Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Deerly beloved

"Poor deer," said Sweetie, as I washed a chunk of venison in the sink.

"Poor deer nothing," I said. "That's one deer that won't starve this winter, or be chased by feral dogs, or die slowly on the side of the highway after being hit by a car."

She remained unconvinced. But when this succulent slab of meat is roasted to perfection, after marinating all day in Italian dressing, even She will bury her scruples and partake.

It was worth the dark and rainy drive to a friend's house tonight, who called with news that a friend of his had bagged a deer and had some left over.

"I wish I was a hunter," I told Sweetie. "Think how much we would save on the cost of meat."

"I'm glad you aren't," She said.

10 comments:

Chase March said...

“There isn't much good a deer can say about hunting season. Except that it only comes once a year, and maybe that it makes them appreciate the few wildlife preserves they have.” – Narrator on Everwood.

I featured this quote on my commonplace book blog. I immediately thought of it when I read your post.

Eastcoastdweller said...

I can't speak for your part of the world, Chase, but down here, where the suburban sprawl is rampant, there are more deer now than when the Jamestown colonists landed, according to the experts.

Their natural predators are gone -- we've made a mess of the natural balance of things. Their worst enemy isn't a guy in a tree stand, it's a guy behind the wheel of a car.

StayAtHomeKat said...

venison IS delicious

but I like it best more than rare...:-)
I like mine best live :-)

you know, this being the holiday season, with deer cut-outs in people's yards...I've been thinking I'd like some nice ones displayed on my lawn year round

Eastcoastdweller said...

Kat: I think that would look quite pretty in Your rustic yard setting.

Janice Thomson said...

I have to admit I agree with your Sweetie :)

StayAtHomeKat said...

when we serve Venison at the restaurant, Chef gets the meat from New Zealand ...tastier, more tender...the deer there live free and wild too but the difference is that there they are grazing on grasses (new zealand-picture sheep and green expanses)
while here in our wilds the deer browse on rougher fare, so we have to marinate our meats here for the best tasting dishes.

Anonymous said...

Did you know that health experts say that venison - deer, elk, buffalo - have the right mix of Omega 6/Omega 3? In fact, one of the primary reasons for the heart disease crisis in the US is that corn fed beef has an imbalance of Omega 6/Omega 3. The entire crisis. The whole shabang.

I bet if your wife knew that, she wouldn't worry so much.

That's not to mention the global warming impact of 1 feed lot and that 1 steer = 1,000 gallons of oil.

((hug))

Eastcoastdweller said...

Janice: My tender Sweetie would probably eat no meat at all if I didn't buy it and bring it home.

But I've had my moments where I've considered a vegan lifestyle -- lived it for about a week even -- then fell off the wagon.

Kat: Wouldn't it be great if the local deer would learn to feast on kudzu, Japanese honeysuckle and multiflora rose?

Claudia: I'll pass that word along to Her. Thanks!

StayAtHomeKat said...

mine do eat on the kudzu and the honeysuckle but there aren't enough deer to control those Japanese botanical pests

Maria said...

I ate deer once and liked it very much until someone told me it was not beef.