More than just fish

As great as fresh fish is to eat,  The options while at an Ignace Outpost camp are varied.  Why not a little tenderloin? 

 

 

We have BBQs at all our camps for just an occasion.  Maybe open a bottle wine or other beverage to go with it.  How about walleye appetizers? 

It leaves a fancy restaurant lacking when great foods, good friends and fresh air combine for an awesome meal. Just keep in mind you must bring your own waiter and dish washer to an outpost camp.  There is always a job for the “new guy”.

Ready for the oil

Fresh fish makes one of the best meals possible at the lake. Everybody is a chef at an outpost camp. Invent your own breading, or try a prepared breading. Any way you cook it, no one will complain and accolades will flow your way.

Shore Lunch Steak

I thought I'd seen everything! While visiting some guests in the bush, I learned a new way to cook steak which puts my best efforts to shame. And I cook a mean steak already.

I call this steak "Shore Lunch Steak". It is also known as "Caveman Steak" and "Dirty Steak". Whatever the name, it is Great!

To prepare a steak worthy of the finest restaurant, you don't need either a restaurant nor even a stove or BBQ.

Shore lunch Steak is done with the same tools as shore lunch fish.




Begin with some fine cuts of meat. Prime rib steak is rather tasty as is New York Strip. I'm sure any steak this side of an old shoe would work. Build a fire. Preferably in a fire pit. Season the meat with a little Montreal Steak Spice or other favorite seasoning. Get a black cast iron pan searing hot with a little olive oil in it and sear the steaks for a moment or two on each side.



Once seared, let your fire burn down to coals. You don't want flames at this point. Just toss the steaks right onto the coals. Let the steaks cook on the coals for about 3 to 4 minutes and then flip. Cook another 3 to 4 minutes depending on the thickness and desired doneness. Amazingly, you will hardly need to flick off any charcoal from the steak before serving.



Add a little salad, potatoes, veggies or whatever else the sous chefs have prepared. Pour a glass of the fine wine you opened a half hour earlier (did I fail to mention the wine?)

A few walleye prepared fresh as a side dish makes this version of surf and turf an awesome meal.

Propose a toast to the joys of gourmet meals at Ignace Outposts.

Enjoy.

ps. don't forget to put out the fire - dead out! and I really prefer if you wish to do this, do it at shore lunch, away from the camp - bears love BBQ too!

Good old camp cooking

Before he became an electrician, my son-in-law Scott was a chef. I have top admit, not only does he produce some great grandkids, he puts together some great meals.

Being in the bush doesn't stop his creativity.



Fresh walleye, potatoes, BBQ ribs and mushrooms a la Flindt Lake




Ribeye, mushrooms and fresh corn

Blueberry Time

August is one of my favorite times to head off to the bush. There are several reasons for this. The weather is great, fishing is unbeatable and the blueberries are ready to be picked.

Blueberries are so plenty full you'd think they grow wild around here.





Blueberries are literally bursting with nutrients and flavor, yet very low in calories. Recently, researchers at Tufts University analyzed 60 fruits and vegetables for their antioxidant capability. Blueberries came out on top, rating highest in their capacity to destroy free radicals.

Read more about Blueberries and their reputation as one of the world's healthiest foods.









They taste good too.


Karen and I managed an over night at Hilltop Lake this week and before we went fishing Karen had picked some fresh berries right in front of the cabin and whipped up a blueberry coffee cake.



I managed to con her out of her recipe so I can share it with you. You'll need to bring your own "bundt" pan however.

Karen's Blueberry Coffee Cake

4 eggs, separated (what ever this means)

1 ¾ cups sugar

3 tsp vanilla

1 cup oil

Juice and rind of a lemon (¼ cup lemon juice)

2 ½ cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

2 cups fresh blueberries

Beat egg whites. Add sugar, egg yolks, oil, vanilla and lemon juice. Combine dry ingredients and berries. Fold into batter. Pour into a greased Bundt pan and bake at 350 for 1 hour. Turn out to cool. Combine 1 cup icing sugar with approximately 1 tbsp milk. Drizzle over cake.

The food is always better

Those who know me know I rarely miss a meal. In the bush meals become a focal point of the trip.
Two nights... two suppers!







Wow. The food always seems to taste better in the bush.