinkle should do). Remove the pan from the heat and remove each piece of goose, swirling it in the sauce, with a tooth pick (for serving) and carefully place each piece of goose on the chocolate drizzled serving plate. You may add a maraschino cherry to each bit of goose for serving.

Waterfowl season opened Saturday

Ducks opened Oct 24th until Dec 6th for the first season in Seneca County. Canada geese also opened Oct 24th and go until Nov 21. NYS DEC has a very informational migratory game bird pdf that includes a waterfowl hunter's code of ethics, some guidelines for waterfowl consumption, license requirements, shipping information, etc. Of particular interest to wild harvest feasting is a short section that reads as follows:

"The NYS Department of Health recommends
that:
• You eat no mergansers.
• You remove all fat and skin from waterfowlt
before cooking.
• You discard stuffing after cooking waterfowl.
• You eat no more than two waterfowl per
month."

Here is an easy way to prepare duck or goose breast in a way that masks any hint of gameyness...

Thai (red or green) Waterfowl Curry
1 duck (both halves)or goose (1 half)breast cut into thin slices
1 Tbsp red or green thai curry paste found in the asian section of many grocery stores (check for a curry recipe on the jar)
1 can coconut milk (low-fat if possible)
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
3 Tbsp fish sauce
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1/3 cup chicken stock
1 cup fresh veggies, such as thin sliced onion, carrot, broccoli, celery, etc

Par boil the thin sliced duck or goose breast for 1-2 minutes and drain liquid. Then proceed to make the recipe for red or green curry dish on the label of the Thai curry paste. Basically, simmer all above ingredients for 10-15 minutes.

Smoked Goose Chili

This will become a favorite!

2 smoked goose breasts, chopped into 1/2" pieces
1 T. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 T. chili powder, depending on spice preference
1/2 t. oregano flakes
2 qts. canned tomatoes
1-2 T. brown sugar
1 can kidney or black beans
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup dry wine (optional)

Place stock pot on medium heat and add 1 T. olive oil to pan. Add chopped onion and cook about 5 minutes being careful not to brown the onion. Add garlic, goose meat, oregano and chili powder and saute about 1-2 minutes more. Add remaining ingredients, stir, and simmer for about 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on your time frame and flavor preference. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and chili powder.

Smoked Goose breast

Snow goose season was extended until April 15th as part of a "Conservation Order" implemented by DEC. The overabundance of Snow Geese means a 15 bird daily bag limit, plenty for the smoker.

Here is a good brine to prepare your goose breasts for the smoker:

Asian flavored brine

3 cups cold water
1 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup sherry
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup salt
1 small boiling onion, quartered (1/4 cup chopped onion)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 T. fresh ginger root, coarsely chopped
1 t. red pepper flakes
breast halves from 2 geese

Mix all ingredients in a glass or plastic container (not metal) and soak the goose breast for at least 4 hours or overnight. Make sure the meat is completely submerged in the brine and keep it in the refrigerator. Remove meat from brine and place on a lightly oiled rack and allow to air dry until the surface of the meat has a slight glaze (pellicle). This helps preserve the meat and also creates a nice appearance. Smoke the goose according to the smoker you have. I recently smoked some goose with a Bradley Smoker and it took about 4 hours set at 150-200 degrees. If you cut the breast in half, changing them from about 1" thick to 1/2" thick, the smoking time will be less. There is about 121 calories in 3.5 ounces of snow goose meat and 3.6% fat.

Smoked goose is great as an appetizer served with cheddar cheese and crackers.