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Hunting Season Coincides With Pumpkin Harvest Too!
APtravelnews-Goose Holler Farm- October 3rd– This piece is written by Michaelean Pike. If you do things like leave your house or hop on the Internet, you’ve probably noticed that pretty much anything can be made better with the addition of a little “pumpkin spice” flavoring. Pumpkin spice has become the epitome of fall flavors.
The Pumpkin Spice latte from Starbucks (otherwise known as Product Zero in the pumpkin spice craze) blends “notes of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove,” according to the Starbucks website. It also has its own Twitter feed, making this drink more adept at social media than I am.
And it’s such a critical part of American cultural identity that when Hillary Clinton recently confessed that she no longer drinks Pumpkin Spice lattes because she “saw how many calories are in them,” her “anti-pumpkin-spice stance”made national headlines.
But at the heart of the Pumpkin Spice latte is the humble pumpkin. This North American native is full of enough Vitamin A, beta-carotene, fiber and Vitamin C to make Dr. Oz’s heart go pitter-patter. And while most of us consume pumpkin only in pie form, pumpkin becomes main-course worthy when paired with another fall harvest staple: venison.
So embrace the pumpkin spice craze this year by serving up one of these autumnal dishes.
1. Venison Pumpkin Curry
This recipe from Field & Stream certainly answers the call for pumpkin “spice.” Habanero chile and some curry powder take the flavors up a notch, while a lengthy cooking time makes for more tender venison. Get the recipe here.
2. Red Wine Braised Venison With Pumpkin Risotto
My husband will readily tell you that I am no gourmet cook. That’s why I like recipes that sound fancy but aren’t all that difficult. This beautiful dish from Meredith Steele at In Sock Monkey Slippers fits the bill. It may take some time, but the results are worth the effort you put into bagging your entrée. Get the recipe here.
3. Venison Stew Baked In A Pumpkin
Why just cook venison and pumpkin together when you can cook venison and pumpkin together in a pumpkin? Plus, if you use a pumpkin as your cooking vessel, that’s one less dish you have to wash. This stew from The Post-Standard’sJim Commentucci uses apple-cider-marinated venison, sausage and pumpkin sautéed in butter and maple syrup to perfectly capture the flavors of autumn. This is the kind of dish you prepare when your mother-in-law is coming over and you want her to forget that time you tried to make biscuits from scratch and instead just set your oven on fire. Oh, wait – I think that’s just me. Get the recipe here.
4. Venison and Roasted Pumpkin Stew
Like the Pumpkin Spice latte, this dish from Edible Green Mountains features cinnamon and cloves, with a dash of allspice. Unlike the coffee drink, however, it includes venison, making it 1,000 times more awesome. Topped with plain yogurt and roasted pumpkin seeds, this stew is the perfect way to take the edge off a chilly fall night. Get the recipehere.
5. Venison and Pumpkin Roulade
What could possibly make pumpkin and venison better? What about, oh, I don’t know…bacon? In this recipe from The Hunting Widow’s Guide To Great Venison Cooking, venison is stuffed with pumpkin mashed with butter and cream and then wrapped in bacon. I think that pretty much covers all the important food groups. (Like this recipe? Check out The Hunting Widow’s Guide to Great Venison Cooking cookbook.) Get the recipe here.
AL’s Goldfish Lure Co. is a Proud Sponsor of Project F.I.S.H.
APtravelnews-October 1st-news release reprint—What is Project F.I.S.H.? Involvement of youth in a long term and continuous, community supported, sportfishing and aquatic resource education program.
Vision: To initiate and provide fishing education and fishing skills to interested adults and youth from Michigan’s many diverse populations. This will preserve a natural heritage that ensures the future of fishing, which includes natural resources and environmental awareness, ethical fishing practices, fisheries stewardship, and positive developmental activities for children, families, and the community.
The Michigan Project F.I.S.H. program works through a statewide committee with representatives from: Michigan 4-H Youth Programs, Michigan State University Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife), Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, city and community recreation departments, service organizations, sportfishing/service clubs fishing industries/retailers, volunteers, and many others.
Project Goals:
- Provide multiple experience sportfishing giving youth gradual, sportfishing mentoring and a lifelong learning process.
- Develop in kids an appreciation of the outdoors and outdoor ethics and behaviors. Encourage kids to spend time outdoors.
- Introduce youth to sportfishing as a hobby and lifetime pursuit.
- Reach youth through clubs, schools, and sportsmen’s organizations.
- Help adults as mentors spend time with youth.
- Involve teachers, adult volunteer youth leaders, teen leaders, and retirees as mentors.
- Provide training for volunteers, school teachers, mentor programs and service organizations.
- Help instructors develop willingness and ability to start and sustain a long term program in their local communities (including management/coordinator strategies)
- Help instructors and youth gain new knowledge and confidence, enjoyment of the outdoors, aquatic biology/ecology, ethics and angling skills.
- Show local teams of instructors how to use available resources that highlight accessible fishing opportunities.
Contact : Mark Stephens Room 13 Natural Resources Bldg. East Lansing MI 48824
517-432-2700 [email protected] , www.projectfish.org, www.facebook.com/projectfish, www.twitter.com/projectfish
Did You Know You Can Go Gold Mining in North Carolina?
Reposted by APtravelnews-October 1st–Posted by TheOrchardInn on September 27, 2015 in Outdoor events, Recreation, Things to do in Asheville
As many of us know from our US history classes as kids, that there is a lot of gold to be found in the land. During those history classes, you may have learned a lot of it came from California and was found during the mid-1800’s but there can be lots of gold found in other parts of the country, including right here in the Western North Carolina mountains. We at Orchard Inn love helping our guests find fun things to do while they are here, including a trip to go gold mining in North Carolina. Check out all of the amazing places near us where you can go gold mining.
The first of the places where you can go gold mining in North Carolina isThermal City Gold Mine. The Thermal City Gold Mine is off of 221 and takes about 50 minutes to get there. You can go gem mining as well as gold prospecting while at Thermal City. All of their sites are covered so no matter what the weather, you will be able to participate. There have been many discoveries when you go gem and gold prospecting in North Carolina. Some of the gems found here have been moonstone, emerald, citrine, ruby, and more. If you love to go gold mining, the Thermal City Gold Mine also has supplies for sale too. When you do go gold mining and find some gems, they will be happy to identify them for you. While you are there be sure to have a look at their Rock Shop and Mineral Museum and see what’s on display.
Next up for places to go gold prospecting in North Carolina is Lucky Strike Gold and Gem Mine which is located about an hour away in Marion, NC. Lucky Strike is a fun and simple gold mining operation where it’s all about enjoying being outdoors. To go gold prospecting here all it will cost you only $5 and you can keep everything you find! Enjoy a day on the Second Broad River. Afterward head over to the Miners Diner and enjoy a snack or some lunch. If the weather is less than desirable then consider going gem mining. At Lucky Strike, it’s covered and you can still enjoy your day.
The last of our top picks for gold mining in North Carolina is Emerald Villagelocated in Spruce Pine, NC. This is the furthest away from us and takes about an hour and a half to get to. They have so many fun and amazing things to do while you are there. Of course, you can go gem mining and gold prospecting but also while you are there have a look at their other exhibits. Some of those include their mining museum, Discovery Mill Building, and their Crabtree Emerald Mine. Also, be sure to sign up for their Blacklight Mine Tour which takes you on a mine tour at night and shows you something you have never seen before.
As you can see, when you choose to go gold mining in North Carolina, you can have a great time. When you do decide to come to the beautiful Western North Carolina mountains we hope that you will consider staying with us at Orchard Inn. Our B&B is located in Saluda, NC and has amazing mountain views from our dining room as well as our rooms. Each morning enjoy a delicious and homemade breakfast prepared by our chefs and then go and enjoy your day. While there are many places to eat dinner here in North Carolina, we hope that you will set aside at least one dinner with us at our in-house restaurantNewman’s. Our chefs take great care to use local products and rotate the menus out frequently as to always have fun and interesting dishes. Contact us today and book a fun trip to see us at Orchard Inn in the Western North Carolina mountains!
Want to learn more about our area? Request your free Vacation Guide today!
Photo by Bruce Tuten