Cenizo Journal Fall 2013 | Page 11

Big Bend Eats by Carolyn Zniewski Saint or Sinner: Marinade for Venison Dinner I can feel the chill in the morning air. It makes me think of big dinners and slow-cooked roasts, baked potatoes and broccoli/cheesy rice. My favorite fall roast is veni- son. I don't hunt myself, but every autumn a generous hunter gives me a roast or two. I put the roast and the marinade in a big ziplock bag, squeeze out the air, seal it and toss it in the fridge for a day or two. Then into a covered roasting pan with about a cup of marinade and veg- etables, and put it in the oven at about 250 degrees for an hour a pound. When I was reading up on game for this recipe I learned that venison is not only deer meat, it is any meat from game with antlers. Caribou, elk, and antelope are all venison. Venison game is native all over the world except for Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica. Just over 100 years ago venison was the pri- mary meat on the table here in West Texas. Now it's a special treat. Try one of these marinades: Outlaw Marinade Because every good hideout has the ingredients ¼ cup tequila 1 bottle strong beer 1 cup margarita mix 1 sprig each of sage & rosemary 1 tablespoon salt Shake of hot sauce Heavenly Marinade Because Chartreuse is made by monks ¼ cup Chartreuse 2 cups white wine 2 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 teaspoons salt By dinner time the kitchen will be warm and filled with the deli- cious aroma of wild game. Cenizo Fourth Quarter 2013 11