Brined Roast Pheasant Outdoor Wisconsin Style

Total Time: 25 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 24 hrs Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 8 cups water
• 1/2 cup kosher salt
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup real maple syrup
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, smashed (the recipe says "several" garlic cloves; i tend to use about 3)
• 1 pinch ground cloves
• 1/2 lemon, juice of (i do use it) (optional)
• 1 dash cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 (2 lb) whole pheasants
• 2 tablespoons butter

Recipe

• 1 heat together the water and salt until salt is dissolved, then allow to cool to room temperature for about a half hour.
• 2 add the sugar, syrup, onions, garlic, cloves, and lemon and cayenne pepper (if using).
• 3 add pheasant, cover and refrigerate overnight.
• 4 the next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees f.
• 5 place brined pheasant in a roasting pan breast up and insert a tablespoon of the butter under the breast skin.
• 6 rub the rest of the butter all over the pheasant, then roast uncovered for about 1-1/2 hours; check after an hour, though.
• 7 baste frequently!
• 8 and if you like, to keep the breast meat moist, you can cover it with bacon strips as well.