A Taste of Cowboy: Ranch Recipes and Tales from the Trail

by Kent Rollins, Shannon Rollins

Irresistible recipes from pantry ingredients by an authentic cowboy and TV veteran Whether he’s beating Bobby Flay at chicken-fried steak on the Food Network, catering for a barbecue, bar mitzvah, or wedding, or cooking for cowboys in the middle of nowhere, Kent Rollins makes comfort food that satisfies. This gifted cook, TV contestant, and storyteller takes us into his frontier world with simple food anyone can do. A cowboy’s day starts early and ends late. Kent offers labor-saving breakfasts like Egg Bowls with Smoked Cream Sauce. For lunch or dinner, there’s 20-minute Green Pepper Frito Pie, hands-off, four-ingredient Sweet Heat Chopped Barbecue Sandwiches, or mild and smoky Roasted Bean-Stuffed Poblano Peppers. He even parts with his prized recipe for Bread Pudding with Whisky Cream Sauce. (The secret to its lightness? Hamburger buns.) Kent gets creative with ingredients on everyone’s shelves, using lime soda to caramelize Sparkling Taters and balsamic vinegar to coax the sweetness out of Strawberry Pie. With stunning photos of the American West and Kent’s lively tales and poetry, A Taste of Cowboy is a must-have for everyone who loves good, honest food and wants a glimpse of a vanishing way of life.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction, Reference, Westerns

444 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2015

About the author

KENT ROLLINS grew up ranching and began cooking for cattle ranches in 1993 from his 1876 Studebaker chuck wagon. An acclaimed storyteller and poet, Kent has appeared on the Food Network and NBC's Food Fighters. He and his wife, SHANNON, run Red River Ranch Dutch Oven Cooking Camp.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in a weekend. I found out about Kent googling a chicken sandwich recipe. I have not tried any recipes yet but reminded me of my mom's cooking in the 60s when money was tight. My sense is many with be returning to home cooking and simple living in the years to come.

[Joy]

I learned about this cookbook from a YouTube clip - it was a morning talk show segment about Kent Rollins. I loved that this book had prose about modern cowboy life in addition to the recipes, and every recipe had a little blurb about its origin or how it's been adapted for cooking on a chuck wagon (and back for the modern suburban cook LOL). I marked a lot of recipes that I'd like to copy down and try for myself.

[Leslie Gasser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not just a recipe book. Many tales of the Southwestern lifestyle on the trail. Many words of wisdom to learn from.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great recipes that are easy to make and taste fabulous. Also really enjoyed the tales from the trail.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more than a cookbook. This book is packed with information about being a cowboy and cooking with a chuckwagon. Kent starts the book by explaining what a chuckwagon is and how it came to be. Chuckwagon cooking is simple, and I was surprised at the variety of food that it consisted of. “Cowboy cooking is made from ingredients you’’ already have on hand” and most of the ingredients were canned ingredients except for the spices and the meat. Chuckwagon cooking reminded me of good-old family gatherings as it brings folks together over a meal where stories and the day’s events can be discussed and everyone can be themselves and feel accepted. Inside this book, you will find Kent’s recipes from his chuckwagon, stories, and interesting articles about being a cowboy in the lower United States.

This book is sectioned off into 9 sections. From the introduction to the index, there are 248 pages in this hardcopy book. Again, Kent discusses the first chuckwagon, then he discusses taking care of your cast iron pans, as those are respected tools of the trade for great chuckwagon cooking. Whether they are brand new pans or ones that you have saved from the depths, these treasures will be with you forever, if you keep them looking nice. Now Kent starts into the food part of the book. We have Breakfast, Lunch (dinner), Appetizers, Supper, and Dessert. Each of these sections, Kent came up with a cute title for. Each of the sections has 10-23 recipes. You will not get pictures for all of the recipes, but you will get detailed step-by-step directions, yield size, list of ingredients, and a couple paragraphs explaining the recipe. There is an estimated prep and total time given in case you need that too. Start your morning with some Sourdough starter so you can make Kent’s cinnamon rolls or his pancakes, cowboy coffee, or how about a breakfast egg bowl with a smoky cream sauce. Want to try some Smoky Mac & Cheese, or Sloppy Cowboy Joes, or Sweet Heat Barbeque Chopped Pork Sandwiches for lunch? Appetizers are normally a part of the cowboy’s menu, but they can happen, and Kent has recipes for Cowboy Sushi, Bite-Sized BJT’s, or Red River Smoky Chip Dip. Supper can pack a hearty meal and Baked Potato-Stuffed Pork Chops with Creamy White Gravy, Garden Harvest Stir-Fry, Brown Butter and Bacon Pasta, or Creamy Beef and Parmesan Company Casserole. I’m not a huge dessert fan but if you are, there is some Jan’s Spiced Wine Cake, Cowboy Coconut Cake, Buttermilk Pie, Raspberry-Apple Crumble or Cowboy Fry Bread. I’ve only included some of the recipes that are inside this book, as there are plenty more to choose from.

I’m thinking that this would be a great cookbook to have, one that doesn’t require a lot of fancy ingredients, and the recipes offer something different without a lot of time requirements. It would also make a good gift for someone who likes to cook, and you want to give them something different. The index in the back is very helpful too.

[Roberto Creando]

Great cowboy photos, nostalgia ...bad recipes!

I thought Kent was a good ole cowboy chef. What a great actor. 95% of his followers give him 5 ...or 4 stars or a thumbs up. The other 5% actually tried his written recipes. Kent is pure actor/facade ...the old cowboy chef that people wish was his grandad ...or neighbor at least. But ...follow his written recipes ...he is a very poor chef!!!

Example ...Beef Stir Fry ...1 pound of beef with 2 tablespoons of black pepper. Try it ....if you get past the first bite ...maybe you can eat some more ...but you wont really like it. Out of 15 beef stir fry recipes I tried in a lifetime of cooking ...the spiciest pepper stir-fry was a Vietnamese Beef/Black-Pepper/Basil stir fry ...which called for 1 TEASPOON of black pepper for a pound of beef (the rest had no black pepper to a max of 1TEASPOON.) Kent wants you to destroy this meal by using 2 TABLESPOONS of black pepper ...only palatable if you are desperate!!!

And ...there are other (lesser) problems with the written recipe ...which is very different than the video.

The problems with this recipe should be obvious, but ...I contacted Kent about the problem ...and he was essentially unresponsive!!! And I have had over 17 years in the restaurant/bar and Natural Foods (store catering) businesses (as owner.)

Try Kents's written Beef Stir Fry recipe (it's free on the internet) before you buy his cookbooks ...and you will not buy his cookbooks.

If you want cowboy nostalgia ...and don't cook ...great!!!

But, if you intend to use this as a cookbook ...cowboy nostalgia and pretty pictures with bad recipes don't make a good cookbook ...it needs good recipes stupid!

BobB

[JM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been following Cowboy Kent's YouTube channel for a while, especially since I started cooking with cast iron skillets, so I when I found out he'd published a cookbook, I thought I'd enjoy it.

I learned a bit about stuff I didn't know, such as what a Chuck Wagon is and the history of the term, as well as the customs surrounding it. The anecdotes and informative bits are interesting and written in a way that you can practically see Cowboy Kent standing in front of you speaking. His written voice does a great job at reflecting the way he actually speaks in his videos, so I enjoyed that too.

The recipes are simple but interesting, and quite varied for all that and though many are centered on using the cast-iron skillets, pans and dutch ovens he so loves, there's also a fair number or recipes that require an oven. He also talks about seasoning and restoring cast-iron, which I also appreciated, though I'd already seen his videos about the same subject.

The book itself is solid, professional, and good-looking. It looks great next to my other thematic cookbooks.

I just found out he's releasing another cookbook soon, so I might give that one a look as well.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of amazing looking recipes here. And not too complicated, that's a plus. Most of them seem to have readily available ingredients. These recipes are developed for the inside kitchen, not cooking outside. There are also tips and tricks, home remedies, and stories from different ranches that he has worked on.

This is not health food! You wouldn't eat like this every day unless you actually were out there working cattle for days.

[Shange J. Loyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Am Starving Now

I saw Kent Rollins on Food Network. Then I ran across this Cookbook on Kindle.
I sat down and read through it. I took pictures of 6 Recipes and am going to the Store in the morning so I can make them. Later I intend to make every single recipe in the book.

I so enjoyed reading his Stories that accompanied each recipe. I know I will dream tonight about Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce !

[Paige Redwine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kent Rollins came to our attention through YouTube. He cooks delicious looking food in cast iron out of a chuck wagon. His cookbook shares how he cooks literally out on the range for cowboys through all types of weather conditions. I'm impressed at the variety of food that he can create and I learned a little about the modern day cowboys that he serves. Interesting!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining with great recipes

The stories are great, with humor and old fashioned common sense. The recipes are simple, good food with some surprising twists. I can't wait to start proofing the recipes!

[X · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite an entertaining read!

Most of the recipes are really down-to-earth (great!), but also fairly basic and uninspiring to a home chef (which makes sense - they're meant to be!).

So I had a great time, but do adjust your expectations.

[Ashlyn Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE this author's YouTube channel, and the book didn't disappoint. The recipes are great, and even more so his random stories.

I read this off a friend's shelf while helping him move in, and definitely stole some pictures of recipes to try later on.

[John Boyda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting recipes in this book; unfortunately there are many I will not try due to age related dietary restrictions. Some old favorites were included and updated with southwestern spices to make them "cowboy up". All recipes seemed fairly easy to follow; there's no pretentious special ingredients or special culinary devices required. I believe many might adapt well to campfire cooking. I recommend this cookbook to cooks of all levels, from novice to expert.

[Rachel Wadley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down the best cook book I’ve been given. The recipes were so good that my husband and I decided to try some of the recipes we would normally skip. Kent can make you like something you’ve never liked before! Cannot recommend enough. Worth trying every recipe in it.

[Beverly E Crradi · Rating 5 out of 5]

WELL WRITTEN

Enjoy the recipes. Will be making many of them !! Loved the stories and life experiences. You maked my day.

[Kevin Vernon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting stories about chuckwagon cooking mixed with some outstanding recipes. Those I have tried are excellent, and I can't wait to try more! I borrowed a library copy, then had to buy my own.

[Winder Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take that Ree! Cowboys, tales, trails and a smoky cream sauce you will never stop making!

[Ronald Casares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book lot of recipes, mainly good for feeding large groups.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming tales from the trail, and some pretty good recipes too.

[Yazman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kent has some great, unique takes on classics as well as some great inventions of his own. There are also camp stories throughout the book which are fun to read.

[Brian Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is very interesting. I love the basic cooking recipes and the stories of how and why. Reminds me of my grandmother 's depression cooking with very little ingredients (flour and water ;-)

[db · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing as a cookbook, not near enough pictures to go with the recipes. Cute stories & quotes though.

[Water Viper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yum

[Sue Venditelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

It was so interesting to learn what life is like in the west. Loved the book. I may even try some of the recipes.

[Altivo Overo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down to earth cooking, chuck wagon style. Recipes with commentary on cowboy life and western history. How to make boiled coffee in a granite ware pot and stew in a dutch oven. 🐎🧑‍🌾

[Lana Birky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this fun, yummy cookbook - I don't cook as much as I used to, but these recipes are calling me back to the kitchen.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lesson Learned.

Rancher food, looks and sounds delicious.

Majority impossible for someone in my position

[Carrie Browell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this Cookbook for my Husband for Christmas and he LOVES it! He watches Kent Rollins on you tube religiously and have had many foods from the cookbook. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!