Instructions: Afterward, freeze your catch to enjoy later in fish cakes, chowder and hash

Trout: We catch it, we love it, but then what do we do with all of it? Smoke it!

Ah, the delicacy that is trout. All summer, we loved it. We ate it any way we could - grilled, battered, or even fried in bacon grease with eggs for breakfast. We felt good, primitive, as if we were living off the land. The Fishing Gods were smiling on us.

We brought the excesses of our catch home to save for later. Its in the freezer right now, actually, bags and bags of it. I can almost feel those vacant little eyes staring at me through the door as if to say: "You caught me.

Now what are you going to do with me?" Well, I have an answer to that question.

Were going to smoke you.

Years ago, my husband and I were presented with a Little Chief Smoker for Christmas. At the time, we were exiled from our home in Oregon and working in the desert in California. Fishing expeditions and a freezer full of trout were mere fantasies. Occasionally wed buy some salmon to smoke, but mostly the Little Chief was relegated to storage along with the boat and, alas, our fishing poles.

Thank goodness times have changed. Upon returning to Oregon, we gleefully pursued our hobby. As the freezer filled up with trout, we wondered what we would do with it all. Never once did we consider not eating it. That would incur the wrath of the Fishing Gods, practically ensuring we would not be nearly so lucky next year.

Then, while cleaning out the garage, the Little Chief caught my husbands eye. On sudden inspiration, he decided to try smoking some of our trout, and our lives have never been the same. Im convinced theres no better way to enjoy our catch than when its transformed into rosy, succulent meat thats dense with oils and smoky flavors. Plus, there is nothing more versatile.

I put smoked trout in everything from omelets to pastas, and the recipes shared here are family favorites.

Smoked trout also freezes beautifully without drying out, unlike its uncooked counterpart, so you can rest assured youll be able to enjoy your own mighty catch in many delicious ways throughout the winter. And as far as living off the land goes, thats about as good as it can get.

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