Venison crockpot stew is tasty, simple to make, and everyone asks for seconds with this recipe. Photo by Forrest Fisher

As lucky hunters return home from the big game woods, the stockpiles of venison cuts and burgers begin to fill the freezer with tasty, fat-free, red meat and it’s time to use it. Fear not. This is an easy recipe that only takes minutes to put together, and anyone can do it. You’ll need a six-to-eight-quart crockpot. This simple recipe calls for tossing all the ingredients into a crockpot to share flavors and in a few hours of slow cooking, the meat becomes super-sweet and super-tender. This is also a great simple recipe to feed 10 for week number two in deer camp. There is no magical formula for exact ingredients, but what follows below is how we have done it for years.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 lbs venison meat (steaks, roasts)

• 2 TBS of minced fresh garlic

• ½ tsp salt and pepper

• 1 tsp fresh-chopped sweet basil.

• 1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes

• 1 large sweet white onion (sliced)

• 1 sweet green or red pepper (sliced)

• 4 cups (32 oz) beef broth

• 3-4 stalks of sliced celery (sliced)

• 2 cups carrots (sliced)

• 4 cups potatoes (diced)

• 6-8 oz sliced fresh mushrooms (sliced)

• Other fresh vegetables you may like

Cooking Instructions: Cut the venison meat (steaks or roasts) into 1-inch chunks and add to the crockpot. Then add all the remaining ingredients, except not the mushrooms, and mix it all up. Cover, set the crockpot on low for 8 hours. Turn off, uncover, add the diced mushrooms, mix in. Let it cool a bit, scoop into a soup bowl. Add butter to a roll or slice of rye bread. If you dare, add a spoonful of your favorite shredded cheese atop the stew. Pure deliciousness! Simple, right?!

Gotta love the outdoors.

See FISHER, Page B3

Outdoor Calendar:

Nov. 16-Dec. 8: NYS Southern Zone Regular (firearm) Big Game season

Nov. 21: Southtowns Walleye Assoc. monthly meeting, 7PM, 5895 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg, Info: 716-208-4023

Nov. 23-Jan. 19: South Area – Late Canada Goose Season, see syllabus.

Nov. 30: Last day of inland Musky Season (Great Lakes musky goes thru Dec. 15).

Nov. 30-Dec. 14: Pennsylvania Regular (firearms) Deer Season. See https://www.pgc.pa.gov