Wild Turkey....Not the Drinkin' Kind :)

There have been several wild turkeys parading around my house the last few weeks. Right now, there are 3 hens, 4 large toms and 4 smaller toms. I'm pretty sure the hens are the same ones who had nests close by last year.

The larger toms follow the hens around the yard, puffed up and pretty. :)

The hens almost seem oblivious to the toms. The girls just walk around the yard eating bugs while the toms spread their tail feathers and quietly follow.

These two looked so majestic, puffed up, tail feathers spread, wings "cupped" at their sides, slowly dancing in circles..... They were quietly trying to attract the attention of the hens.

They were putting on quite a show. I didn't notice until I looked at the pictures later... they seem to be looking back at me to see if I was watching. lol

The 4 larger toms...

They are so majestic, pretty and ugly at the same time. :)
I'm looking forward to seeing how many little ones they hatch.


Hmmmm.... does this make me a bird watcher? :D

More of those Dutch Oven Bacon Biscuits sittin' on Sausage Gravy

Biscuits and gravy have always been my go to meal for mornings after a late night or when I just do not feel like cooking. They are easy and fairly quick! These bacon biscuits take a little more effort than regular ones but not that much.

I get the fire going first....

make my biscuit dough...

slathered with bacon drippings and topped with crisp bacon.  ( To save time, I fried a couple of pounds of bacon before leaving home, then jarred the drippin's and bagged the bacon.)

Rolled and sliced into biscuits...

While the flames were high on the tractor rim, I made the gravy. Browned the sausage first...I use spicy sausage.

added flour, milk and a few seasonings...

I leave the gravy on the thin side, it will thicken later. Top the gravy with the biscuits...
Forgot to mention. I flatten the biscuits slightly so they will cook evenly and fast. They are probably 1 1/2" thick.

Shovel a few hot coals on top and let er go...
No heat on the bottom of the dutch oven, just the top.

The biscuits take about 25 minutes. I rotate both the lid and the pot while they are cooking..

The hot Bacon Biscuits sittin' on Sausage Gravy...

I love the little pieces of crisp bacon....

Served with fruit to make it look healthy.

The biscuits are good by themselves too, slathered in butter. Just another camp meal that I should make at home. :/

Thanks for looking! :)

Live Fire Spares n Beans

:) Not sure why the words "Live Fire" get some in the cooking world excited. I suppose the words "Dead Fire" wouldn't go over well or make much sense. :)  I've noticed lately on tv commercials .. more "Wood Fired",  "Apple Wood Smoked", "Fire Grilled" ...etc. items. I guess it's more of a marketing plan to get people excited about cooking methods that have existed for eons. :)

Anyway...enough rambling. lol

Pork n beans are pretty tasty while camping. They take some tending but the aroma around the camp site is almost intoxicating while they slow cook.

I soaked some pinto beans overnight...

Covered the beans with water, added garlic, bay leaves and let them simmer over the fire.

Slathered the pork spare ribs with bacon drippings, then sprinkled with salt and pepper. The simple route.

I let them slow cook over the low heat side of the fire...

added some of the rib trimmings to the pot of beans..

Flipped and rotated the ribs, added wood to the fire when needed...

Added stock to the beans, then salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, more garlic, thyme, marjoram, I think that was all...let them simmer some more..

Then corn on the cob. Some wrapped in bacon, some regular...

Supper's ready... 

It was self-serve style....

The ribs, beans, tatoe salad and bacon wrapped corn...
Kind of a meat dish with two side dishes of meat. :)

The ribs take around 5 1/2 to 6 hours, depending on the outside air temp.  Most blog friends know that I make either these or beef ribs almost every time I camp. They are easy, tasty and my favorites. :)

Wish I had a plate right now. I need to cook some of these camp meals while I'm at home!

Grilled Lake Steak (some of those 45 day dry aged ribeyes)

I was able to go camping last month. It was raining and cold the day I arrived at the lake, so I did a quick steak meal that first night.

Split some tatoes, stuffed with a sliver of onion, some bacon, butter, salt and pepper...

Used my little charcoal cooker for this...

started some shrooms in butter (with minced garlic)

grilled a few scallions...

Brought some of those 45 day dry aged ribeye steaks with me. I love these things!
Just olive oil, salt and pepper for seasoning..

Seared the sides of the steaks...

The meal was quick to make but it might have been my favorite of the whole camp out.
Guess you really can't go wrong with steak n tatoes.

The weather turned cold, nights in the high 30's and days in the 40's. I bout froze at times but loved every minute of being out there. :)