Ingredients

12 (3-ounce) venison medallions
2 cups roasted pecans
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoon Essence, recipe follows
2/3 cup Creole mustard
Olive oil, for sauteing
6 roasted whole sweet potatoes, about 2 pounds, skin left on, warm
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup bourbon
2 tablespoons butter
Salt and pepper

Fried sweet potato nests
2 tablespoons chopped chives
2 tablespoons brunoise red peppers
2 tablespoons brunoise yellow peppers

Directions

For the venison: In a
food processor; pulse the pecans until they are coarse and still are textured. (Do not
puree the pecans because the crust will be too wet). Add the bread crumbs and Essence.
Season each medallion with salt and pepper. Rub each medallion with the Creole mustard,
coating each side completely. Crust each medallion with the pecan crust. (*Every inch of
the medallion needs to be crusted completely.)

For the mash: the potatoes should be roasted for 40 minutes at 425 degrees F. Remove the
skin from the roasted sweet potatoes and place in a sauce pot.

Over low heat, partially mash the sweet potatoes. Add the cream, bourbon and butter,
continue to mash until all the ingredients are incorporated and the potatoes are smooth
but with small lumps. Season with salt end pepper. To finish the venison, in a saute pan,

heat the olive oil. When the oil is smoking hot, add the venison. Saute for 3 minutes for
medium rare on each side.

Ingredients

Essence (Emeril's Creole
Seasoning):
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme

Directions

Combine all ingredients thoroughly
and store in an airtight jar or container.
Yield: about 2/3 cup
Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by
William and Morrow, 1993.