venison empanadas with balsamic caramelized onions

April 24, 2013August 6, 2015Leave a comment

So I know that is a mouthful to say, but these yummies are a mouthful of deliciousness to eat. They’re my take on traditional empanadas, and boy were they a hit. During the spring and summer I find myself anticipating a bountiful fall and winter when it comes to game, so I start to go through my freezer pretty quickly. With ample amounts of ground venison stored, this is an excellent way to use some in a non-traditional way, and to keep your palate guessing. And no, I did not fry them. But oh man would have have been fantastic, too. The boys were satisfied with full bellies, and we even have a few leftovers for the next day or so. Also- I am not a food photographer, or, apparently, a pastry chef. Just throwing that out there…

Continue reading →

cast & blast

April 16, 2013August 3, 2015Leave a comment

I ran across this article from Field & Stream while I was pretending to fold laundry, and I was instantly hooked. No pun intended- You’ll see what I mean. Given the amount of fun and successful hunting my dad and I had while in Argentina, both in 2010 and 2013, it is safe to say that we will definitely be going back. Hopefully several more times (hint hint, Dad..!). Both previous trips were spent only dove hunting, and we know there is a lot more that Argentina has to offer. Between dove hunting, duck hunting, big game hunting, and fishing, the country is a world-class playground for the outdoorsmen/women. Dad and I have primarily talked about adding a few days of duck hunting to our adventure, despite my constant efforts at begging him to let me go after a monster red stag or axis deer. Those who have met me know that I have an itchy trigger finger. And let’s be honest- I would have to have that thing mounted. Immediately. But, back to the topic at hand… This article sparked a new interested that I previously hadn’t really thought about- adding a few days of fishing on the great Rio Grande to the mix- a Cast & Blast. Ummm WHERE DO I SIGN UP? In this particular instance, the anglers were after the sea run brown trout, but one can also catch rainbow and brown trout, freshwater dorado, pirá pita, and pacu, depending on the region you visit.

With 10 tips and tricks for fishing, along with 5 more for the hunting portion of your trip, the authors provide really good insight as to what you can expect when you are fishing and wingshooting in Argentina.

Click HERE to read the entire article. Enjoy today’s in the news!

snacks for the stand

April 15, 2013August 6, 2015Leave a comment

Yes, I am one of those. Nearly every time I go dove hunting, at least half of the times that I duck hunt, and definitely every single time I go deer hunting, I like to bring a little snack. The reason? My excuse is that sometimes I am just not quite sure how long exactly I will be out there. What if I sit for 3+ hours and see nothing, and then a monster buck walks out and I take a shot and he runs for a mile before going down and I have to spend an hour finding him, and then drag his heavy self out of there? Hmm? That could totally happen. In which case, I would need to boost my strength and energy in a caloric way beforehand. While that may seem more improbable than not, it helps ease my mind. Mostly, it’s because I can get a little bored when things are quite in the woods. My dad and I like to stop somewhere before we get to the property to grab some bottled water, perhaps a diet coke, and definitely a snack. Fortunately for him, dear Dad still has the metabolism of a high school kid who runs track, and often purchases a candy bar or Moon Pie. I am somewhat less fortunate. While I do my fair share of exercise and running, if I ate a Twix every time I hunted, my bikini-clad self during the summer would not be happy with my camo-clad self from hunting season. The best way to make sure that doesn’t happen? Whip up some easy, homemade snacks to bring along! It’s a great way to control what you’re eating, and definitely makes it easier on the wallet.

Continue reading →

poor timing in the news…

April 11, 2013Leave a comment

Just when I was getting excited for warm weather, and was considering trying out a little kayak fishing this summer…

Courtesy of Field and Stream

I mean, I know it’s Hawaii. A long way from here. But come on man! You. Must. Be. Joking. Even the War Eagle is looking a little small for deeper water…

Its like I already knew something like this would happen… My expressions clearly already says “Now let’s just wait a minute….”

Costa Rica 2011

April 4, 2013August 3, 2015Leave a comment

I can’t believe it’s already Thursday again… And now that we have moved into April, I find myself longing for warm weather, sunshine, and some fishing action on the boat. Today’s chilly, rainy weather has inspired me to make today’s #tbt the first fishing post- Costa Rica 2011! This time two years ago, I was on my first trip to Costa Rica, and my travel buddies were my parents and the main squeeze. It was such an unbelievable trip that he and I planned one for the following year to go with a group of friends (more on that in another #tbt!).

We stayed in an amazing house owned by some family friends, called Casa Carolina, and I could not recommend it more. The house is located on the side of a cliff, overlooking the harbor- talk about some incredible sunsets! We watched the sun go down each day from the pool with a cold beverage in hand :). The staff there are so friendly, and I know it is only a matter of time before we can see them again!

The main purpose of the Costa Rican adventure, of course, was to fish- offshore sailfishing and an attempt at some rooster fish inshore. The boat we fished from is called Frenzy, a 43′ custom, and boy did we have fun on that boat. In addition to the Frenzy, we spent a day aboard Frenzy II (35′, used more for inshore fishing), leaving from the Marina Pez Vela on both. Recently, they have added the Front Row to the fishing fleet, a 28′ vessel, and I am pretty sure that means we need to head back down there soon to give it a try! We had success every day while sailfishing- the ones down there are massive compared to those off the shores of South Carolina. Although the rooster fishing proved to be a futile effort, we never failed to have a fantastic time on the boat. The crew on board could not have been nicer, and they really know what they are doing when it comes to raising fish. Rather than bore you with words, I will leave you with a photo recap of the trip- Enjoy!

Amazing sunset the first night.