The dove shoots to date this season have been epic. For many years, I’ve been the invited visitor of extraordinarily shut associates within the Mississippi delta to take part in what can solely be described as a real homecoming each fall. It was right here within the fertile flatlands the place JH made his debut with a .410 by folding his first dove greater than 25 years in the past. If I bear in mind appropriately, somebody shouted out “a star is born” as he scurried via dried sunflowers to select up his quarry.
Gents like Allan Grittman, Tucker Miller, and Clay Adcock, take as a lot satisfaction in “rising” doves as they do their crops of soybeans, corn, and cotton. Their sunflower fields are manicured and cared for like no different. Whereas cotton pickers and combines harvest their row crops, classic facet by sides and over and beneath shotguns are used to reap the grey speedsters from skies overhead. It’s really a spectacle to behold and be part of. Their generosity isn’t taken without any consideration and a lifetime of reminiscences are within the making whereas associates collect on the flip rows to take part within the sport that defines not solely what we’re, however who we’re.
Annually there are lifelong friendships born whereas within the dove discipline. Outdated tales from previous hunts are re-visited and new ones are created. A cacophony of laughter abounds throughout the sector as chip pictures are missed, and memorable pictures are made. For a quick second, we’re afforded a chance to place apart stress and fear from our intense professions and lives, whereas standing with associates within the fields of Helianthus. I’m assured the nice Lord knew what he was doing when he created doves and sunflowers.
As pleasing because the precise hunt is, the enjoyable isn’t over when everybody leaves the sector. The bounty quickly to comply with may be loved the remainder of the 12 months, or at the very least till the availability of morsels are depleted from the freezer. If you happen to plan accordingly, your cache of doves will final till simply earlier than the following season opens. That is simpler mentioned than executed. Thank goodness for prolonged seasons and liberal bag limits, for theses delicacies are a staple for our households all year long. In actual fact, JH and I had been on the identical web page the opposite night when he known as and requested what we had been having for supper. I informed him doves, and he replied, “me too.” So, the sport started.
We agreed to share photos of our creation from the sector with one another and examine whose dinner regarded one of the best. The recipes and preparation differ drastically so I believed it might be solely becoming to share with you additionally, sorry, images and recipes solely, and invite you to vote on what intrigues you essentially the most. This can solely work if the images make the column, so Jimmye, I’m relying on you.
John Hartley’s recipe is straightforward, for this cooking that’s. His chosen dish for desk fare was the lengthy standing, time-tested, good ole southern fried doves. He began by soaking his birds in a brine in a single day. The subsequent day, he patted them dry and seasoned them with salt and heavy black pepper. To arrange them for the frying pan, he seasoned all-purpose flour with, you guessed it, salt and black pepper. There was no want for a mess of seven secret spices to fry with, you’ll be able to over do it within the kitchen. No egg wash was used to create a thick crust, bear in mind we’re making ready birds, not crust. The birds had been gently positioned within the grease and fried to a golden brown, crispy on the surface, moist within the middle.
To go with his creation, you’ll discover bicolor candy corn, fluffy white rice with doves on high, and biscuits and home made gravy. Bear in mind, it is a competitors for the dove cooking, not the gravy. We’ll have this problem one other day. He despatched me his completed product and I knew my work was minimize out for me. I mentioned that’s fairly good son, however as you bear in mind the phrases by Charlie Daniels in his hit “The Satan Went All the way down to Georgia,” I mentioned “sit down in that chair and let me present you the way it’s executed.”
I additionally marinated my birds in a brine in a single day. I assume we’re tied, however right here’s the place it modifications. In a big crock pot, I added cream of mushroom soup, cream of hen soup, cream of celery soup, hen broth, and a wholesome dose of black pepper. In a saucepan, I sauteed diced celery, inexperienced bell peppers, and a Vidalia onion, in a stick of butter, after all. Be aware, I sauteed the peppers and celery first till they turned considerably tender and translucent. I then added my onions and completed sauteing all the pieces collectively. The onions don’t take so long as the peppers and celery and in case you prepare dinner them collectively, your onions are too caramelized by the point the opposite substances are executed. No further cost for this tip. When the trinity is to my liking, I switch the whole combination, butter, and all, to the crock pot which has been turned on to start warming the prior substances.
Now for the dove preparation. I frivolously mud my doves with flour and simply “brown” them in the identical skillet I used for the veggies. It solely takes a minute or two and when brown, I gently submerge every chicken into the concoction that can evolve right into a wealthy gravy. I need them to fall off the bone, so they’ll prepare dinner for six hours within the pot. As you now know, it is a course of, however oh what rewards shall be redeemed. My complimenting dishes, as you’ll be able to see, are roasted brussels sprouts, lengthy grain rice, with the doves and gravy positioned on high. After all, skinny biscuits are a should. I did cheat only a bit with a pleasant cabernet for “seems.”
So, what do you assume? These are two totally completely different recipes for a similar fantastic recreation chicken. What makes them even higher are the reminiscences of the hunt and the satisfaction of making ready the harvest from discipline to desk. The kitchen positive smells good this time of 12 months. Alas although, JH and I should get higher at planning as a result of he didn’t get to expertise my ready dish, nor did I get to partake of his. No worries, for we stood collectively within the discipline whereas we collected our birds, and we nonetheless have a number of extra luggage of doves within the freezer. There shall be one other time to prepare dinner collectively quickly. Come to consider it, we’ve a number of extra seasons left throughout this looking season. We would even have the ability to scratch out one other restrict or two earlier than all of it ends, and we return to work. We’re positive going to attempt.
Let me know what you consider our recipes and when you have a favourite technique to put together your harvest, give me a shout, I’d love to listen to your story. Hope to listen to from you quickly. Till subsequent time get pleasure from our woods and waters and bear in mind, let’s depart it higher than we discovered it.
