Thursday, July 7, 2011

Are you game for a boar of a tale?


As some of you know, my guys plus one went on an out of state hunting trip last month.   I was excited to have the weekend to myself so I was talking about them being gone.   When I told you what they were going to hunt some expressed curiosity about it so I thought I’d share the results of that trip.  For those that have asked about Pippin, he has posted another blog if you’d like to drop in and check out his adventures-http://thesensiblyorganiccook.blogspot.com/2011/07/can-tiger-change-his-stripes.html  Also if anyone's plans have changed and they are interested in the upcoming roundup I'm having here, http://allrecipes.com/cook/13436831/blogentry.aspx?postid=233279 that's the blog if you'd like to read it and the email address is in it if you are interested.

My DH, Jeff, and his BF, Al, have talked about going elk hunting in Colorado for years.   They both have hunted deer for years but wanted to go after something bigger.   Either their jobs, lack of time or money kept them from doing anymore than talking about a big out of state game hunt.   Then early last year my DH started researching the possibilities again.   Plus, he thought it would be cool for his son to be able to go with them now that he was old enough.   So each Sunday he’d share what he had found with Al.   See, depending on the season Al comes up every Sunday to watch either the football game or NASCAR.   I fix a big lunch for them too cause Al always seems to help the DH with one project or another.   Usually it is a major project like cutting wood for the winter so I feel it is only fair I keep Al well fed.

After much consideration they decided to turn their sights on smaller game. Wild pig. Oklahoma is also a little closer to home than Colorado.   Since I did not opt to go with the guys on their trip, I’m relying on their version of events and pictures they took for most of my information.   I can, however, reliably share what I’ve learned about cooking wild pig.

If you do any scanning of the TV listings you might have noticed “reality” shows about the damage wild pigs are doing in various states, what is being done to round up these destructive creatures and what happens to them after capture.   The ranch the guys hunted on buy captured wild pigs from Texas.   When asked, the people at the ranch said those reality shows are a bunch of nonsense and the pigs are live trapped then shipped to places like theirs.

Here’s the first picture the guys were excited about showing me.


Goes to show what they were interested in.   Yep, I’m afraid my requests for scenery pictures fell upon deaf ears and, yes, that is the family truck for the owners of the ranch.   When the guys told me how cool the place was inside and I asked if they took a photo of it, I got a blank look.   Deep sigh.   So the best I could do with that is include the website just in case anyone wanted to see other shots. http://www.reddirtboarranch.com/

I really did not know how the hunt was to be conducted but I was told everyone was guaranteed a pig. I know my guys when they hunt deer here in Missouri sit out on frosty mornings in carefully constructed and concealed deer stands for hours.   Usually only to come home wanting a hearty brunch with a “Nope, didn’t see a thing”.   It never fails to amaze me how thundering herds of deer can simply vanish when it is hunting season.   Same with those turkeys. I  can hear them gobble around here every morning till opening day.   I’ve even scared them out of the front yard but I have yet to cook a wild one.

Evidently it is no surprise where the wild pigs are.   The ranch is well fenced since it is against the law to let any of these creatures back into the wild.   This is also a working ranch so the wild pigs are fed and receive veterinary care to keep any diseases from infecting the domestic livestock.



These shots are taking from the stands the guys were in.   For those that feel this type of hunting isn’t sporting enough, I’m not sure if the guys knew how little hunting skill they would need to get their pig.   As with any game they have harvested over the years we do eat it.   That’s one of our rules.   You only shoot another creature if you intend to eat it or to keep it from killing you.   However, I do think living out in the wild receiving food and care is better than being in an overcrowded feed lot. Also if it were up to me to shoot meat for our table, I can guarantee our menu would be vegetable heavy with some fish every so often.

WARNING!!! Hunting pictures.

The next pictures are my two guys with their pigs. Jeff got a boar and Ryan got a sow.   Al got one of each but somehow I didn't get pictures of his or him.






Now on to what I learned first hand about wild pig.   After going to a meat locker that would process the meat we ended up with this size cooler full.   In it we had ground pork, 2 smoked hams, spare ribs and boneless pork chops.



Before the meat went to St. Joe, I took a bit of it just to see what it would taste like.   I fried it in a skillet.   The flavor is much stronger than domestic pork. Since I did nothing else to the meat it was tough.   I generally like any game and have never had a problem with a gamey flavor.   My sister SWEARS she can tell venison jerky from beef because of the gamey flavor.   Hmmm, wonder if that’s like the great beet and cilantro debate?   Either you like it or you don’t!

I was rather concerned that all the meat except for the ground would be much tougher than my DH was used to.   I believe I was right.   When the pork came back, I decided to try tenderizing and marinating some chops for the grill.   Again we both liked the flavor, not quite shoe leather was the consistency.   Now, Al did the same thing and left his overnight and claimed a successful grilling came out of it.   After having fixed lunch for him for almost 20 years, I know Al is not near as picky as my DH either. So my next attempt at the chops was the pressure cooker.   I love that thing now that I am no longer afraid of it!   I put my own dry rub on the chops, browned them in the PC and added ½ c water and 1 c white wine.   Cooked for 40 minutes under 10 lbs of pressure.   Much better
with an excellent flavor.   I do think I could have gone even longer  with the cooking time and if anyone reading this has more experience with the PC and game, please share your knowledge.   I’m guessing the other cuts will have the same type of toughness.   Something my DH doesn’t understand at all. He figures one pig, domestic vs. wild should be like the other.   Uh huh.   I’m guessing a crock pot or a LONG slow cook on the hams.   I’m not quite sure the best method for the ribs.   Something long and slow I’m sure.



I did have great success with the ground pork.   We grilled hamburgers over the 4th and we all liked them.   The jerky was AWESOME!   The spice mix pictured earlier on the right was just so so.   I added more spices to it because it seemed rather bland.   The one from Cabela’s was purchased later so we can make more jerky.   I guess!   I barely had enough jerky hidden to take the photo.   The jerky on the right was made with the “Hi Mountain”.   Now if you are wondering why there is asparagus on the plate, they guys brought that back from the ranch.   Someone had left it down after their hunt and the owners told the guys they could have it.   Given they can barely eat anything green, my DH said, “I bet my wife would like that is it all right if I take it for her?”   It’s pickled with some kind of hot pepper.   Can anyone identify it?   I don’t grow that type and am not sure.   I’d also like to have a pickled asparagus recipe too.   Man that stuff is good! Almost too hot for me.   I’d go with jalapeno peppers I think.   Now for the jerky on the left, I used a mix that I had from previous years but I decided to add some of the spicy vinegar from the asparagus to it.   YUM!   That came out so good!

Overall per pound, I’m sure the wild pig cost quite a bit.   I’m not even going to bother trying to figure that out because the guys had such a good time and really liked the ranch.   One other old friend was supposed to go on this trip but couldn’t due to his health.   What a shame.   Ryan is going into the Navy in Oct. so who knows when or if he will ever hunt with his father or Al again.   I swear everyone needs a friend like Al.   He is like a brother to Jeff so I’m glad they finally got to go on their hunting trip out of state.   Jeff is still laid off so it is a good thing he had put aside money to go.   It was a trip that was well worth taking.   Maybe not so much for the pig but for the three of them to have a weekend to remember for always.

Can a tiger change his stripes?

Absolutely!

My glorious set of sable stripes has certainly been shifted!   If you don’t know my story, my name is Pippin and someone shot me.  That caused the amputation of my right front leg.   Hey, I get around great and the human I own, Mama Cat or MC for short, has done some really cool things for me so I don’t feel like I’m missing out.   Toooo much.    Still I wish ole Doc had been a little more cosmetically considerate.   For pete’s sake, a boring tabby tan patch of fur has now taken the place of my beautiful black bands.   Ok, ok so looks aren’t everything but seriously how hard could it have been when all the cutting and stitching was going on to leave some of the glossy layers in place?   Having my armpit fur sticking out for everyone to see is tough to overcome even for a devilishly handsome fellow like myself.   I’m ok with my underneath being exposed when I’m rolled over napping like this picture when I'm trying to help MC.  See here I was rolling around helping MC sort her garden seeds something she didn’t seem to appreciate so much.   I got bored with that and decided a nap was in order.


Anyway, I do have new adventures to share.    I’ve broken them down to the good, the bad and the odd.   First, we will get the bad out of the way.   Although while I consider the “Great Escape” an excellent example of my extraordinary abilities some in this household do not.   I did not almost burn down the house that is MC’s muttering take on events.

The “great escape” took some careful planning to pull off but I did it!   Now, I wouldn’t have had to resort to such drastic measures if MC hadn’t sicced that purple-tongued pestilence on me.   Can you believe she told that stupid dog to sit at the door knowing full well he’d stay there and I wouldn’t get near him?!   Geez, you get anywhere near that drooling beast and you risk getting dog gakk on your fur.   And no, I’m not the slightest bit sorry I got the old buzzard, MC’s DH, in trouble.   His hearing is returning, not that he ever listened all that well to begin with so no harm done.   I can’t help he can’t tell one cat from another and I used that to my advantage.   There are three of us with similar stripes, granted the other 2 have all 4 appendages and are decidedly different sizes.  When the old buzzard opened the door to the garage and thought he was letting out my buddy Gloves I seized the opportunity for an overnight romp in the woods.   MC had been riding her horse and asked when she got back if I was downstairs.   She received an affirmative so off to bed she went.   It wasn’t until the next morning she realized I’d escaped.   Now would someone explain this to me?    How can a Mom go from all upset and teary to furious in a matter of seconds?   You should have heard her calling me as soon as she figured out I was in the wind.   She sounded so upset.   I decided to saunter out of my hiding place before she really turned on the waterworks.   Be my luck she would dry her eyes and blow her nose on my remaining stripes.   Eeewww!   You know it really is hard to muster a good swaggering step with only 3 legs but I thought I was pretty convincing.   I thought my “eye of the tiger” attitude would calm MC’s fears about my midnight excursion.   Nope.  She had to have a hissy after she got over being thrilled to see my wonderful self coming down the driveway. Took just a matter of seconds too!  The old battleaxe, I mean MC, is even more vigilant about me having unattended outside time.

Uh, about burning down the house.   Well, I didn’t but this little incident bought me indoor cage or garage time at night.   Everyone is so negative about this they are missing the bigger picture.   I can count!   And given some food I could have cooked.   You see, MC’s cook top can be locked.   You gotta hold down one button for 3 seconds to turn the whole thing either on or off.   MC turns the cook top off every night cause she is a "just in case" kind of person.   Well, MC got up one morning and one burner was blazing away.   So I forgot to turn it off.   The point is I held one button down for 3 seconds and unlocked the burners.   Then I selected a burner.   It beeped at me so I selected a temperature and away we went!   Might as well go for the glory right?   I turned her up on high.   MC might not have been so mad if I’d keep it on ultra low or if I‘d turned the burner back off.   I still think MC is choosing to look at this in a negative light.   It is not like all the buttons were in one place and there was counting involved.   I thought this spotlighted my obvious brilliance.   I know I’m not supposed to be on the cook top or the counters but don‘t I deserve a little lenience since the accident?   Locking me up at night so I can’t wander the house is a bit extreme don’t you think?

Ok, so everyone knows  the amputation is the reason I’m blogging.   I really am touched by the number of people and furred ones that have read my story and sent their best wishes but there are moments I wish I still had all 4 limbs.   Now speaking of that, this is the "odd" part.   Some days I’d swear my leg is still there. That fuzzed face idiot thinks it is still there too. The baying behemoth of  MC's  sticks his nose places it doesn’t belong and I swat at him every single time. Get this. I can use either leg, the one I can still see and use or the one that just feels like it is there and that stupid mutt will duck.   I still do my yoga pose, Upward Cat, with both legs too.   Odd isn’t it, that phantom limb?

Now for the really cool "good" stuff.   MC made me an indoor tree.   Granted I was prepared to resist using it cause I really want to climb a real one but MC knew what she was doing I’ll give her that.



I might still be protesting using the tree if it hadn’t been for that pea brained panting pooch.  He had  some nerve chasing me in the sunroom.   MC doesn’t allow him to chase us cats but if her back is turned the pea brain thinks maybe just this once we’d like a game of chase.   MC started to yell at the idiot but we’d just gotten near my tree and my tail was in jeopardy of getting dog slobber on it.   Yuck!   Therefore, I took advantage of MC’s engineering skills and up I went.   She really did a good job thinking of my needs and placed horizontal branches where I would need them.   She even put fresh catnip in the holes.   Did I mention she used mesquite branches to make the tree?   Pretty clever for a human she is.   She had gotten a bunch of mesquite branches from her Mom’s house.   Her Mom used to travel in the desert Southwest and brought home all kinds of stuff.   MC told me she figured the holes in the branches would help me climb.   They do!   She also said they’d be great for stuffing. Ooo yeah!   She had to alter some of the branches after I started using the tree.   I got a little goofy with the catnip and about rolled myself off.



That was another reason she used the mesquite, all the forks  make for perfect laying or napping perches, she just added a piece here and there to the original.  Works out great for me, I can observe my domain without that barking brute annoying me.







My friends like using the tree too. That is Houston. He has to check out anything new in the house.







This is the other cool thing MC has done for me.   She hates denying me the outdoors but she wants me to be safe.   I really do like my outside pen.



  Originally, it was built for the mutt but he is so high maintenance the backyard had to be fenced in for him.   Worked out great for me.   MC still needs to do some work on it but I have two potted trees and some potted catnip in it.   There are plants growing into the pen too so I can almost pretend I’m free.

MC puts Gloves in with me for company.   He doesn’t mind cause mostly he sleeps but it is nice to have someone to talk to and chase bugs with.



This last picture I couldn’t resist putting in.   I like to find new places in the house to sleep just  to keep my survival skills sharp but MC gets a little frantic when she can’t find me.   One day she looked everywhere.   Poor old dear, she's turning the big 5 0 soon and her eyesight is going.  If I do say so myself,  I blend so well in the teen’s room.   It is a great room to hide in.



Till next time.

“To be upset over what you don’t have is to waste what you do have.”
                                                                                      KEN S. KEYES JR.