Synopses & Reviews
The West has a permanent pull on the American psyche. It's the place where the prairie meets the mountains, the mountains meet the sky, and the sky goes on forever. It's the home of our legends, our heroes and outlaws, our romanticized past.
Meredith and Tom Brokaw could feel the attraction all the way from their home in New York City. Native South Dakotans, they had settled into a frenetic Manhattan lifestyle, tempered by frequent visits to Montana, until Tom could no longer resist. He convinced Meredith to join him in buying a ranch north of Yellowstone. Meredith, in turn, convinced her friend, passionate cook Ellen Wright, to come and discover for herself the bounty of the region—its trout, bison, and elk; locally raised poultry; native fruits and vegetables. The result is Big Sky Cooking, a personal story of this Montana experience told through delicious recipes and menus, charming reflections, and glorious color photographs.
Nearly one hundred recipes, from new dishes to family standbys to reinterpreted classics, are organized into twenty menus that let you dip into the western lifestyle for any occasion: from a sunrise breakfast with eggs straight from the chicken coop to a picnic on the fly, from a rodeo dinner to a moonlight supper under the stars. The food is straightforward, unpretentious fare, as honest as Montanans and guaranteed to make every hour of the day an opportunity to enjoy the good life.
Along the way you'll be introduced to the region's charms: its slow rhythms, its work ethic, the influences of the ancient people and European settlers who formed the present-day state, the "neighbors" who live two hours away, the glow at dusk that's so extraordinary it has its own name.
Review
"Recipes for gussied-up frontier fare. Gorgeous photos of cowboy country included."
—People
Synopsis
Here is the real home on the range, loaded with down-to-earth charm, delicious food, delightful stories, and great ideas for entertaining family and friends. It's an ode to a place where nature rules and the scenery makes your heart skip a beat, and to quintessential home cooking—written by the best of friends.
Synopsis
Here is the real home on the range, loaded with down-to-earth charm, delicious food, delightful stories, and great ideas for entertaining family and friends. It's an ode to a place where nature rules and the scenery makes your heart skip a beat, and to quintessential home cookingand#8212;written by the best of friends.
Synopsis
The West has a permanent pull on the American psyche. It's the place where the prairie meets the mountains, the mountains meet the sky, and the sky goes on forever. It's the home of our legends, our heroes and outlaws, our romanticized past.
Meredith and Tom Brokaw could feel the attraction all the way from their home in New York City. Native South Dakotans, they had settled into a frenetic Manhattan lifestyle, tempered by frequent visits to Montana, until Tom could no longer resist. He convinced Meredith to join him in buying a ranch north of Yellowstone. Meredith, in turn, convinced her friend, passionate cook Ellen Wright, to come and discover for herself the bounty of the regionand#8212;its trout, bison, and elk; locally raised poultry; native fruits and vegetables. The result is Big Sky Cooking, a personal story of this Montana experience told through delicious recipes and menus, charming reflections, and glorious color photographs.
Nearly one hundred recipes, from new dishes to family standbys to reinterpreted classics, are organized into twenty menus that let you dip into the western lifestyle for any occasion: from a sunrise breakfast with eggs straight from the chicken coop to a picnic on the fly, from a rodeo dinner to a moonlight supper under the stars. The food is straightforward, unpretentious fare, as honest as Montanans and guaranteed to make every hour of the day an opportunity to enjoy the good life.
Along the way you'll be introduced to the region's charms: its slow rhythms, its work ethic, the influences of the ancient people and European settlers who formed the present-day state, the andquot;neighborsandquot; who live two hours away, the glow at dusk that's so extraordinary it has its own name.
Synopsis
Falling in love with the American West, one great meal at a time
Big Sky Cooking is the ideal combination of delicious recipes, evocative prose, and lush photography—the gift book of the year for anyone who loves the American West, and especially for those who vacation (or have second homes) anywhere in the Mountain time zone. The wide-open spaces and dramatic peaks, the rolling pastures and abundant wildlife, the clean, fresh air and crystal clear waters . . . the West is filled with sensual seductions that lure people from all walks of life to ski and hike, to ride horses and go rafting, to hunt and fish; they come to cook, eat, and be merry.
Meredith Brokaw and Ellen Wright show you how to re-create this lifestyle with the perfect prairie picnic or campfire celebration, the ultimate barbecue or a civilized supper under the stars in nearly one hundred accessible recipes. Big Sky Cooking also delves into the rhythms that define life there, with lyrical reflections and descriptions from well-known writers and artists. And surrounding all this beautiful prose and delicious food are 150 stunning color photographs that capture the essence of this delicious and magical part of the country.
About the Author
Meredith Auld Brokaw founded Penny Whistle Toys, was president of the company for twenty years, and is the author of eight Penny Whistle books on parenting and childrens activities. Meredith and Tom Brokaw live in New York City and Montana.ELLEN WRIGHT is the founder of the design firm EMW Interiors and is the author of
Bridgehampton Weekends and
Around the Table. She has been featured on
Today,
Larry King Live, and
Home & Garden Television, among many others. Ellen was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and now lives in New York City and Bridgehampton, New York, with her husband.
Tom Brokaw is an American television journalist and author best known as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004. He is the author of The Greatest Generation, A Long Way From Home, The Time of Our Lives and other books, and the recipient of numerous awards and honors. He is the only person to host all three major NBC News programs: The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and, briefly, Meet the Press. He now serves as a Special Correspondent for NBC News and works on documentaries for other outlets.
Table of Contents
Foreword by Tom Brokaw:  Homecoming by Meredith Brokaw: 
Friendship by Ellen Wright: 
Rhythms of the Ranch: 
In the Kitchen: 
Menus for a Montana Day
Sunrise:
Ranch Breakfast: 
The Queens Brunch: 
High Noon:
Picnic on the Fly: 
"It's a Cutthroat Life" by James Prosek
Cow Camp Lunch: 
“Whoa” - Chili Break: 
"Taking Stock" by Tom McGuane
Camp Runamuck Snack: 
Dusk:
Mexican Fiesta: 
Cozy Indoor Dinner: 
"Seasons by the Minute" by Verlyn Klinkenborg
Short Rib Feast: 
Chokecherry Harvest: 
Osso Buco Banquet: 
Streamside Supper: 
"The Fisherman Gourmand" by Jim Harrison
Under the Stars:
Back Home on the Range: 
Rodeo Vittles: 
The Big Grill: 
Dinner on the Bridge: 
Guess Whos Coming to Dinner: 
"Chico's Spudnuts and Other Delicacies" by William Hjortsberg
Acknowledgments: 
Selected Sources: 
Index: