Backwoods Bound Bullet Vol. 3 - Issue 5

Greetings from the team at BACKWOODS BOUND & welcome to May's issue of the "Backwoods Bound Bullet". We welcome our new 'buddies' and say "Better late then never" to our old ones.

Highlights this issue include:

~ Backwoods Boredom Busters - "Coffee Can Ice Cream"
~ Backwoods Health: "Helpful Tick Info"
~ Article: "The Bighead Carp "
~ Recipe: "Crappie Gumbo"
~ Kenny's Corner: "On Vacation"

We suggest you review this issue and check out the links, then print it to read the lengthy articles at your leisure. Pass the copy on to a friend when you're through or leave it in the employee lunchroom. The more Backwoods Buddies we have contributing their stories & ideas, the more exciting this site becomes!
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NEWSFLASH: Backwoods Bound Chili Seasoning Mix, it's not just for chili anymore!!!

The perfect blend of spices in Backwoods Bound Chili Seasoning Mix produces a consistently great pot of red chili every time! Thanks to you we've discovered it makes great white chili, pasta salad, soup, cheese balls, chicken fajitas, and more. Check out our delicious recipes for our Chili Seasoning Mix at http://www.backwoodsbound.com/zchili.html. Send us yours!

NOW AVAILABLE AT COLUMBIA MINI MART (Columbia, IL) and EVANSVILLE FOOD MART (Evansville, IL)!! No need to plan in advance for your next meal of chili. In fact, pick some up today and enjoy some of the best chili around!!

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BACKWOODS BOREDOM BUSTERS:Coffee Can Ice Cream

This Boredom Buster first appeared in the April 2001 issue of the Bullet. It was so well received, we thought we would run it again since summer is upon us. Enjoy.

Coffee Can Ice Cream.
Looking for something to occupy the kids now that the weather is getting warmer? Here's a way to get them out of the house while making a delicious treat at the same time! This is also great for camping. I mix the ingredients before in the small can and keep it in the cooler on ice.

Here's what you'll need:
Supplies:
1 - 1 lb coffee can with lid
1 - 3 lb coffee can with lid
duct tape for lid
crushed ice
rock salt

Ingredients:
1 cup milk
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
(chopped nuts, or pieces of fruit, optional)

~ Combine ingredients in a clean 1 lb coffee can with a tight fitting plastic lid. Tape lid for added security. Place 1 lb coffee can in 3 lb coffee can.

~ Pack crushed ice around the smaller can. Pour almost 1 cup of rock salt over the ice. Replace lid on 3 lb can.

~ Roll the can back and forth on the floor or sidewalk for 10 minutes. Remove the inside can carefully. Keep salt solution out of the small can. Remove lid of small can and stir ice cream with a rubber spatula. Replace and retape lid. Drain ice water from larger can and place smaller can inside. Repack with ice and salt. Roll back and forth 5 - 10 minutes more depending on how firm you like your ice cream. Makes about 3 cups.

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TURKEY FUN FACT:During the Great Depression of the 1930's, there were only about 30,000 wild turkeys remaining. Today there are more than 5.6 million wild turkeys roaming the country thanks to conservation efforts by hunters, game agencies and
wildlife conservation groups.

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BACKWOODS HEALTH: HELPFUL TICK INFO

We're well into tick season once again in the Midwest. Found one on our youngest a couple weeks ago...picked it up in the backyard. Thought this info from the American Lyme Disease Foundation's website might be helpful.

"If you DO find a tick attached to your skin, there is no need to panic. Not all ticks are infected, and studies of infected deer ticks have shown that they begin transmitting Lyme disease an average of 36 to 48 hours after attachment. Therefore, your chances of contracting LD are greatly reduced if you remove a tick within the first 24 hours. Remember, too, that the majority of early Lyme disease cases are easily treated and cured.

To remove a tick, follow these steps:

Using a pair of pointed precision* tweezers, grasp the tick by the head or mouthparts right where
they enter the skin. DO NOT grasp the tick by the body.

Without jerking, pull firmly and steadily directly outward. DO NOT twist the tick out or apply petroleum jelly, a hot match, alcohol or any other irritant to the tick in an attempt to get it to back out. These methods can backfire and even increase the chances of the tick transmitting the disease.

Place the tick in a vial or jar of alcohol to kill it.

Clean the bite wound with disinfectant.

*Keep in mind that certain types of fine-pointed tweezers, especially those that are etched, or rasped, at the tips, may not be effective in removing nymphal deer ticks. Choose unrasped fine-pointed tweezers whose tips align tightly when pressed firmly together."

Want more information about the American Lyme Disease Foundation?
Check out their website - www.aldf.com

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Don't forget to visit our "Crazy Captions" feature and send us YOUR "Crazy Caption"! See our current photo at: http://www.backwoodsbound.com/funphotos.html

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Please take a moment to rate this Ezine at the Cumuli Ezine Finder

http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/ra20190.rate

AOL Users

High rating = higher list rank = more new Backwoods Buddies = more ideas and fun features!

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NEW TO THE WEB SITE!

Planning the family vacation for this summer? Need information about your destination? We have just added links to all of the 50 states departments of tourism. Follow the links at http://www.backwoodsbound.com/sttourdepts.html to find places to go, things to see and do, order vacation planning guides and maps and much more on the state or states you plan to visit. We spent alot of time putting this list together for your convenience we hope you find it useful.

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ARTICLE: THE BIGHEAD CARP Story & Photos by Jim Pankey

Story about Big Head Carp..

Commercial fisherman Eugene Esker and his crew are fishing for the unlikeliest profitable fish on the market today, but one with a rapidly growing appeal. It's the Bighead Carp, one of several strains of Asian carp proliferating in our lakes and streams. To date they are in eighteen states including Missouri and Illinois, the Mississippi River system and Great Lakes.

Relative to all other carp, including the silver and grass species, this one is by far the ugliest in appearance. Its underslung eyes make it particularly repulsive. But wait...one can't judge a book by its cover, right?

Despite the ugly appearance, its real value is human food. It has been raised commercially in the United States for twenty years. In consumer tests, it ranks right up there with tuna when canned. Smoked or baked, or even deep fried, the taste is indistinguishable from buffalo and other 'acceptable' fare. It's steadily growing market base surprised most people. An off-colored bloodline is removed during filleting and the fish is prepared like any other.

There is fear that the species will hasten the demise of the paddlefish, a native plankton feeder, but some biologists say it fills a niche in the food chain--and rather than displace, it augments the paddlefish (spoonbill catfish) and both help maintain a healthier body of water. One biologist wrote that it requires long bodies of water to reproduce, but with numbers like theirs in small lakes like Moredock Lake in Valmeyer, Illinois, I think I'd take issue with that.

Esker's Work Crew Busy Netting!

Part Of The Catch!

Mr. Esker netted an estimated 6,000 pounds in two days on this small lake, which is still recovering from the Great Midwestern Flood of '93, when the fish were probably introduced. They're being trucked to California for sale.

Will this Ugly Duckling transmogrify into a desirable countenance? Doubtful, but it may revolutionize the fishing industry if we Americans can ignore appearances and look for the beauty within.

Jim Pankey
USN (Ret.)
wildwind@htc.net

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HUNTIN' TIP: When planting food plots for deer, keep them away from roads. Best areas to plant include; alongside streams and creeks, near timber edges, in clearings surrounded by woods and next to brushy draws. A long rectangle works best. Deer tend not to stray far from cover and usually overbrowse the edges of square and circle shaped plots. Looking for more great hunting tips? Visit our site -http://www.backwoodsbound.com/tipshunting.html

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FUN FACT: Did you know that during World War II there was a submarine named the USS Bluegill (SS-242). The Bluegill made 6 war patrols, sank or damaged 17 ships, captured an island in the South China Sea, survived 369 depth charges and earned 2 Navy Unit Commendations. Our hats off and our thanks to all who served on her. See more fun facts at http://www.backwoodsbound.com/funfacts.html

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RECIPE OF THE MONTH: CRAPPIE GUMBO

~ 1 pound crappie fillets, cooked and cut in bite size pieces
~ 1/4 butter
~ 1/2 cup chopped onion
~ 1 small green pepper, chopped
~ 1 clove garlic, chopped
~ 1/2 cup chopped celery
~ 1 can, 28oz. tomatoes
~ 1 pound okra, fresh or frozen
~ 1 cup water
~ 1/4 tsp thyme
~ 1/4 to 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper, amount depends on how spicey you want it
~ salt and pepper to taste
~ 2 cups cooked rice
~ tabasco sauce

In large soup pot melt the butter. Saute the onion, green pepper, garlic and celery until tender.

Add the tomatoes, okra, water, thyme, red pepper and salt and pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Add the crappie and cook for 10 - 15 minutes or until the fish starts to flake.

Serve over the cooked rice in individual bowls. Sprinkle with tabasco sauce to taste if you want.

Enjoy!

---For more wild game recipes visit http://www.backwoodsbound.com/recipe.html

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Attention Hunters & Fishermen:

Want to make your antlers look even more impressive? Need a plaque to mount that trophy trout? Mount them on a hand-crafted, State-Shaped Trophy Plaque! These unique, hardwood plaques show your hunting and fishing pride!

Order on-line with our secure server or through the mail. Display this year's antlers or that trophy fish in STYLE! Visit http://www.backwoodsbound.com/antlrplaq01.html

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FISHIN' TIP:Since bluegill have small mouths, use a small hook, sizes 6 or 8 work best. Also hooks with long shanks are easier to remove from their mouths, especially if they swallow the hook. Visit http://www.backwoodsbound.com/tipsfishing.html for more fishin' tips.

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KENNY'S CORNER:

Sorry no Kenny's Corner this month, he's on vacation.Kenny will be back next month with his unique and insightful look at the Backwoods.

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**To all our Backwoods Bound Buddies: We sincerely appreciate all your support! We hope you'll continue to help by forwarding this newsletter to all the people in your address book. Give them the opportunity to participate in our site! In addition, if you know of someone that shares our interests, why not ask if you can sign them up for our newsletter? With a web site like this, the more the merrier!

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