Processing our venison

Today I helped my dad process our deer. Hubby had to work and it is too hard for my dad to do alone. The really gross part was done the night before when hubby and dad cut up the meat in chunks so that dad and I could grind it up in burger today and put in freezer. Processing deer is not that hard but it sure is alot of work. My dad has a very bad back right now and unless he gets considerably better by the time we get another deer, We may find ourselves having it processed by someone else. Anyways, on to my dads basement........


First, We grind the meat chunks by an electric grinder that has been sterilized into these sterilized stainless steel pans
I then measure out 1 lb. of meat into a little cardboard tray thingy that is lined with saran wrap, unto this scale ( we use a baby scale)

It is then wrapped again in freezer paper. My dad uses an iron to seal it.

There you have it! All wrapped and sealed.....

Labeled and ready for the freezer.

Wordless Wednesday

My dad and DH with the doe my DH shot with his bow!

Giveaway bug

You can win! This week has been my lucky week. I have won a elefan and friends gift set ( 2 games from Hasbro) and a set of CVS bags and tags. Since I have been blogging I have entered giveaways, surprisingly winning quite a few. There is alot of blog giveaways in bloggy land. These giveaways are awesome and has helped considerably around Christmas enabling me to give gifts for my family I otherwise can't afford. I rely on giveaways for this alot. Winning a blog giveaway or contest are definitely better than winning the lottery. With the lottery you basically throw your money down the toilet. Blog giveaways are free. You have nothing to lose but your time. It is time consuming. You have to take the time by visiting the Sponser's site and answering questions, think about a comment and then entering multiple ways by tweeting being a fan on facebook, being a follower on twitter and the blog, maybe subscribing, ect. all separate comments. This makes the odds greater. If it is something you are really wanting to win, making the effort to enter with bonus entries increase your odds. Go on a hunt for a contest that has great odds, enter and just wait for the win. Remember you can't win if you don't enter. This time of year I enter contest and giveaways like crazy. I guess I have more time to. After winning a few it is easy to catch the giveaway bug and start devoting alot of extra time entering. http://freebloggiveaways.com/ has post links to contests and giveaways all over the Internet. This list is updated everyday.

Menu Plan Monday

It has been an exciting weekend here at the Herlan household. My hubby has been out bow hunting and got a really nice doe Sunday night. Needless to say, he is beaming. For awhile our only conversation is the story of his deer adventure. I am happy for him and so thankful for the venison we will have for this winter. This week I've decided to make the meals a little exciting and to try out some new recipes from my new kraft food & family magazine that I received in the mail earlier last week. Does anyone else get this magazine? I love it! Sadly to say it's my last issue for free as, they charge for the subscription now. Anyways, as for my menu this week....

MONDAY -*weeknight ravioli bake, garlic bread, tossed green salad

TUESDAY- pork chops, fried potatoes, peas

WEDNESDAY-ham and beans, corn bread

THURSDAY-* tuna cakes, corn, tossed green salad

FRIDAY-pancakes, sausage, fruit

SATURDAY-* saucy mexican chicken, corn casserole

SUNDAY- on our own today!

http://orgjunkie.com/ has some great menu ideas! Be sure to check it out!

* tuna cakes, page 57
*saucy mexican chicken page page 62
*weekend ravioli bake page 58
All from the Holiday 09 kraft food and family magazine

Happy Halloween

Gasp! Look who showed up at Mimi and Papa's doorstep!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Those nasty gnats!

Gnats! Gnats! Gnats! During the growing season, it seems anytime you bring fresh produce in the house you bring in a few gnats with it. They are around you, fly around at you're head and simply drive you to an exasperated state. Last Saturday I bought some asian pears. I brought them home and put them in a bowl on top of my kitchen counter along with some other apples. I also had two bananas sitting there also. Before I knew it, I had gnats or fruit flies what ever you want to call them everywhere. Yep! They drove me to an exasperated state alright. In the kitchen near food is the last place I want to spray pesticides. So I thought I would give this method a whirl. All my fruit on the counter went in the fridge. I then took a small canning jar( any small jar will do) In the jar I put 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 3 drops of dawn dish soap, I then covered the top with plastic wrap, using a rubber band to secure it. With a toothpick I poked holes in the plastic wrap. Trust me, the pesky little boogers think it's food and dive into the jar. They can't get back out and drown. Within 24 hours my gnat problem is solved. It works! If you are bothered by gnats or fruit flies this time of year. I urge you to try this method. Cheap, safe, non toxic and best of all goodbye gnats!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Grandkids, Abigail, Jocelyne and Jasmyne enjoying some Papa time last Sunday!