Big Bend Eats
by Carolyn Brown Zniewski
T
his cookbook is the updated sec-
ond edition of the Wilderness
Ranger Cookbook. The first edition
was published in 1990 after a ranger
workshop in Colorado. To quote
‘About this Book,’ “Rangers brought
camp stoves to cook their favorite
backcountry meals. This cook off
turned out to be one of the highlights
of the workshop and was the catalyst
for the first cookbook.” This second
edition is more than a cookbook. It is
part history of the Wilderness Act, part
information on preserving our wilder-
ness, part friendly meeting with park
rangers and volunteers and part cham-
pion of wilderness adventures.
The authors have collected recipes
from all branches of Federal Land
Management. The cookbook is full of
recipes for any kind of wilderness
adventure. From an afternoon hike on
mountain and desert trails to 10 days
rafting on the Rio Grande; from prim-
itive desert camping to trail ride din-
ners, this little book is packed with
well-tested, useful recipes.
I counted half a dozen recipes for
granola and another half-dozen for
trail mixes. Perfect for a short hike or
breakfast at camp. The dinner dishes
are from all over the world with a
strong emphasis on southern border
cooking. Knowing that the Boundary
Waters Wilderness is as far north as
you can get in the continental United
States, I loved seeing the recipe for
‘One Pan Boundary Waters Burritos.’
Then there are ‘Backcountry Sushi’
and ‘Red Lentil Curry,’ along with the
old Girl Scout stand-by, ‘Hobo Stew.’
Not to short the boys, in the dessert
section there is a recipe for ‘Boy Scout
Ice Cream.’ Made with snow, it carries
the hint: “This recipe is best in winter.”
Every recipe is accompanied by a
quote by the contributor.
Throughout is information on the
parks and the wilderness along with
suggestions on doing our part in main-
taining nature. It is illustrated with
photos of the wilderness and wilder-
ness adventures. I did find myself wish-
ing the photos had been identified, but
that was a minor consideration. The
Wilderness Ranger Cookbook is avail-
able in Big Bend National Park or at
Front Street Books in Alpine. For any-
one interested in enjoying time out-
doors, it is a great purchase and should
be useful for many years to come.
Friday, July 3rd
Jamie Wilson - Music on the Restaurant Patio
Saturday, July 11th
Abe Mac Band – Music on the Restaurant Patio
Friday, July 17th
Hillie Bills – Music on the Restaurant Patio
Saturday, July 18th
Biga on the Banks – Grilling at the Gage Summer Series
Music to follow by Kelley Mickwee
Friday, August 14th
Hillie Bills – Music on the Restaurant Patio
Saturday, August 15th
Grilling in the Garden – Grilling at the Gage Summer Series
Music to follow by Tessy Lou & the Shotgun Stars
Friday, September 4th
Hillie Bills with Jeff Haislip- Music on the Restaurant Patio
Saturday, September 5th
The Warhorses - Music on the Restaurant Patio
gagehotel.com • 800.884.4143
Cenizo
Third Quarter 2015
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