Trojan Casserole

Have you ever eaten Elk?

Until last night, I hadn’t. And had my brothers not let the Elk out of the bag, I might not even know.

Friday I knew that we didn’t have any hamburger because it was on my list to buy at the store but couldn't.

So when I saw big log of meat mom was browning on the stove top, I thought: “Hmm Amy must have brought some hamburger over.”

While getting a drink of water from the fridge I noticed a recipe on the counter: Tortilla Casserole. There was a lot happening in a relative short amount of time and mom was stressing for some reason about getting the casserole done in time. My Grandma was going to have a blessing for her surgery the next day at 6:30. So my Dad and the rest of the family were going over to be there.

Dan and Jacob, (these two yahoo's below on the left at Amy's wedding when she married the Hunter)





AND HERE AT Halloween

came home from Poky and Amy was there with Kade so mom wanted to make something special.

Tacos might be faster, I said, offering up a solution to the time predicament.

She nodded her head as I drank my water but then quickly poured in some Nalley's Chili to the hamburger and grabbed tortillas off the table and lined them in the of the casserole dish.

“A change of pace might be nice” I said tilting my head to look at the recipe again. Do you want me to chop an onions and shred the cheddar cheese" She said yes and I dug in to help so she could go visit my niece, Lil. The little Who on the left below

Right at 10 to six the oven beeped to signify the casserole was cooked. Mom had rushed over to see my niece Lil for a minute and was before the buzzer. She meant business about this meal I thought.

Black olives topped the Mexican Dish steaming on the hot pad as we all gathered around the table.

Mom dished heaping plates for the boys, took Dad’s plate and he kinda shook his head 'No'. Not a big fan of casserole and on top of it he didn’t have a Coke to go with dinner like Dan; So he scooped green jello in a dessert dish and sulked in his Captain's Chair.

Perturbed he was setting such a bad example for Jaden, I did sign language for: "Great look at the example you are giving Jaden( who was immediately saying: “Yuck.” at the sight of it) Come to think of it no hand motions were involved. Just me eyeing him then tossing my head in J's direction then back and him and mouthing"Good example".

"It's just like tacos. You love tacos" I coaxed and pled Jaden who put his elbows on the table and gave me a look that I just can't describe right now.

Between the prayer joke, I missed when Dan (Barbara Bush from above photo) let the Elk out of the bag, cause one minute Jake is teasing Dad about the pop and the next my Dad is in disbelief that the casserole really isn’t hamburger.

“Mom trying to sneak a Trojan Casserole on ya, Dad?” Jake chortles as I ask if Amy brought it over. I laughed as I my first bite was being absorbed by the taste buds and suddenly flash backs of the hamburger loaf in the silver pan, and picturing Amy walking to her car with brown paper wrapped around meat with Hamburger written on it from Albertson's crosses my memory while in the background I heard Dan give the answer to Dad’s question with: “this is from Brandon’s freezer from an Elk Hunt." in all sincerity.

What? Hunt? Amy didn’t bring regular beef? Something Brandon shot? (Brandon is her husband.) Is this really, mom? I asked, fork mid air.

Jaden looks at me. I look at him then back at mom.

Swallowing Tortilla Casserole is a little tougher when it's made with Elk I decided.

ButI had to finish strong for J’s sake. Encourage him that it was like we were the pioneers, or on a hunting trip! How fun is that?



It was real serious and quiet for a bit while we ate. Dad stood up and got a Suzy Q from the Bread Box. I told J if he ate his olives he could have one, too.

Jaden actually ate a few bites and stood up to mess around with a toy in the hall.

Jake gobbled up his serving, even took seconds while offering to have the leftovers to bring back to Poky. I couldn’t help but put my hand on his shoulder and thank him because I really didn’t know if I could handle Trojan Casserole leftovers.

Then suddenly, like an Elk bugling during the rut, a burp bellowed from Jaden's direction startling him and us. He busted up laughing, turned red in the face.

So today, as a precaution to his friends and school mates, he told his class that Elk makes ya burp real loud, and warned them not to eat it. Unless of course you're a pioneer or out hunting.