Instructions
Step #1 - Let's start by peeling two Granny Smith apples. We'll use the peels in our brine, to help infuse that apple flavor. We'll then cube up the rest of the apples and put them in an ice tray, cover with water and place in the freezer. Well use them as ice cubes for an apple flavored dinner cocktail.
Step #2 - Combine your Apple Bourbon, Apple Juice, Apple Cider Vinegar and Apple peels with the salt, pepper, bay leaves, rosemary and sage. Add about 2 cups of water and bring to a boil, stirring to help dissolve salt. Once the salt appears to be dissolved, turn off heat. Allow time for it to return to room temperature. We dont want to cook the birds by pouring hot liquid over them.
Step #3 - Once your brine has returned to room temperature. Place four Quail in one gallon sized zip lock bag and pour the mixture over top of them. Fill the rest of the bag will cold water, approximately 4 cups, seal the bag and place in the refrigerator.
Step #4 - Allow the Quail to brine for 1 to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
Step #5 - When your brining time has expired, remove the quail from the zip lock bags, rinse with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Place the birds back in refrigerator for another hour. This will allow time for the outside of the bird to dry, this will help us get that golden outside skin when our butter rub is applied.
Step #6 - If youre stuffing your birds with the Brown Rice and Red Quinoa Stuffing, youll need to start that now. In 2 quart sauce pan, combine rice, quinoa, olive oil and 2 cups of chicken broth. Bring to a boil, stirring lightly. Once rolling boil is reached, cover and reduce to simmer. Allow to cook 35-45 minutes, until broth is fully absorbed. Fluffy gently with fork. Salt to taste.
Step #7 - Because Quail are so small and lean, they can benefit from some extra fat. Some people will soak them in olive oil, salt and pepper, but we're going to drown ours in butter.... Lemon herb butter. So while the birds are drying in the fridge, we can prepare our lemon herb butter that we will rub all over the outside of the bird.
Step #8 - To make the lemon herb butter take out a stick of unsalted butter and allow it to soften at room temperature. Take the tablespoon of rosemary and the tablespoon of thyme and chop them up finely. Place a sheet of wax paper down on the counter, then place your soften butter on the sheet. Zest the lemon over top of the butter, then squeeze out all the juice, sprinkle with chopped rosemary and chopped thyme, then start to incorporate with a spatula.
Step #9 - After the birds have dried in the refrigerator, remove them and place in a shallow pan. Spoon some of your Brown Rice and Red Quinoa into the birds cavity. Use butchers twine to secure your rice mixture in the bird. Generously rub the lemon butter mixture all over the outside skin.
Step #10 - Start your smoker and allow it to reach a temperature of 225 +/-. Place the butter coated birds in the smoker and allow to cook for about 1 hour or until the internal temperature is around 160 F. I like to put a pan filled with water and apple juice in my smoker, the steam helps favor and cooks the meat while also keeping it moist. I also like to use Pecan wood when smoking poultry, it doesn't instill as much favor in the meat as mesquite or hickory.
Step #11 - While your birds cook in the smoker, you can make this Cranberry Habanero Sauce as a side dish. Combine sugar, water, apple juice, apple jelly and habaneros in saucepan and bring to a boil. Once the sugar is dissolved, add your bag of rinsed cranberries. Optionally, if you didnt want to use the cubed apples from step 1 in a dinner cocktail, you can add them to the cranberry sauce. Reduce heat and cook for 10-15 minutes, until cranberries start to burst. Reduce heat to low simmer for an addition 10 - 15 minutes until you get the thickness you desire. Remember that it will thicken up even more as it cools. Zest with Orange and allow to cool. If the Cranberry sauce is to hot for you, you can cut the heat by adding additional sugar.
Step #12 - When the birds are finally done, you can make this cocktail with the Apple Ice cubes we made in step 1. Place sugar in to an Old Fashion ( rocks or lowball ) glass and douse with water and bitters. Muddle together until sugar is dissolved. Pour in Apple Bourbon, stir, then add your frozen apple ice cubes. Garnish with Orange Peel.
