Glazed Saddle of Venison

Ingredients

• 1 (12- to 15-pound) venison saddle
• Dry Rub for Game
• 2 cups unsalted game or beef stock
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup brandy
• Juice of 1 orange
• 1 cup ginger preserves
• 1 cup jalapeno jelly

Instructions

1. The night before you plan to serve the venison, massage it well with Dry Rub for Game. Save a tablespoon or two of the rub for mopping the meat the next day. Transfer the meat to a large plastic bag, and refrigerate it.
2. Take the venison from the refrigerator about 1 hour before you plan to begin cooking it. Heat oven to 450 degrees F.
3. Combine stock, oil, brandy and reserved Dry Rub for Game in a small bowl. This mixture is for mopping the meat.
4. In another bowl, mix the orange juice, preserves and jelly for the glaze.
5. Transfer the venison to a large roasting pan. Bake for 20 minutes, mopping once.
6. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue baking, mopping frequently, until an instant-read thermometer measures about 125 degrees F (plan on a total baking time of 15 to 17 minutes per pound). The meat should be rare to medium rare; be sure not to overcook. Brush on the glaze twice during the last 10 minutes of baking.
7. Remove the roasting pan from the oven, and transfer the venison to a platter. Tent the saddle with foil, and let the meat sit for 15 minutes before carving it.
8. Spoon some of the pan drippings over the meat before serving.