Leg Of Venison With Mushroom Spaetzle And Pear Brandy Braised Cabbage Recipes

BRAISED VENISON WITH ROSEMARY AND SHIITAKE

Steps:

• Melt the bacon drippings in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the venison in two batches until nicely browned and remove. Stir in the shiitake, onions, and garlic; cook until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in the cognac, wine, and bouillon cube, simmer for 30 seconds to remove the alcohol flavor and dissolve the bouillon.
• Stir in the venison, pepper, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer gently until the venison is tender, about two hours or more; adding water as needed.
• If using baby carrots, add them during the last half hour of cooking. When the venison is tender, you may wish to thicken the sauce by dissolving the cornstarch in 2 tablespoons of water and stirring it into the sauce.

PEAR-BRANDY COCKTAILS

Steps:

• Pour 1 tablespoon brandy into each of 6 flutes. Put 2 teaspoons bitters in a small bowl. One at a time, add 6 sugar cubes to the bitters, turning to coat; divide among the flutes. Add a few thin pear slices to each glass and top with champagne.

SPAETZLE WITH SMOKED HAM AND POACHED CELERY HEARTS

Steps:

• Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Make a well and mix in eggs and milk.
• Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Dampen a plastic cutting board and place dough mixture on it. Cut off strips of dough into water and cook for 3 minutes.
• Drain spaetzle, rinse under cold water, and set aside.
• In a large skillet heat up butter and saute spaetzle until lightly brown. Toss with smoked ham and garnish with poached celery.
• Cut hearts in half lengthwise. Boil celery in salted water until fork tender, about 5 minutes and shock in cold water. Warm up butter in saute pan and saute celery until golden brown, about 2 minutes over low heat. Add white wine, salt, and pepper and simmer for 5 minutes. Serve alongside spaetzle.