3 Recipes for Bear Including Bear Meat Balls

• Simply Elegant Bear Steak and Rice

1 1/2 lbs. bear steak

1 1/2 tbsp. vegetable oil

2 large onions, cut into 1/2" slices, rings

1 can (10 3/4 oz.) condensed cream of mushroom soup

1 (4 oz.) can sliced mushrooms - drain & reserve liquid

1/2 cup dry sherry

1 1/2 tsp. garlic salt

3 cups hot cooked rice

Cut steak into thin strips. In a large skillet (oven-proof, if desired), brown meat in oil, using high heat. Add onions. Saute until tender crisp. Blend soup, sherry, liquid from mushrooms, and garlic salt. Pour over steak. Add mushrooms. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 1 hour or until steak is tender. (Or cover and bake at 350 degrees.) Serve over beds of fluffy rice. Makes 6 servings.

• Braised Bear Steak

Older bear meat can be prepared as follows:

Flour

Salt and pepper

Thyme

1 cup sliced onions

4 tbsp. bacon fat

Bear steak, 3" thick

1 1/2 cups broth

1 cup red wine

2 tbsp. tomato paste

Pound the flour and dry seasonings into the steak with the edge of a plate or a meat pounder. Brown the onions in the bacon fat and add the meat. Brown meat well on all sides. Add part of the broth and wine and bring to a boil. Cook briskly for 5 minutes. Turn steak, reduce heat, and cover the pan. Simmer for 1-1 1/2 hours, adding more liquid if necessary. When steak is tender, remove it to a hot platter. Add the tomato paste and additional liquid, if needed, to the pan juices to make a smooth sauce. Taste for seasoning and pour over the steak. Surround with boiled potatoes, garnish with parsley, and serve with sauteed mushrooms.

• Bear Meat Balls

2 lbs. ground bear meat

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup bread crumbs

2 tbsp. milk

Mix. Form into balls. Brown in oil in frying pan. Add 2 tbsp. flour and water to make gravy and simmer for 1 hour.