Chipotle Cherry Goose Jerky Food

GOOSE OR DUCK JERKY

Steps:

• Slice the duck breasts into roughly 1/4 inch thick strips. Mix remaining ingredients well in a large bowl. Put the meat into the marinade and massage it all around to coat evenly. Pour everything into a seal-able plastic bag or container and set in the fridge. Marinate for at least 24 and up to 72 hours -- the longer it is in the mix, the saltier the meat will get, but the more flavorful it will be. During the marinating process, massage the meat around in the bag to keep all the pieces in contact with the marinade.
• Remove the duck from the bag and pat dry with paper towels. Either follow your dehydrator's instructions for making jerky (I dehydrate mine at 140°F), or lay the strips on a wire rack set over a cookie sheet. Set the rack in an oven set on Warm until the meat is dried out, but still pliable, about 6 to 8 hours. Store either in the fridge indefinitely, or at room temperature for up to 1 month.

CHIPOTLE-CHERRY GOOSE JERKY

Steps:

• In a food processor, add dried cherries and/or cranberries and chop finely. Your jerky won't bind well if the pieces are too big and the fruit might clog the jerky gun. Next, add the remaining ingredients except the ground goose. Pulse about 4 times until seasonings are well combined.
• In a bowl, combine fruit-spice purée with ground goose. Using your hands, work the ground meat until it resembles a bouncy, uniform paste. "Overworking" the ground meat makes it denser, which helps the mixture bind, so don't be afraid to mix it for a few minutes. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours to chill and set.
• Take the meat out of the refrigerator and give it another good mix. Stuff the mixture into your jerky gun, preferably one with a wide tip, and squeeze onto jerky trays into strips of your width of choice. Set dehydrator to 165° F and dry meat until you achieve the desired texture. Dry times will vary with different machines. My jerky took about 4 hours to dry.
• Allow jerky to cool completely before storing in zip-top bags. They will last about a week with no refrigeration. They'll last a month if refrigerated, and longer if vacuum sealed and frozen.

SMOKY COLA JERKY

Steps:

• Bring the cola, soy sauce, vinegar, honey and 1 tablespoon salt to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until reduced to 1 cup, about 12 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the chipotles, paprika and onion powder; let cool completely.
• Trim the excess fat from the beef and slice on an angle into 1/4-inch-thick strips. Combine the strips and cola mixture in a resealable plastic bag and shake to coat. Press the air out of the bag, seal and let marinate in the refrigerator at least 24 hours and up to 3 days.
• Position a rack in the center of the oven; line the bottom of the oven with foil. Drain the meat, discarding the marinade. Stick a toothpick through the end of each strip of meat. Starting at the back of the oven and working forward, arrange each piece of meat between the grates of the oven rack so the toothpicks rest on the grates and the meat dangles below (do not let the meat touch the rack). Alternately, cook the beef in a dehydrator according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Heat the oven to 200 degrees F. Bake until the jerky is dry but still bendable, 2 to 3 hours. Carefully remove from the oven and remove the toothpicks. Let cool completely. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

CHERRY CHIPOTLE CHILI

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook turkey with salt and pepper, stirring, until browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Add carrots, onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until carrots soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in chili powder. Add tomatoes, cherries, chipotles, bay leaves and 1/2 cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; cook, stirring once or twice, until chili thickens, 10 to 15 minutes. Add beans; cook 2 minutes. Flavor with chipotle sauce to taste. Remove bay leaves. Divide chili among 4 bowls. Top each with 1 tablespoon yogurt and garnish with cilantro, if desired, before serving.