juniper berries

[GreyWhiskers]

Aybody use juniper berries (cones) for spice? While deer hunting this weekend in an area quite away from my home, I noticed lots of berries on short trees. While being checked by a Game Warden, I saw a plastic bag of them on his seat. He dries, then grinds them to use as a spice. He said that nothing beats it on venison. Too bad I went home missing the main ingredient. :cursing:

 

[Bountyhunter]

Man, I'd sure not be eatin those deer if ya had to season the meat with juniper berries so ya could choke it down. I guess if ya like gin, then it'd be ok but, my venison isnt gamey or strong and it can be cooked and eaten without any spice. It sure gets my goat when I read about what people have to put in the cookin pot with a venison roast so that they can season it to where they can eat it. The venison here in New Mexico is that way. They eat the juniper berries, and sage brush, and oak brush, and dang are they gamey. You couldnt run fast enough to give me one a these NM bucks. I saw one just north of the house here last Sunday, he woulda gone B&C 180 or better. I wouldnt shoot him on a bet unless there was someone that I could donate the meat to. I take my deer off my ranch in Kansas where they are fed on alfalfa, soybeans, and milo and they never eat oak, sage, or juniper, and they are very good eating.

That didnt put up the big picture. You can see it here[url] http://www.hunt101.com/img/434995-big.jpg[/url]

When ya see those berries on the trees, ya notice that they are just on a tree here and there. That is because the juniper trees are individually sexed. There is a name for it but I forgit now. Only the female trees have the berries. When they are blooming, you can really tell the difference.

Enjoy.
B

 

[Slamfire]

I guess you could season yore vodka with 'em, then you could pass it off as good London Gin. :shake:
Then agin, maybe you should'a asked the warden if you could see his chef's license. :rotf:

 

[GreyWhiskers]

Slamfire,

I did a search on the juniper berries and found that they are used for flavoring gin. Don't recall what gin tastes like. :hmm: Going to dry and grind the berries I have. I've got two more weeks to fill my tag. If I'm lucky I'll give it a taste test. GW

 

[Bountyhunter]

Gin? Sorta like Cedar flavored kerosene..........

 

[AeroncaTAL]

When ya see those berries on the trees, ya notice that they are just on a tree here and there. That is because the juniper trees are individually sexed. There is a name for it but I forgit now. Only the female trees have the berries. When they are blooming, you can really tell the difference.

A plant species that has two sexes, male flowers being born on one plant and female flowers born on another plant is termed Dioecious. Another dioecious tree that comes to mind is the Ginko, a common ornamental. You don't see too many female Ginko trees, because the apple like fruit has a strong smell like vomit...

Scott

 

[AeroncaTAL]

Slamfire,
I did a search on the juniper berries and found that they are used for flavoring gin.

When I was in High School, eons ago, our field ecology group would spend one weekend a month in the central Oregon desert on research projects. I remember that our instructor would toss juniper berries into his morning camp coffee. :hmm:
Scott

 

I use them in game marinades and it's darned good. There's two, maybe 3 species around here. Alligator juniper berries aren't much for flavor, but the one seeds or utahs are. Get them when they are good and ripe. Taste them when you collect them. The stronger the better. I use them fresh. Just crush them in with some worchestershire, fresh garlic, crushed rosemary or sage, and pepper. It may not sound good to some of you fellows, but try it. You might like it.

I've also used crushed pinyon nuts, fresh sage, garlic, and worchesterchire to make a breading for game steaks. My wife loves that one, but it takes forever to get enough shelled pinyons. Store bought pine nuts work too. Cook it hot and fast like all game steaks should be cooked.

I like using local stuff like wild Louisiana sage, wild basil, water cress, elderberries, strawberries, choke cherries, etc. One of these days I'm going to get around to roasting maguey or agave like the Apaches did down here.

Sean

 

[Brasilikilt]

Gin? Sorta like Cedar flavored kerosene..........

Here in Oregon we have a local distillery which makes Vodka flavored with Douglas Fir!

I have yet to try any, might be fun to have some at least once

 

[spitfire]

Slamfire,

I did a search on the juniper berries and found that they are used for flavoring gin. Don't recall what gin tastes like. :hmm: Going to dry and grind the berries I have. I've got two more weeks to fill my tag. If I'm lucky I'll give it a taste test. GW

Maybe your Game Warden has a still? :winking:

 

While in boot camp, I would chew juniper berries and breath on the chief, drove him nuts hunting for my stash. Bob

 

[Bountyhunter]

You'll have to forgive my sarcasm about drinkin, my ex wife used to drink gin. Made 'er mean, like a biting sow. Even tempered woman she was, mad all the time.

Dioecious, yep, that is right. Geez, I should have remembered that. I used to teach biology way back when. Then one day some old unlikable person came up to me and said "Those who can do, and those who cannot teach". So, the next year, I went on to become a do-er and never looked back at the teaching degree. Aint it funny the thing that ya run across now and say to yourself, I used to do that.....

Aeronca, is that your plane in the avatar?

Bill

 

[flintlockmdj]

Bounty hunter I agree with you on adding a bunch of junk to meat to make it eddible. Recently I was in a resterant and ordered steak, when the watress brought it she asked if I needed steak sauce. I looke at her and smiled and said "if I need steak sauce you need better steak!"

 

[Zahman]

Germans use juniper berries (Wacholderbeeren) in the old favorite Sauerbraten. And venison sauerbraten is damned good, too!

 

I was thinking nutmeg or clove and kerosine. I used to know the taste of kerosine well. An old folk remedy for head colds is a drop of kerosing in each nostril; had it a lot when I was a kid. My sense of smell isn't too good now; I wonder if there is any connection?

 

[Slamfire]

Pinon pine nuts for seasonin'? Man, they are the main course! :haha:

 

[AeroncaTAL]

Aeronca, is that your plane in the avatar?

Bill

Sure is, a 1941 Aeronca Defender. The most guttless wonder ever to bore holes through the sky. A Travel Air Biplane can outrun me... :redface:

Brasilikilt, is that distillery up there in Portlandia? I wouldn't mind trying some of that myself. :grin:

Scott