Easy Pan Fried Cast Iron Quail Food

PAN ROASTED QUAIL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place 1 truffle shaving and 1 shallot into the cavity of each quail. Season the quail with salt and pepper.
• Heat the olive oil over high heat in a large heavy bottomed ovenproof skillet. Place the quail in the skillet breast side down and cook until the skin is golden brown in color. Turn the quail and cook for 3 more minutes. Place the skillet directly in the oven and roast for approximately 10 minutes. Let the quail rest for 5 minutes before serving.
• Heat the butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
• Add the onion, shallot and garlic and cook until translucent. Add the quinoa and toast until golden, stirring to brown evenly. Add the kosher salt. Add 1 cup of water and simmer the quinoa until all the water is absorbed. Add remaining 2 cups of water, 1 at a time, simmering until quinoa is tender.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the prosciutto, thyme and lemon zest.
• Yield: 6 servings
• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 40 minutes
• Place the cider, white wine vinegar and brown sugar together in a stainless steel pot.
• Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add in the dried dates, Granny Smith apple, garlic and ginger. Cook for 15 minutes or until most of the liquid has been absorbed.
• Stir in the fresh figs, paprika, cardamom and kosher salt. Cook for 5 minutes.
• The chutney will keep for several weeks stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

PAN-FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• Heat a large heavy-bottomed skillet (preferably cast iron) over high 5 minutes. Generously season steaks with salt and pepper. Add 1/2 teaspoon butter to pan, then immediately top with one steak. Repeat with remaining 1/2 teaspoon butter and steak. Cook without moving steaks until a golden brown crust forms, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn and cook 2 minutes more for rare, or 3 to 4 minutes more for medium-rare. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes. Slice steaks against the grain; serve with sauce, if desired.
• Heat a 10- or 12-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat. Season the steaks liberally with salt and pepper. Seconds before adding a steak, drop 1/2 teaspoon of the butter into the pan and immediately top with the steak. Repeat with the remaining steak. Sear for 3 minutes without moving the steak (to form a crust). Turn and cook for 2 minutes for rare or 3 to 4 for medium rare. Remove the steaks from the pan and let them rest on a board or platter for a few minutes before serving.

FRIED PHEASANT

Steps:

• Cut Pheasant Meat from Carcass (I just used the Breast and Thigh Meat Tossing all those little feet far away).
• Rinse Throughly and place in Bowl.
• Salt, Pepper and Season Pheasant turning the meat over to make sure all gets covered.
• Cover bowl and place in fridge for at least 4 hours.
• In Large Heavy Skillet (I used Grandma's Cast Iron) put oil and heat on high until ready to fry.
• Retrieve Pheasant from Fridge.
• In a shallow bowl scramble eggs.
• In another shallow bowl (or plate) put flour in an even layer.
• Dip Pheasant pieces in egg first then coat with flour.
• Place in hot oil and brown on either side (lower heat to medium here so as not to burn the oil).
• The pheasant cooks REALLY fast and is SO tender and moist.
• Carrots and a green salad was an excellent addition to this meal!