The Great Outdoors
by Larry Whiteley
WE NEED THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS
Our world is divided. Vaccines or no vaccines. Mandates or no mandates. Masks or no masks. Social issues, race, gender, political parties, the economy. The list of divisions that divide us go on and on. It should be one nation under God, indivisible – but sadly it’s not. Not since the Civil War has there been such divisions.
My personal escape from all that is going on in America is to get outdoors in nature away from the negative news that either depresses you or makes you mad. I have also banned myself from any social media platforms. It only adds to the division. I choose to wrap up warm and go try to catch some Christmas crappie. I choose to go sit in a tree in the woods and marvel at all God’s creation. I choose to spend time around a campfire and think about what Christmas means to me.
In this divided world we need to read once again, or for the first time, the story of a baby born in a manger. The choice to believe the story is entirely up to you. I hope you do for your sake. Let it bring hope, peace and love to your world. Wouldn’t that be a lot better than letting all the other stuff that’s going on consume you? Put the commercialism of Christmas aside. Put our divisions aside. We need the story of Christmas this year!
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
“I truly believe that if we keep telling the Christmas story, singing the Christmas songs, and living the Christmas spirit, we can bring joy and happiness and peace to this world.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale, American Minister/Author
CRAPPIE JERKY
If you enjoy making your own beef or venison jerky, you might be surprised to know you can also make crappie into this delicious snack. Native Americans have made fish jerky for thousands of years.
Cut into strips about 3/8 inch thick but make all slices the same size so they dry at the same time. Lay the strips on a flat surface and pat dry. I like to use Hi Mountain Seasonings jerky cure and seasoning kits because they contain everything I need. My favorite flavors for crappie jerky are Mandarin Teriyaki and Spicy Lime but you can choose from other flavors.
Sprinkle one side of the crappie with ½ of the seasoning/cure mix then turn it over and use the remaining mixture. Next, put the seasoned strips in a large bowl and tumble by hand until the mixture has been spread evenly on both sides. Store the crappie strips in a plastic storage bag or non-metallic container and refrigerate for 24 hours before you start the drying process.
It can be dried in your oven or smoker but I use my dehydrator because it circulates air which greatly aids in the drying process. Since jerky dried with low heat will be tastier, cook at 145 to 155 degrees Fahrenheit. The internal temperature should be 160 degrees to insure it is properly dried and chewy. Store in a cool, dry location. Crappie jerky also makes a unique Christmas gift. In order to save energy, you can let the hot sun do your drying. Flies and other insects can be a problem with this method, so be sure to cover your fish with cheesecloth, screen mesh or similar material. Or, you could start a small fire underneath your racks and let the smoke repel the bugs.
I WAS JUST WONDERING
Where do forest rangers go to get away from it all?
A GREAT TIP
When you are out camping, a great deal of frustration can be released by using newspaper pictures of politicians as toilet paper. I’m sorry, I just couldn’t resist that tip.
