"Do you have any recipes for deer or elk? Help! My family is going hunting next week and I don't have any idea if I cook this meat different then I do beef?" --Rhoda

Hope your hunters catch some game. My brothers love to hunt, so I've had some experience with cooking deer and elk. I cook it just like beef; however, I just read in a cookbook that venison (wild game) benefits in texture from long marinating (up to 48 hours). Now would be a great time to test marinade recipes. I think the flavor of wild game depends more upon the hunter than the cook. If the animal is shot while running, chemicals in its muscles can lead to a gamey taste . . . and the longer its adrenaline has been stimulated, the more wild the meat will taste. Also factors of how and when the blood is drained and the timing of when the animal is portioned can also affect the taste. If you find that you can't stomach the wildness of the meat or that you can't disguise it with marinades, try making jerky. It is a delicious way to use up venison, and practically gets rid of the wildness. Talk to other hunters for great suggestions and more recipes.

* DVO welcomes your kitchen hints and cooking or nutrition questions! Email us and we'll post your hints and Q/A's in upcoming newsletters! *