Hello!
If you have stumbled upon our blog, you must also share some of our passions for all things outdoors. Hunting, fishing, hiking- or maybe you are just looking for some inspo to cook up all that wild game that stares back at you every time you open the freezer. Either way, we are glad you’re here!
Oh, speaking of we, maybe an introduction is in order. We are the husband and wife duo behind The Brokenstraw.
About Wes-
Wes is a lifelong hunter. Born and raised on The Brokenstraw creek, he spent most days in the woods behind his house or knee deep in the water catching minnows, suckers and trout. While some of his hunting knowledge was passed down, he has never stopped trying to learn new ways to enjoy the hunt and fish. From tracking to trapping, gun to gear- he is always in search of the most ethical and efficient way to enjoy his favorite past time. This includes getting his hands dirty in the kitchen. Several years ago I decided to gift him with a small Weber charcoal smoker for his birthday. “What’s the worst that can happen?” I thought to myself. Little did I know I had kickstarted an OBSESSION. He still has that little smoker, and alongside it three more smokers that he has continuously stepped up and outgrown with his eye on a bigger and better model. We now have a curing chamber (which I protested at first, our small farmhouse is just that- SMALL) that has proved its worth when I am putting freshly made wild boar chorizo on my charcuterie boards. He has fallen in love with cooking, and more specifically with cooking what he hunts. We’ve all heard the phrase “Eat what you Kill” and this is exactly what we do. When you see the recipes on our blog there is a 98% chance Wesley is the mastermind behind the scenes. Whether it’s smoking a whole hog leg, cooking down a pot of stew or stuffing some snack sticks, he has his hands in every step of the process. Hauling his game home, butchering, grinding, preserving, cooking. It’s very humbling to see the behind the scenes work that goes into these meals. While you might not have the same process of your own, maybe he can inspire a little bit of that passion in your own hunting and cooking endeavors.
About Salina-
While I may not be whipping up new seasoning blends every week, I do contribute by adding to the wild game stocking our shelves and by my (secretly) favorite activity- foraging. I’m Salina, or as my friends call me, the mushroom queen. At the first sign of spring I start getting that itch to get outside with my eyes on the forest floor. I beg for weekends with no plans so I can spend hours in the woods playing my favorite version of I-Spy. When I hit the morel jackpot a few years ago you would have thought I had won the actual lottery. Along with my love for earthy shrooms, fiddleheads, and leeks comes a longing to find myself in a tree stand. Growing up, I spent many a day in the woods with my dad. As my grandfather on my mothers side had, my dad followed suit joining the Pennsylvania Game Commission when I was quite young. With this came exposure to a world many my age (and even still) don’t know. I have spent weekends at the bear check station, bottle fed a fawn, set off a turkey net and learned the layout of a muzzleloader butt to barrel. However, I was an extremely stubborn child (let’s pretend I’ve outgrown that) and wanted to distance myself from what I had always been forced to be around. I never wanted a hunting license. Don’t get me wrong, cook me a venison blackstrap and I’d be happier than a butchers dog. Wes changed that for me. Shortly after we started dating he took me to a range. To his surprise, I’m sure, I could aim. “Come and sit in the stand with me this year, just try it” he said. So I got my license. I went, I sat. I didn’t see jack. Again and again, I started to get discouraged that hunting was a whole lot of sitting with little reward. On the very last day of my first archery season I had some ping that convinced me I should still go out even though Wesley decided to hit up a different spot. I left work early, sprinted from the car to the garage and hauled it through our field. Sweating and hungry (I always forget snacks) I made it to the top of the stand with 1.5 hours left of shooting time. I sent a sweaty selfie to my then boyfriend saying “At least I made it out, it’s the thought that counts”. As I shoved my phone in my pocket, to my right walked out an 8 point that had decided he was safe this late in the season. He walked right at me, at 20 yards…. directly behind a tree. After being spooked by a squirrel he stopped at 40 yards and I decided it was time. I said a prayer and shot my arrow. With 10 minutes left of the season I took down my first kill, an 8 point buck. I called Wes and told him from my stand, walked down and sat with my buck in total disbelief and pride. After walking to the field to wait for Mr. Muscles to come help me, I sat and watched the sunset and decided, “this is it… I’m in this too.” I’ve hunted every season since.
I hope you find some inspiration in the kitchen, a love for the outdoors, maybe even a laugh or two from what we share. Our goal for this blog is to help open your eyes to new ways to enjoy what the wild has to offer.
From our much too small smoker to yours,
Nostrovia
