Filed under: Deer, Hunting, Outdoor tips, Uncategorized, Wild Game and Fish, Wild Game Cooking, wild game recipes | Tags: deer, deer hunting, Ground venison, Nebraska deer, nebraska deer hunting, Outdoor tips, venison, venison burgers, venison recipes, Wild Game, wild game cooking, Wild Game Cooking Tips, wild game recipes
This is a must-try, healthy, tasty recipe for those of you who have or will have ground venison in the frig or freezer this fall or winter. It’s actually a healthy twist on an older recipe in my file. Even non-hunters and non-wild game meat eaters visiting the Wagner abode have thoroughly enjoyed this recipe! It serves eight people. Bon appetite! See you out there, grill-side! By the way, if you would like to receive or donate some venison, don’t forget about our Nebraska Deer Exchange Program here: http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/hunting/programs/deerexchange/
Recipe Ingredients
- 1/3 cup fat-free mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon grated lime peel
- 1/3 cup chopped green onions
- 3 tablespoons fat-free, plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped jalapeno pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 pounds ground venison
- 8 whole wheat or multi-grain hamburger buns, split
- 8 slices reduced-fat or low-fat Pepper Jack cheese
Recipe Directions
- In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lime juice, mustard and lime peel; cover and refrigerate until serving.
- In a bowl, combine the onions, yogurt, jalapeno, salt and pepper. Crumble meat over mixture and mix well. Shape into eight patties. Grill until meat is no longer pink. Serve on buns; top with cheese and mayonnaise mixture … Mmmm!
Filed under: Deer, fitness, food, health, Uncategorized, Wild Game and Fish, Wild Game Cooking | Tags: eating healthy, exercise, exercise programs, fitness, food, grow fruits/vegetables, health, weight loss, weight loss ideas, weight loss programs, Wild Game, wild game and fish, wild game meat vs. domesticated meat
If you’ve seen me and haven’t noticed, I’ve lost a lot of weight – nearly 50 pounds off my 5 foot-11 inch frame! I had to lose weight for health reasons.
Here I stand. Note my belt which I have had to add new loop holes to with my pocket knife.
I went from 222 pounds in late June
A rather hefty Greg Wagner in late June.
to about 172 pounds here in early September.
Current pic of me.
Boy, I feel so much better than I did 50 pounds ago! My blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels are much, much lower and in healthy ranges. The energy that I now possess is worth every pound, I’m tellin’ ya’! How did I do it? Simple. Eat healthy and exercise. I’ve stuck to whole foods as well as lots of fruits and veggies (mostly that we and friends grow).
Tomatoes on the vine in our chemical-free vegetable garden.
Yellow delicious apples I have been picking and eating from our tree in the backyard.
- Gathering sweet corn from a friend’s farm.
I also count carbs and calories, cut the fat, eat 5 or 6 smaller meals a day and include only lean meats. To answer the question that’s on your mind: Yes, that includes WILD GAME! The nutritionists at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha emphatically suggested that wild game and fish be part of the diet, woo-hoo, I was thrilled!
Channel catfish fillets destined for the foil.
I got to really thinking about free-ranging wild game, so I did some research. Look at this chart I found about the nutrient content of wild game meat vs. domesticated meat.
| Nutrient content of wild game meat vs domesticated meat. | ||||
| Note: *100 grams equals about 3 1/2 ounces. Note: ** Not trimmed of fat before analysis. All other samples of meat were trimmed of visible fat prior to analysis. |
||||
| Species | Protein % | Fat % | Cholesterol (mg/100g*) | Calories (Kcal/100g*) |
| Antelope | 22.5 | .9 | 112 | 144 |
| Beef USDA choice | 22.0 | 6.5 | 72 | 180 |
| Beef USDA standard | 22.7 | 2.0 | 69 | 152 |
| Buffalo | 21.7 | 1.9 | 62 | 138 |
| Chicken | 23.6 | .7 | 62 | 135 |
| Crane (Sandhill) | 21.7 | 2.4 | 123 | 153 |
| Deer (Mule) | 23.7 | 1.3 | 107 | 145 |
| Deer (Whitetail) | 23.6 | 1.4 | 116 | 149 |
| Dove | 22.9 | 1.8 | 94 | 145 |
| Duck (Domestic) | 19.9 | 4.25 | 89 | 180 |
| Duck (Mallard) | 23.1 | 2.0 | 140 | 152 |
| Elk | 22.8 | .9 | 67 | 137 |
| Goose (Snow) | 22.7 | 3.6 | 142 | 121 |
| Grouse (Sharptail) | 23.8 | .7 | 105 | 142 |
| Grouse (Sage) | 23.7 | 1.1 | 101 | 140 |
| Lamb | 20.8 | 5.7 | 66 | 167 |
| Moose | 22.1 | .5 | 71 | 130 |
| Partridge (Gray) | 25.6 | .7 | 85 | 151 |
| Pheasant (Domestic) | 23.9 | .8 | 71 | 144 |
| Pheasant (Wild) | 25.7 | .6 | 52 | 148 |
| Pig (Domestic Pork) | 22.3 | 4.9 | 71 | 165 |
| Pig (Wild Boar) ** | 28.3 | 4.38 | 109 | 160 |
| Rabbit (Cottontail) | 21.8 | 2.4 | 77 | 144 |
| Rabbit (Jack) | 21.9 | 2.4 | 131 | 153 |
| Squirrel | 21.4 | 3.2 | 83 | 149 |
| Turkey (Domestic) | 23.5 | 1.5 | 60 | 146 |
| Turkey (Wild) | 25.7 | 1.1 | 55 | 163 |
| Widgeon | 22.6 | 2.1 | 131 | 153 |
| Surveys show that carcasses of domesticated animals have 25 to 30% fat while the average fat content of wild game animals is only 4.3%. Not only is the fat lower in game, but is also healthier. Fat from wild game contains a much higher proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids, good fat and is lower in saturated fat, bad fat. | ||||
| Composition and breakdown of fat content! | |||
| Some game meat is higher in dietary cholesterol than domestic meats, but the combination of more lean body tissue, less saturated fat and significantly higher % of cholesterol-reducing polyunsaturated fatty acids makes wild game a heart-healthy choice. | |||
| Species | Saturated (bad fat) |
%Fatty Acids Monounsaturated |
Polyunsaturated (good fat) |
| Antelope | 41.2 | 27.1 | 31.6 |
| Beef | 46.3 | 45.5 | 8.2 |
| Boar | 35.7 | 47. | 17.3 |
| Buffalo | 43.2 | 45.0 | 11.8 |
| Caribou | 46.6 | 36.4 | 17.0 |
| Deer (Mule) | 48.0 | 31.8 | 20.2 |
| Deer (Whitetail) | 45.6 | 30.6 | 23.9 |
| Elk | 48.4 | 26.6 | 24.9 |
| Moose | 36.6 | 24.3 | 39.1 |
| Rabbit | 39.0 | 35.6 | 25.4 |
| Squirrel | 15.2 | 47.2 | 37.6 |
Copyright 2001 – 2010.
The other thing that is critical for weight loss and optimum health is the “E” word – Exercise. I exercise every day, rain or shine, no matter what else I’m doing. I either walk or run about 5-7 miles a day and do some light weightlifting 2-3 times a week. This has worked for me! Before you embark on any exercise program or diet, make certain to get thoroughly checked out by ‘doc’ – your physician that is.
See you out there, as a fit and healthy Greg Wagner. Pass me another one of those healthy, delicious venison brats, please …
Grilled lean venison bratwurst with jalapeno peppers and fat-free swiss cheese on whole wheat bread.
Filed under: Hunting, outdoor cooking, Recipes, Uncategorized, Waterfowl, Wild Game Cooking | Tags: duck, duck recipes, grilled teal, grilled teal breasts, Nebraska waterfowl hunting, Teal duck recipes, waterfowl, waterfowl cooking, waterfowl hunting, wild duck, wild game cooking, wild game recipes
Blue-Winged Teal.
From my memory of grilling wild game with granddad, comes a super simple, but terrific recipe that he had for teal. Teal ducks are undisputedly among the tastiest ducks around. This is a “gotta try” recipe for you waterfowl hunters who’ll be harvesting teal this fall in Nebraska. I wanted to share it with you. We’ve enjoyed it through the years (when we could hit those fast-flying little ducks). Here it is.
TERRIFIC TEAL ON THE GRILL
Wrap bacon around the breast of the Teal.
Melt some butter.
Then, mix the butter with garlic powder and brown sugar to form a thick consistency.
Coat the breast and the bacon with this mixture. Throw it on the grill.
Keep it at a low temperature. Make sure it’s done all the way.
Savor every bite!
See you out there, or at the grill, I should say.
Filed under: Doves, Hunting, outdoor cooking, Outdoor tips, Recipes, Uncategorized, Wild Game Cooking, wild game recipes | Tags: cooking doves, dove hunting, dove hunting tips, dove poppers, dove recipes, jalapeno dove poppers, Nebraska dove hunting, Nebraska doves, wild game cooking, Wild Game Cooking Tips, wild game recipes
It’s so hot and steamy outside here in southeastern Nebraska, I’m indoors tonight. I’ve been watching too much of the Food Network on TV though, so I’m in a recipe giving mood. That being said, and with Nebraska’s dove hunting season opening just around the corner on Sept. 1, no better time than the present to pass along one of my favorite, but simple recipes from Field & Stream magazine for absolutely delicious dove breasts. You gotta try this, wild game chefs and hunters! Here it is:
JALAPENO DOVE POPPERS
Ingredients:
De-boned dove breasts
1 can jalapeno peppers
1 tub cream cheese
Bacon
Toothpicks
Photo courtesy of Field & Stream magazine.
1. Pre-heat grill
2. Rinse and dry dove breasts.
3. Slice jalapeno peppers in half lengthwise. (Remove seeds and veins if you prefer less heat.)
4. Slather cream cheese in the open cavity of each jalapeno. Top with a dove breast, wrap in half a piece of bacon, and secure with a toothpick. Repeat will all breasts.
5. Grill poppers over medium-high heat for 15-20 minutes or until bacon is crisp, turning once. Salt and pepper to taste. WOW!
Photo courtesy of Field & Stream magazine.
See you out there on Sept. 1 trying to connect with those speedy, erratic-flying, elusive doves! Hmmm … I better go buy some more shells, don’t ya’ think?
Filed under: Hunting, Turkey, Wild Game Cooking, wild game recipes | Tags: cooking wild turkey, preparing wild turkey, Wild Turkey Noodle Soup recipe
Want to try a completely different but very tasty recipe with that wild gobbler you harvested this spring here in Nebraska? Well, have I got a recipe for you to try! WOW! This delicious recipe for wild turkey noodle soup was given to me by my good friend and longtime turkey hunter Charles (Chuck) Kluver of Omaha, NE and I want to share it with you! Seriously, you gotta try it! Chuck says feel free to make your own adjustments to the recipe as I did.
KLUVER’S WILD TURKEY NOODLE SOUP
Serves 8. Cooking time 45 minutes
8 oz. egg noodles (Kluski egg noodles preferred)
6 C canned chicken broth
4 T butter
1 3/4 C Cooked and diced wild turkey
1 C cooked peas (optional)
4 T red/green diced peppers
3 T diced celery
1/2 tsp minced garlic
Salt/pepper to taste
Bring 2 qt of water to rapid boil. Add noodles and boil for 7-8 minutes, stirring frequently. Check for the desired tenderness. Drain and set aside keeping 2 C of the water. In large stock pot, melt butter. Add all ingredients except noodles and liquids. Cover and saute over medium heat for 10 minutes. Add noodle water, chicken broth and cooked noodles. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with warm hearth rolls or slices of homemade bread. Enjoy!
See you out there, or I mean in there – in the kitchen – preparing and sampling Kluver’s Wild Turkey Noodle Soup!
Filed under: Uncategorized, Wild Game Cooking, wild game recipes | Tags: corned game, Corned wild game recipe, Larry Pape, Pawnee Lake Carp-O-Rama
The St. Patrick’s Day holiday week is upon us, and if you enjoy dining on corned beef and you have wild game in the freezer, then you should to try this awesome recipe for corned wild game. The recipe comes to us via Game and Parks Commission Fisheries Biologist Larry Pape. Thanks Larry, it’s truly awesome, I owe you one buddy!
THINK CARP AND CORNED WILD GAME, TOO, OF COURSE! See you out there! Thanks again, Larry!
Fisheries Biologist Larry Pape is on your left.
Filed under: Hunting, Uncategorized, Wild Game Cooking | Tags: Cooking Deer, Wild Game, Wild Game Cooking Tips
Those of us who enjoy Nebraska’s many and varied fall hunting seasons have our freezers packed full of venison, wild turkeys, rooster pheasants, Canada geese and other assorted wild game species. The Wagner family loves eating a variety of wild game entrees over the holiday period! How about your family?
If you are new to cooking wild game or haven’t done it for a while, here are some basic principles to follow from Chef Dan Small who writes for Pennsylvania Outdoor News:
– Game is leaner and drier than most domestic meats, so use recipes that keep it moist!
– Game meat will be tender if you cook it for a short time on high heat or a long time on low heat. Game meat needs to be cooked thoroughly, but is best done medium-rare!
– Younger animals taste better and are tenderer than older ones. Use young game in most recipes; reserve older game for stews and braising.
– Aging game will help tenderize it and add flavor. As an example, you should age an old gobbler for about a week before freezing it or cooking it.
– Less is better. Simpler recipes are not only easier; they respect the nuances of game meat. Use sauces, spices and seasonings sparingly to enhance, not overpower your game.
– Fresh is best. When a game recipe calls for herbs, purchase them as you need them from the grocery store or start a small herb garden. Old herbs have little taste. Greg Wagner’s favorite herb to use with wild game is rosemary!
– Wines and Wild Game. To keep things simple, use white and rose wines for upland game birds, red wines for everything else.
– Let it soak! Let wild game meat soak in marinades overnight, or at least for an hour or two. This will help add flavor to and tenderize your meat.
– Rub it in. Sprinkle herbs and rub seasonings on your game meat with your fingers and then let it sit a while before cooking. Brush a light coat of olive oil on meat that has been dry rubbed to help seal in favors and moisture.
Dan Small says turning dead critters into delicious meals is not a daunting task. Dan summarizes: “Keep your game meat moist, serve it hot and use seasonings sparingly and your guests will start calling you a gourmet chef!” Right on, Dan! Bon appétit!
By the way, feel free to share your favorite wild game cooking secrets and recipes with us by leaving a comment. Thanks!
Filed under: Hunting, Turkey, Wild Game Cooking | Tags: cooking, Hunting, recipe, turkey salad, wild turkey
Me with two young hens I took on opening day of the fall turkey season on Tuesday.
Gosh, I really love to hunt, harvest, and cook, AND EAT wild turkey! Mmm, sooo good! Dish me up first, will ya’?
To me, the wild turkey represents one of the finest, healthiest wild game entrees that exist in Nebraska as well as the nation! It’s no secret that with wild turkeys, what you’re eating is all-natural, not some frozen food that’s been raised for mass consumption. This free-ranging, lean bird feeds on vitamin-rich, organic materials of high nutritional value in the Nebraska countryside– acorns, grains, seeds, small insects and wild berries. This bird is a celebrated prize at the dinner table!
Now, I realize that there are probably more than a thousand different recipes out there on how to cook wild turkeys, but fall turkey hunters; I want you to try this simple, but very tasty recipe provided by my friend and fellow outdoor writer Rick Windham of North Platte, NE (www.RickWindhamOutdoors.com). This is a unique twist on preparing North America’s largest upland game bird for the table. My staff and I enjoyed wild turkey salad on bread and crackers for lunch today at the Game and Parks Commission’s Omaha Office. See the pics below. Try the recipe and share nature’s bounty with your family and friends!
Wild Turkey Salad
Just in case you’re still wondering, there is no whiskey involved in this recipe, ha. It doesn’t matter what size of turkey you bag on your fall hunting trip in Nebraska, hen, jenny, tom or jake this recipe will make it taste great!
Ingredients:
1 Wild turkey or 2 wild turkey breasts
1 Bottle of Miracle Whip salad dressing
1 Small bottle of yellow mustard
1 Small bottle of sweet pickle relish
Directions:
Cook the turkey in your favorite manner. Remove all the meat from the bones. Slice, dice, chop the turkey into ¼ inch pieces, or less. Then for every pound of turkey mix in one cup of Miracle Whip, one tablespoon of mustard and one cup of relish. Mix thoroughly. Salt and pepper to taste.
Serve on bread for a quick on-the-go sandwich or crackers for a great tasting snack. It’s perfect for football tailgating. I think you’ll like this recipe!
Everything laid out and ready to go. I grilled the breasts of the two turkeys from the first picture last night.
Chopped turkey meat.
Ingredients added, ready to mix.
The finished product on crackers and a sandwich.
Greg dives in for the first taste!
The aftermath.
In the Wild with Greg Wagner 