Just a reminder that the deadline for shipping perishables/frozen to Afghanistan for Christmas has passed.  We will still take your order but cannot guarantee that it will arrive before Christmas.  Any order recieved after Dec. 21 will be held until January 2 to avoid shipping delays.  This does no affect non-frozen gift boxes & shelf stable items.  Thank you.

I had a special request tonight for this recipe from one of our friends and customers.  She is having a huge Super Bowl party and wanted to serve something unique and tasty...

Rocky Mtn. Oysters (a.k.a. Prairie Oysters)

Serves 4-6

2 pounds Bull Fries 
1 1/4 cup all purpose Flour 
Salt, Pepper, Paprika & Garlic Powder (to taste) 
Louisiana Hot Sauce 
Lard or Vegetable Oil (Lard has more flavor)

Using a sharp knife, split the tough muscle that surrounds each "oyster." You can remove this more easily if the "oysters" are frozen and then peeled while thawing. Set into a pan with enough salt water to cover them for one hour, then drain.

Transfer to large pot. Add enough water to float the "oysters" and a generous tablespoon of vinegar. Parboil, drain and rinse. Let cool and slice each "oyster" into bite sized chunks. Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of sliced "oyster" to taste.

Mix flour and some paprika and garlic powder to taste in a bowl. Roll each slice into this dry mixture. Dip into milk with a few dashes of Louisiana Hot Sauce in it. Dip into dry mixture. Place in hot melted lard. Cook until golden brown or tender, and remove with a strainer (the longer they cook, the tougher they get).  Serve warm and enjoy! 

Serving Options: Use Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing as a dip or Sprinkle with more Hot Sauce.

Suggested Side Dishes: Fresh Grilled Corn on the Cob, Tomatoes and Biscuits with Honeybutter.

These are a delicious delicacy and only available in limited quantities.  Enjoy!

~Cherie 

We get asked frequently about shipping steaks and brats to APOs in Afghanistan, Iraq and now Africa.  Many people want to send their soldier a taste of home for a special occasion or just a treat.  Usually the first thing we get asked is "How does this work?"  followed by "Does this really work?"  We have designed a specialty shipping container for shipping to places requiring a longer transit time.  This container, especially in the winter months, has been known to keep things frozen for 23 days--that's pretty cool.  When ordering, it always helps to know which FOB or Camp you are stationed at or your soldier is stationed at and if they receive mail each day, once per week, etc.  We pack the containers accordingly.  

How much does it cost to get steaks, brats etc. to Iraq & Afghanistan?  A good rule of thumb is $150 in shipping for every 12 lbs. of frozen meat.  That would equal 60 brats or 24 rib eyes, etc.  We offer a gift certificate if the shipping container is returned, as they are quite pricey and completely reusable.  We are not charging for the container or most of the cold packing, just the postage and a small amount of cold packing.

What if my order gets to it's destination, but my soldier doesn't pick it up for a while?  It is critical that your soldier pick up his/her gift ASAP.  We are not responsible for lost orders, orders that aren't picked up, combat-related delays, incorrect mailing addresses provided to us or other calamities that may occur.  We also suggest confirming the correct address for your soldier.  If a zip code or line of a mailing address is wrong, it may result in unwanted delays.

Can I track my order?  Orders may be tracked while they are in the U.S.  Unfortunately, once the military takes possession of them, they are usually no longer scanned and cannot be tracked.  We are happy to provide you with a tracking number though.

If you aren't sure about the mail situation or want to start with a smaller product, try our Summer Sausage, Beef Jerky & Beef Snack Sticks.  Most of those orders will ship for $12.95.  We can even put it into a nice gift box with a card.

Always remember, if you have any questions, please give me a call or shoot me an e-mail.  We're here to help.

We hope to hear from you soon.

We have been getting a lot of e-mails and telephone calls lately asking if there is still time to order Christmas gifts to be shipped to APOs and FPOs.  The answer is yes!  Shipping perishable items like steaks is always a little risky, especially to some of the remote outposts in Afghanistan, but the cooler weather makes a big difference.  

If you are looking for a less expensive gift, try one of our non-perishable gifts, like our one of our gift boxes filled with jerky and salsa.  We get a lot of compliments on our gift boxes featuring a Summer Sausage, snack sticks, jerky and old fashioned baked beans.  It's amazing how much a taste of home hits the spot!

Schenker Farms Teams up w/AdoptaPlatoon 4 Beef Sticks