COWBOY WEEKEND in ALPINE, TEXAS . . . and my best PANCAKES!

Every year, Alpine hosts a Cowboy Gathering. Performers who actually live and work on ranches present songs and poems and stories about how those came to be written.

Our weekend was journaled by Bryan:

Day One:  Thursday, February 23, 2017

We reached Alpine about 5 pm and drove straight to the Sul Ross State University campus to buy tickets for the weekend events.  They went on sale at noon and it was first-come first-served so the Friday night show was already sold out!  Then, we walked around to check out the locations of the next day’s venues.  It is an impressive campus situated on a hill.

There’s a cactus garden, and I never realized that there were so many different kinds.   Note the names . . . especially of this fella below!

Our next stop was to book into the Value Lodge which lived up to its name.

If you would prefer something fancier, the HOLLAND HOTEL's the place to be.

At THE SADDLE CLUB, 

we snagged a window seat and enjoyed a plate of spicy “Epic Fries”;  

beer-battered and loaded with homemade queso, BBQ brisket, bacon, aioli,  green chile sauce, and more!

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Of course, a Chuckwagon Breakfast was offered each morning, but it was chilly out so the first morning we headed to Magoo's Restaurant instead. 

Bryan had a splendid breakfast burrito 

 while I tried the pancakes.  

Not as good as my pancakes . . . Just sayin'.

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MY BEST BUTTERMILK PANCAKES  (makes 10 to 12 pancakes)

Buttermilk is a magic ingredient.  There is NO substitute. It makes pancakes so fluffy!

1 ½ cups flour

1 tbsp sugar

2 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

1 egg

2 cups buttermilk

1 tbsp vegetable oil

*Stir together dry ingredients in a small bowl.

*Beat egg in medium-sized bowl.  Stir in buttermilk and oil.

*Stir in dry ingredients but don’t beat.  Batter will be lumpy.

*Butter hot frying pan and bake pancakes.

          Fluffy and fantastic!

BABA ANNA LESCHYSHYN'S FAMILY TREE . . . and HOLUBTSI with Meat Filling

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HOLUBTSI with Meat and Rice Filling

            From TRADITIONAL UKRAINIAN COOKERY by Savella Stechishin

1 cup rice

1 cup boiling water

1 tsp salt

1 medium onion (about 6 ounces)

4 tablespoons fat  (I used duck fat)

½ pound ground pork

½ pound ground beef

1 egg

1 tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

*Wash the rice until the water comes off clear. 

*Put rice in a frying pan.  Pour on boiling water.  Stir in 1 tsp salt.  Bring to brisk boil and let it cook 1 minute.  Cover, turn off the heat, and let it stand until the water is absorbed.  The rice will be only partially cooked.  This is the way it should be.

*Chop onion finely.  Cook it in fat until tender.  Add pork and beef and stir until lightly browned. 

*Stir in the rice and allow to cool.

*Stir in egg, salt, and pepper.

*Stuff cabbage leaves.  I used an unsoured head and added vinegar when cooking.  For cooking the cabbage head see http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2013/12/mary-stadnyks-holubtsi-part-ii-and-my.html

For cooking holubtsi see  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2013/12/mary-stadnyks-holubtsi-by-request.html

Bryan LOVED these holubtsi with the meat.

Mom's news in 1973 . . . and Oven-Roasted Chicken Techniques

 colors so we can wait till you are home.

Dad is going to Russburn to day and Monday he is shipping his rats & foxes  to Winnipeg.

It’s a good idea to prepare a nice meal at least once a week it give you to practise a good meal. 

Is Nestor back in Winnipeg he phoned before he left and said he will stay longer this time I will try and phone him wishing him a happy birthday.  I was no where to get him a card perhaps Tue if I don’t forget but it will be to late anyways.

There is one store here selling out so has stuff 25% off.  Matt bought cherrie pie filling and gave me so I bake a pie but I think I will make the lemon pies for tomorrow and gave him that now as I got pie crusts baked some time now and have to use them first before I can bake some thing else he like lemon pies any ways.

 I am still knitting mitts at evenings to pass the time as I don’t care to do something else

will start and do some bedroom slippers for kids so it will be something different it will be a lot to think as they are different then the ones I did befor the don’t have a heel so they fit any size.

Naomi stayed with us three days she was ready to stay longer but did not make a fuss when George told to come home in her little way shes a lady and knows what she wants you don’t see this in your own cause you see them all the time and be side your to busy to pay that much attention.

David is walking already he started to walk on his birthday.

Did Stasia write about receiving the things that were left and I send to her if the got there all right as she didn’t write for a long time and she wrote last week and said only that she got all the things which I could not figer out as we send three times I presume she got the chickens & Xmas present from us as she mentioned the boys like the shorts but she didn’t mentioned about the pillows so I don’t know whethere she received your things she is much happier that Carl is home more.

I will close for now wishing you girls the best of everything and may Good Lord guide in to righturness.

                                                Love Mother  

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Oven-Roasted Chicken:  my favorite technique

I love just shaking the chicken pieces in some seasoned breadcrumbs or spicing it up some way and sticking in the oven.  I used to do it for one hour at 350, but 45 minutes seems to be enough.

Now, I’ve learned that you can do it for only 30 minutes at 425.  Also very nice although Bryan prefers the crunchier skin you get after 45 minutes.

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Here’s how you can cook a meal for A LOT of people, thanks to CHATELAINE MAGAZINE.

12 or more chicken drumsticks and/or thighs

1 tbsp honey (or more if you cook more than 12 pieces)

24 cherry tomatoes (they’re a bit bigger than the grape tomatoes in the boxes)

1 head garlic (or more if you’re cooking more than 12 chicken pieces)

Fresh chopped herbs (such as thyme, parsley, or whatever you have)

2 tbsp canola oil

Salt & pepper

1 bunch asparagus (optional if you have a separate veg dish planned)

Lemon wedges

·        Arrange oven racks in middle and bottom third of oven. 

·        Put one tbsp. oil on each of 2 large baking sheets.

·        Peel garlic and divide the cloves between the 2 sheets.  Roll them in the oil to cover.

·        Divide tomatoes between the 2 sheets.  Roll them in the oil.

Do not put asparagus on sheets yet!

·        Preheat the oven to 425.

·        Divide the chicken between the 2 sheets.  Roll in the oil.

·        Melt the honey.  Brush the chicken pieces with the honey.

·        Sprinkle everything with salt and pepper.

·        Scatter fresh herbs on the chicken.

·        Bake for 15 minutes.

·        Take out the pans.  Divide the asparagus between the 2 sheets now.

·        Switch pans around and bake 15 more minutes.  Test to see if the chicken is done.  If not bake 5 more minutes.