Deer Roast

     Today's menu is smothered deer roast and gravy from the deer that my son got during hunting season....  Some people don't like deer (also known as venison) because of it's wild flavor, but we soak it for a few days in water (changing the water daily) in the refrigerator before cooking it.  That takes most of the wild flavor out.  Soaking the meat works on most wild game including duck and hog.


Deer Roast

3-5 pound deer roast, seasoned with garlic powder, salt, red and black pepper and/or Tony's
1 chopped onion
1/4 cup oil
2 cups water to start,  plus more as needed
Salt, pepper or Tony Chachere's to taste

In large pot, brown onion in oil until soft.  Add deer roast and brown on all sides.  When brown, add water and seasoning.  Cover and let cook for 2-3 hours, checking and adding water as needed to make gravy.   I usually cut up the roast during the cooking time so that it gets tender quicker.  Check the seasoning also, and add more if needed. 

We like it when the deer meat just practically falls apart!  That's why I cook it for so long.  You could probably do this in the oven too, just make sure there is plenty of water.  Deer doesn't have much fat in it, so you need to keep it moist or it will dry out! 

We usually have leftovers, so we make poboys with it too.  Just heat up some of the deer and gravy in the microwave.   Add mayonnaise to the poboy bun, top with deer roast (and gravy) and lettuce if you like.  It is so moist and delicious!!

Enjoy!

Banana Bread Muffins

     This is a great recipe for the morning rush when you don't have time to make breakfast!  I make these ahead of time so they are ready when we need them.  You can freeze them, and take out as many as you want at a time and heat them in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds. Makes a great on the go breakfast!


Banana Bread Muffins

1/4 c. canola oil
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2-3 mashed bananas
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3 Tablespoons milk
1/2 c. chopped nuts- optional


Cinnamon - Sugar topping:
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon

Mix oil, sugar.  Add egg and set aside.  Mix flour and baking powder in another bowl and set aside.  Mash bananas with the baking soda and add milk.  Add this to the sugar and oil mix, and add flour mixture.  Mix until all is blended.  Add nuts if desired.   Put into a greased cupcake pan (or use cupcake liners) and sprinkle tops with cinnamon sugar mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.  Makes about 24 cupcakes.

You can also bake a loaf of banana bread with this recipe.  I put all the mix into a greased loaf pan and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.  Let cool before slicing!

I think it's the sweet topping that my grandchildren love about these muffins....

I'd love to hear from you -Thanks for stopping by!!!


Have a wonderful day!

Holiday Trip

     I've been away for awhile visiting my Army son, daughter-in-law and my grandchildren on the east coast.  Being a military family, we must schedule holiday's together, because we never know if one of the boys will be deployed the next year.  So my husband, Navy son and I drove to meet them around New Years and spent a week there.  It was a wonderful trip!

     We were able to rent a cabin for a couple of nights, so we did our Christmas celebration there.  The grand kids had a great time playing around the cabin, everything was a possible toy....tree branches, rocks, wood for the fire- nothing was off limits!  You know how kids are, nature is a playground only limited by their imagination. 

     After visiting a few museums, touring the Army base,  baking cookies with my granddaughter, playing monopoly, watching Tangled, cooking gumbo and potato salad, and eating more than we should have, it was time to say goodbye. Goodbye is never easy for me, I just try to focus on the next visit or Skype call. ( I don't know how people got along without Skype before...it makes you feel like you are actually with them!)  Next week, I will be Skyping during my youngest granddaughters third birthday....isn't technology wonderful?

    So now that vacation's over, it's time to get back into the swing of things.    I'd love to hear about your holiday traditions...    I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season!