Cooking in the West

Technology never ceases to amaze me! Not only have they invented cars which drive themselves (something I am going to need very soon, and my family might argue that I need right now), but drones are going to change the way we live and play. They now have drones which will deliver beer from shoreline bars out to ice fishermen in their huts. The beer is ordered and paid for using an app, and quicker than you can burn your bratwurst on the hut barbecue, your cold beer is delivered right to your hut with the aid of GPS!

Long ago, I began looking for the perfect winter sport, and I have definitely found it now that technology has made it even more awesome! I have had two knee surgeries, so I am too chicken (and old) to ski anymore. Snowmobiling is very fun but expensive, noisy, somewhat cold, and your lungs fill with the smell of exhaust--at least on our old Phaser, which is the classic redneck sled we bought at a farm auction for $400.00 years ago. But hey, it gets your from point A to point B (If the two points are within walking distance, you are fairly mechanical, and you have all day!) Snowshoeing and cross country skiing require too large of an investment in Ibuprofen and horse liniment...so I do believe ice fishing is my sport!

The merits of ice fishing became apparent to me long ago in a wellness argument between some of my colleagues at Big Timber Grade School. According to recent research (probably conducted in an ice hut after the consumption of a couple adult beverages that were not delivered via drone), one hour of ice fishing provides the exercise equivalent of three miles of bike riding! (I suspect that would be bike riding downhill with a strong tailwind, but nevertheless, this scientific research certainly convinced me!)

This research did not sit well with the BTGS Superintendent at the time, Gary Harkness, who is an avid bike rider, but it was heartily touted by Principal Mark Ketcham and my former teaching partner, Brandon Proue, who are avid ice fishermen. They have been known to drive hundreds of miles on bad roads in blizzard conditions to fish in an ice fishing derby. All this time I thought they were doing it to get away from their wives, but it turns out that they are doing it for the incredible exercise value of the sport!

I have totally bought into the idea of modern day ice fishing as the ultimate fitness sport! Have you seen the high tech huts they have? Do you know that ice augers are motorized? There are even people on snowmobiles who will transport all of your heaters, huts, equipment, augers, coolers, cook stoves, etc. out to your favorite spot for a nominal fee. Once ensconced in the cozy hut with the hole drilled, the ice fisherman lowers his underwater camera into the hole to get about a million mega pixel view of the fish that he/she previously located with the sonar fish finder.

There is no need to hold the pole, because the automatic jigging device and strike alarm will alert the napping fisherman when it is time to reel in the fish. This device is also helpful to avoid burning the aforementioned bratwurst or marshmallows that are roasting over the propane burners if a fish is just nibbling the line.

Since ice fishing burns up so many calories per hour, the fishermen can enjoy junk food and beverages totally guilt-free and of course, without breaking a sweat. The seats in the ice hut are much more comfortable than a bike seat, and just think--eight hours of ice fishing is the exercise equivalent of riding a bike 24 miles! I have found my sport, and I can't wait till the next fishing derby to start getting into shape! I sure hope there is room in the Ketcham/Proue ice hut for my fishing recliner! I don't think there are any drones to deliver beer based out of the bar at Deadman's Basin, so I will probably have to drag the beer to the ice hut in a sled, but that will make the sport even more cardio friendly!

The ice fishing experience is not complete without proper winter beverages, so I am sharing favorite beverage recipes from my friend, Barbara Sell of Big Timber, Montana. Thanks, Barb!

Barbara’s Brandy Slushes:

Mix together:

7 C. water

2 C. sugar

Boil one minute and mix with tea made from 6 tea bags steeped in 2 C. boiling water.

Add this mixture to:

1.5 C. brandy

1 lg. can frozen lemonade

1 lg. can frozen orange juice

Freeze for 24 hours. To serve slushes, fill a mug half full of slush mixture and fill the remainder of the mug with 7-Up.

Hot Buttered Rum:

1 qt. vanilla ice cream

1 lbs. butter

1 lbs. powdered sugar

1 lbs. brown sugar

Cook over medium heat until well blended.

To serve, put 2 to 3 T. of mixture into a mug and add boiling water and rum to taste.

Ice Hut Eggnog:

2 C. milk

1/2 t. ground cinnamon, plus more for garnish

1/2 t. nutmeg

1/2 t. vanilla extract

6 large egg yolks

1/2 C. sugar

1 C. heavy cream

1 C. bourbon

whipped cream for serving

In a small saucepan over low heat, combine milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla and slowly bring mixture to a low boil. In a large bowl, whisk egg yolks with sugar until yolks are pale in color. Slowly add hot milk mixture to egg yolks in batches to temper the eggs and whisk until combined. Return mixture to saucepan and cook over medium heat until slightly thick (and coats the back of a spoon) but does not boil. (If using a candy thermometer, the mixture should reach 160º.) Remove from heat and stir in heavy cream. If using bourbon, refrigerate until chilled. To serve, garnish with whipped cream and cinnamon or nutmeg.