Yes, another hunting/fishing entry...

It's waterfowl season.  The weather hasn't really changed yet but thats ok with me.  I hate to be cold.  I had the opportunity to go with friends duck hunting at their blind.  The surprise was, we had more geese come in than duck.

I've never eaten goose.  I have had duck and it is probably an acquired taste.  I like the challenge of preparing it in a way that compliments its strong flavor.  I think as a society we've moved away from a lot of foods that have been staples for centuries. 

Just for something different I made jerky out of the geese that I brought home.  Some jerky was made with ground meat and some I sliced the breasts and then marinated and smoked them.  They both turned out very well.

Nick really enjoyed the jerky.  Everyone at work did as well.  Now I need to hunt more so I can make more.

I did have the opportunity to go deer hunting with Shaun a couple times but we only saw does so we did not bring anything back. 

Fishing and at a lesser degree, hunting has become a guilty pleasure of mine recently.  I don't do it a lot.  Not as much as my son wishes I would.  But when I do, the relaxation has recuperative powers.  The guys I go with don't talk much and when they do, it is usually about what type of lure, gun or ammo is being used and why.  The quote "Silence is golden" really fits in this situation, not so much that the outside conversation is minimal but for me, the peace comes from the quieting of conversation in my own head.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I'm not standing there without a thought on my mind, but the thoughts are no longer a review of past conversations or crafting of future ones...which usually occupies my mind to the point of insanity.   Ok, not insanity but definately to the point of utter annoyance.  I don't know if its nature or being with people outside my most intimate circles (family and close friends) where the little things don't matter quite as much.

We recently went to Chesterfield Reservoir in Idaho where the trout were amazingly fat.  These guys were bigger than any trout I had caught before.  It was fun, the only ones we kept were ones that wouldn't live and they all ended up at my house and got smoked.  Here are some pictures of the trip:

Last week I took a drive up to our camping property to bring down the last of our camping equipment.  I was alone, the weather was very warm...especially for the end of september.  It was a beautiful day and I felt like I was the only one on the mountain.

I'll be going deer hunting up here in a couple weeks.  We'll see if I'm successful or not.

A Temple! A Temple!

Nearly one year ago, it was announced by President Monson that Brigham City would receive a temple.  Wow, what a shock.  With Logan and Ogden each 30 minutes away I never imagined that we would receive one. 

We held a groundbreaking service just a few weeks ago.  President Packer and Elder Nelson from the Quorum of the Twelve attended and spoke.  Elders, Walker, Packer and snow also attended.  It was great fun.  We gathered on the temple block and listened to the speakers and then the groundbreaking ceremony took place.  Lots of pictures, lots of fun.  Our Elder's Quorum got to help with security on the site overnight as well as setting up and taking down chairs for people with tickets to sit in.  My family did not have tickets but 1/2 hour prior to ther service beginning, seats left open could be filled.  Joan and I sat center about 7 rows back. It was terrific!

They have told us to expect 18-20 months for completion of the temple.  We are so excited.  I can't wait to help with the open house!

Here are many pictures from that event:

Artist's rendering of the new temple.

We started the day early to do our shift with security

My brother DeVon helped put up chairs too.

Overflow at the tabernacle across the street to the east

President Packer and Elder Nelson

Gabby tries her hand with the golden shovel!

Nick gets to help!

Speaking of food...

"Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul. And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion."

Doctrine & Covenants 59:18-20

Many faces of Gabrielle Madeline Hammer

Everyone's Favorite-Chili Verde

I spent half of monday making Chili Verde from scratch.  I've done it once before but misplaced the recipe I used so I went hunting to find anotherone similar.  Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds tomatillos
5 garlic cloves, not peeled
2 jalapenos, seeds and ribs removed, chopped
2 Anaheim or Poblano chiles (optional)
1 bunch cilantro leaves, cleaned and chopped
3 1/2 to 4 pounds pork shoulder (also called pork butt), trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1 to 2-inch cubes
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil
2 yellow onions
3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
2 Tbsp of chopped fresh oregano or 1 Tbsp of dried oregano
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
Pinch of ground cloves

1 Remove papery husks from tomatillos and rinse well. Cut in half and place cut side down, along with 5 unpeeled garlic cloves, on a foil-lined baking sheet. Place under a broiler for about 5-7 minutes to lightly blacken the skin. Remove from oven, let cool enough to handle.

If you want the additional flavor of chiles other than jalapenos, you can add a couple Anaheim or poblano chiles. Either use canned green chiles or roast fresh chilies over a gas flame or under the broiler until blackened all around. Let cool in a bag, remove the skin, seeds, and stem.

2 Place tomatillos, skins included, into blender. Remove the now roasted garlic cloves from their skins, add them to the blender. Add chopped Jalapeño peppers, other chilies (if you are using them), and cilantro to the blender. Pulse until all ingredients are finely chopped and mixed.

3 Season the pork cubes generously with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium high heat and brown pork chunks well on all sides. Work in batches so that the pork is not crowded in the pan and has a better chance to brown well. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, lift pork out of pan and place in bowl, set aside.

4 Pour off excess fat, anything beyond a tablespoon, and place the onions and garlic in the same skillet and cook, stirring occasionally until limp, about 5 minutes. If your skillet is large enough to cook the entire batch of chile verde, with the sauce and meat, then add the pork back to the pan. If not, get a large soup pot and add the onion mixture and the pork to it. Add the oregano to the pan. Add the tomatillo chile verde sauce to the pork and onions. Add the chicken stock (enough to cover the meat). Add a pinch of ground cloves. Add a little salt and pepper. (Not too much as the chile verde will continue to cook down and concentrate a bit.)

5 Bring to a boil and reduce to a slight simmer. Cook for 2-3 hours uncovered or until the pork is fork tender.

Adjust the seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with Spanish rice and warmed flour tortillas or freshly made corn tortillas.

Serves 8.

I chose to roast the peppers instead of using canned.  There's a difference in my book.  I browned the meat and seasoned it with Oregano and put it in the bottom of the crockpot.

I took the roasted peppers, garlic and tomatillos and ground them in the blender with the cilantro to come up with a very beautiful green sauce.  The glare from the flash lightened it a little, it was actually quite a deep green color.

Then I combined the sauce with the chicken stock (home made of course!) and poured it over the pork and stirred it in. 

Up to this point it was about a two hour process of chopping, roasting and frying...definately something to do on the weekend or your day off.  But it is a dish that works well in the slow cooker and tastes even better the following day.
 
We were going to have friends over for dinner and Family Home Evening, but at the last moment, they were offered Jazz tickets and so they invited us to the basketball game, the chili went into the fridge to be consumed later this week!

Been thinking about hunting lately since I bought a new rifle.  I came across Genesis 9:2-3 in the bible regarding animal life and feel strongly that any animal that is harvested should be used and not wasted.  That scripture is clarified in the Joseph Smith Inspired Translation as follows:


JST GENESIS 9: 10-13

Man will be held accountable for murder and also for wasting animal life. (compare Genesis 9: 3-9)

10 But, the blood of all flesh which I have given you for meat, shall be shed upon the ground, which taketh life thereof, and the blood ye shall not eat.

11 And surely, blood shall not be shed, only for meat, to save your lives; and the blood of every beast will I require at your hands.

12 And whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for man shall not shed the blood of man.

13 For a commandment I give, that every man’s brother shall preserve the life of man, for in mine own image have I made man.

The Trees

One of my favorite songs because of the lyrics is "The Trees" by Rush. 

There is unrest in the forest
There is trouble with the trees
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas

The trouble with the maples
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade

There is trouble in the forest
And the creatures all have fled
As the maples scream 'Oppression!'
And the oaks just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights
'The oaks are just too greedy
We will make them give us light'
Now there's no more oak oppression
For they passed a noble law
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe and saw.

Another from Rush that carries a deep meaning for me is "Closer To the Heart"

Closer To the Heart

And the men who hold high places
Must be the ones who start
To mold a new reality
Closer to the heart
Closer to the heart
The blacksmith and the artist
Reflect it in their art
They forge their creativity
Closer to the heart
Closer to the heart

Philosophers and ploughmen
Each must know his part
To sow a new mentality
Closer to the heart
Closer to the heart
You can be the captain
I will draw the chart
Sailing into destiny
Closer to the heart

Invictus

A movie about a South African Rugby team is in theaters now.  The name of the movie is "Invictus".  A friend shared with me some details about the name:

The word "invictus" is Latin for "invincible." It is also the name of a short poem written in 1875 by William Ernest Henley, a British poet. The poem was written while Henley was in hospital having to have his stricken foot amputated.

Orson F. Whitney (1855-1931) an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints wrote a response to that poem.  I've written the text of both poems below:

Invictus

William Ernest Henley


Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

The Soul's Captain

Orson F. Whitney


Art thou in truth? Then what of Him
Who bought thee with His blood?
Who plunged into devouring seas
And snatched thee from the flood,

Who bore for all our fallen race
What none but Him could bear--
That God who died that man might live
And endless glory share.

Of what avail thy vaunted strength
Apart from His vast might?
Pray that His light may pierce the gloom
That thou mayest see aright.

Men are as bubbles on the wave,
As leaves upon the tree,
Thou, captain of thy soul! Forsooth,
Who gave that place to thee?

Free will is thine- free agency,
To wield for right or wrong;
But thou must answer unto Him
To whom all souls belong.

Bend to the dust that "head unbowed,"
Small part of life's great whole,
And see in Him and Him alone,
The captain of thy soul.

Congruencies

For some reason, in my mind, I always look for congruencies in life.  I try to fit things into a puzzle, match pieces together and some times take each piece turn it right to left or left to right, upside down, try to insert it into the puzzle where I think it best fits.  Sometimes I try to pound the piece in with a mallet.  It doesn't always fit but I have a very strong desire to not have too many pieces left out.  There are times as I examine these puzzle pieces and want to interlock them with another piece I find but they are so incongruent that it makes me laugh.

Yesterday while attending the kids basketball games and sitting in the audience I pondered how different observing a sporting event was from attending a symphony concert.  I imagined the audience at a concert during the performance yelling directions at the performers.  "Cellos, legato!  What are you thinking?", chanting can be heard "Harmony! Harmony!", Jeers to the conductor "You call that Allegro?  Speed it up!".

I didn't grow up attending sporting events.  I went to one football game in High School because a girl told me she'd be there...don't even remember if I saw her once I was there.  In college I went to one football game that my wife took me to...I took a magazine.  I think I embarrassed her.  The incongruency of the two types of events forces me to keep the puzzle pieces seperate no matter how much I think the two should be related, at least interlock with each other.  Well, at least it's good for a laugh to imagine hooking them together.

Irony is one type of humor...for me, unrelated items can be just as funny.

Duck Tacos

I went hunting yesterday with Shaun for an hour or so.  We flushed out a hen and drake but hit neither.  Shaun had gotten a drake Mallard the day before and told me I could have it if I wanted.  He showed me again how to breast it out and soon I had a ziploc with duck breast to experiment on.  Having such a strong flavor I decided teaming it with other strong flavors would be wise.  Duck tacos became the menu.  After rinsing and giving it a soak over night, I cubed it up and marinated it in salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, onion and garlic powder.  I heated the skillet and began to sautee the meat until done.

remaining cubes of meat after preparing tacos

 Nick and I grabbed lettuce, cheese, sour cream etc. while the duck cooked in the frying pan.  We through together the ingredients and pretty soon had some tasty duck tacos on our plates.

The flavor of the duck still came through but didn't over power the other flavors of the taco.  Nick enjoyed them as well.  So I feel this was a successful venture into using duck!