Pheasant Noodle Soup

Pheasant soup. Pheasant noodle soup, to be exact. Why it's taken me so long to post up this classic I have no idea. But it's comfort food at it's best: Easy to make, satisfying, and you'll get leftovers.

Salmis of Snipe

This is about as classic French as you get. Salmis (sal-mee) of snipe: Salmis is where you roast a bird, make a quick sauce from the bones, and serve it with mushrooms and maybe some toast. This is a fantastic snipe recipe.

Chaos Theory and Roast Partridge

Roast partridge, grouse or quail is a wonderful idea, but in practice the bird often comes out dry. Pan roasting is a far better way to roast game birds. This is by far the best way to cook upland birds, or small, skinny ducks like teal.

Braised Rabbit with Garlic

Rarely are dishes this simple this good. Something about lots of slow-braised rabbit and whole garlic cloves, spiked with sweet peas and a splash of vinegar makes this recipe far greater than the sum of its parts.

Grouse Northwoods

An ode to the ruffed grouse of the Northwoods, whether they're in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan or Canada. This recipe relies on flavors familiar to this part of the world: wild rice, mushrooms, cranberries.

Acorn Soup

This is one of my favorite things to make with acorns, and for those of you who can't do wheat, it's gluten free. My acorn soup really shines with the garnishes of sour cream, slices of grouse (or chicken), and some fancy oil.

Roast Woodcock Michigan

Roast woodcock with a sweet-tart sauce of Michigan apples and Michigan-made vinegar, served on toast. It's pure Michigan, and I wish I could get back there to hunt timberdoodles again soon...

How to Make Prickly Pear Syrup

Here's how to make prickly pear syrup without the sticky business of scorching and peeling the tunas, as the fruit are called. It's all in how you strain the juice...

Chasing Big Blue

No other small game animal has evaded me like the blue grouse of the Western High Country. But persistence, and a healthy bit of luck, can pay off -- even at 8500 feet.

Pheasant Thighs with Garlic and Root Vegetables

Braised pheasant thighs with parsley roots. Parsley wha? Yep, there is a variety of parsley that grows fat, juicy roots. But parsnips or carrots would work just fine in this lovely, delicate, late-winter recipe.

Pozole Verde

Pozole is a classic Mexican soup, and like many Mexican dishes, it comes in red and green. I like both, but this is the green version I make with pheasant or wild pig, hominy, tomatillos, green chiles and avocado. Damn good use for pheasant legs, if I say so myself.

Braised Pheasant with Mushrooms

If you've never braised pheasant thighs, you're missing out. Unlike the drumsticks, which can be fiddly, the thighs on pheasants (and wild turkeys) are sublime when slow cooked. This recipe is based on a French one and uses lots of mushrooms.