Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Taste of Game

Is anyone else starting to feel the cool breeze of fall blowing in the air?

I definitely don't, but I am just pretending that it is there.

I love fall. Plain and simple. To me it is the best time of the year. Reasons why?

Orange. It's my favorite color.
Food. The food is sooo good! Pumpkin anything please!
Beer. Ohhhh the beer! The bestest beer!
Football. 'nuff said!
Cool breezes. Best day of the year is in jeans and a long sleeve shirt with the sleeves pushed up.
Boots. Show me those ridin' boots, ladies (love 'em!)!!
Fires. Love to build me some good, real, one match kind of fires.
Camping. Who doesn't love to go camping?!
The leaves. Not much that is more beautiful than fiery red, yellow, and orange leaves.

This year, we hope to add a new favorite thing to this list. What is it, you ask?

Hunting.

We are virgin deer hunters this season. Now that we have our bows and a fake deer staked out in the backyard, we are going to try to put our practice into reality starting this weekend. I am not going to hunt initially. My hubby wants to be the first to kill. I cannot blame him. It's a man thing, I understand. However, I am going to be there every step of the way. Camo and all!

In honor of Georgia's first week of bow hunting season I have a real special treat for you all. My father-in-law went dove hunting last weekend and shot a whole bag of doves. Not knowing what to do with them, he of course brought them over to his favorite food buddy's house. Yep. We definitely agree on food!

I came up with this recipe thinking of a delicious appetizer you could snack on while watching your favorite team play on Saturdays this fall. However, my favorite food tester thought they were more of a delicacy - an hor d'oeuvre eaten by the high class of the early south after a day of hunting. I halfway think he thought they were fancy because I served them on my china, which I NEVER get out. I just thought they would look pretty on a delicate white plate. Anyways, you will definitely enjoy these!

Juju's Paleo Bacon-Wrapped Dove 

Ingredients:

Dove breasts (skinless, featherless, boneless... just the boob)
Bacon, strips cut in half
3 Tbsp worcestershire
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1-2 tsp pure raspberry jam
Cayenne pepper to taste
Salt and pepper to taste (keep in mind, this is what brings out your flavors)
PINCH of nutmeg (do NOT overload, I mean just a tiny pinch!)

Directions:

Heat oven to 425 degrees.
Wrap each breast with your half strips of bacon. Secure with toothpick.
Place on baking sheet. I used my stone so I didn't use non-stick spray, but if you are using aluminum you might want to consider it.
Mix the rest of the ingredients in a small bowl. 
Put in microwave for 30 seconds. Whisk while warm.
Brush sauce over your bacon-wrapped doves. You will still have sauce left over.
Put in oven for 7 minutes. Brush again with sauce.
Keep in oven another 7 minutes. If bacon is still not crispy, brush with sauce again and put back into the oven for another 5 minutes, or until the bacon is nice and cooked/crispy.
After taking them out of the oven, drizzle with any leftover sauce.
Serve fresh out of the oven. 

Hope you guys enjoy these, Paleo eaters or not! They are definitely delicious and gorgeous!

Oh yeah, and they are SUPER easy! :)

Happy early fall y'all (I definitely don't say this but it rhymed)!!!