Dove has a dark, rich flavor. Complement this by providing your guests with mild sides like Parsley Almond Rice (page 52) or fresh cherries.

1. Chop the onion and slice the mushrooms. Sauté the onion and mushrooms in butter in a pan over medium heat until the onion is soft. Add the dove and sauté over medium heat until the meat is lightly browned.

2. Transfer the meat and vegetables to the slow cooker, leaving the juices in the pan. Add the flour to the pan. Stir over low heat to blend and thicken, then mix in the water. Transfer to the slow cooker with half the wine.

3. Cover and heat on low setting for 4 to 6 hours.

4. Coarsely chop the herbs. Half an hour before serving, add the herbs and the remaining wine to the slow cooker.

Cleaning Wild Game

Check your wild game carefully before cooking and remove any pellets or stones. Not even slow cooking will soften these. The pellets may be from shotgun shells, while stones may have been eaten by the animal. For example, birds do this as a digestive aid.