Customer Reviews

The Texas Cowboy Kitchen

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I received this cookbook as a gift for this past Christmas, and have loved trying the different recipes. Most seem to have ingredients common to our home, and they aren't difficult if you can follow instructions. The stories are very interesting, and the photos make you want to cook the recipe that day. I hadn't heard of it prior to receiving it, and within 2 weeks have cooked 5 recipes, and planning on more. Main dishes, desserts, baked goods, all with a TexMex flare. My recommendation, is go ahead and buy it.

Wonderful, delicious recipes! Everything from drinks to desserts. I purchased this book for myself and then bought two more for my mother and mother-in-law for mother's day. My mother insisted on having it! We used several of the recipes for my husband's birthday party and the dishes were a hit. Be sure to check out the mac and cheese.

While categorized as a cookbook THE TEXAS COWBOY KITCHEN is so much more than that - it's a visual history of the Old West thanks to a series of marvelous full-page photos by famed cowboy photographer, Erwin E. Smith; it's an informative, smile provoking collection of commentary about cowboys, their lives and the famed Chisholm Trail; and a selection of over 100 mouth-watering recipes that have withstood the test of time and culinary fads.

Beginning with Starters, those tempting appetite teasers that introduce a meal, the recipes are clear, concise, brimming with preparation hints and substitution suggestions. I could make a full meal of Grady's starters - my favorite being Barbecued Quail Tamales with Avocado Cream.

Of course, early cowboys didn't enjoy the munificence of multicourse meals, but we do. Thus, there is a section titled Soups, Salads, and Sides ripe with everything good from Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus to Corn-Tomato Bisque to Bread Salad with Oven-Dried Tomatoes and Cheeses (easy, quick, and a perfect way to use day-old bread).

A special chapter holds favorite recipes from Texas chefs (not to be believed are the West Texas Brownies). Of course, cowboys loved their meat as much as we do, so we find dishes such as Calf's Liver with Sage-Buttermilk Onion Rings (the secret to the thin, crunchy crusted onion rings is club soda!) and Pat's Lamb Chops with Orange-Fig-Pecan Relish. Not to worry, fish isn't overlooked - try the Plank-Roasted Red Snapper with Citrus-Ancho Glaze.

Biscuits with a capital B! Believe someone said that a cowboy's trail breakfast consisted of biscuit and beans, his lunch consisted of biscuits and beans, his dinner was biscuits, beans, and beef. Buttermilk and Nut-Mash Biscuits are the best - serve with jelly if you wish but they're more than tasty by themselves.

Of course, the concluding chapter features sweets. For me, nothing could top Grandma Spears's Dr. Pepper Cake - rich, moist, and ever so delicious.

And, when we're out for the evening nothing can beat dinner at Grady's Restaurant in Fort Worth where the welcome is warm, the menu palate pleasing, the portions Texas size, and the wait staff attentive. For a Starter don't miss the Red Chile Quail Tostada with a Roasted Corn Relish and Salsa Verde. And, if you think you've had the best Chicken Fried Steak, you really haven't until you've tasted Grady's Rahr Beer Battered 3M Chicken Fried Steak with Green Onion Mashers!

Enjoy!

- Gail Cooke

The recipes are out of this world. Who cares if the cowboys never really ate this well -- it's never too late!

I have all three of Grady Spears' book and this is my favorite. I have tried many of the recipes and none have failed to impress. I love the onion marmalade, pan fried trout and pilconcillo pork chops. The book is full of old pictures from the Texas cattle drive days which makes the book as fun to read as it is to cook from.

Great service, I received the book pretty fast. It was in GREAT condition and I am really enjoying cooking recipes out of this book!

This book has some very good recipes. Possibly a legitimate complaint one may have with this book is that it is probably not what real cowboys ever ate, but it does combine some vintage cowboy photograph with the more sophisticated cooking of Texas today. Also, the book itself is "Texas-sized" making it easy to read and cook from. Whether this book is bought as a keepsake or a book to cook from, it would probably satisfy both desires.

Love my "Texas Cowboy Kitchen" cookbook! Photography is awesome too...and the authentic cowboy chuckwagon photos are way to cool!
I didn't realize until after I first picked this up that Grady was responsible for my favorite restaurant in Alpine, Texas.

The product was in great condition, just as described. It also arrived very fast, I was pleased to buy from this seller.

The product was just as the seller had described and in excellent condition. It was shipped in a timely manner.