The Chuckwagon

The Chuckwagon

The chuckwagon would always go along on cattle drives, carrying the supplies needed for the long journey. There were barrels of flour, tins of coffee and plenty of dried beans. The cowpokes would usually eat the same meal three times a day.

"Come an' git yer grub 'efore it gits cold!"

Here are some authentic western recipes:

Happy Trails Hard Tack

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
Enough water to make a stiff dough

Mix flour and salt, then add water to a stiff dough.
The dough should be pliable, but not stick to your hands.
Roll out dough to 1/2 inch thick. Cut with knife into 3-inch squares.
Using a nail, put 9 holes into each square, for steam venting.
Put into greased Dutch oven, set on coals, cover, and bake until lightly browned.

Tips:

Hard Tack seems to taste better when fried in bacon grease.
This is the way cowpokes preferred it.

Cowpokes Pemmican

Yield: 3 cups

1 c jerky, beef or venison
1 c unroasted sunflower seeds or crushed nuts of any kind
2 ts honey 1/4 c melted suet or lard
1/2 ts cayenne (optional)

Pound the dried meat to a mealy powder.
Add the seeds or nuts.
Heat the honey, melted suet or lard and cayenne until softened.
Mix together.
When cooled, store in a sausage casing in a cool dry place.

Tips:

It will keep for months, which makes it quite convenient for cattle drives.

Yippy-Ti-Yi-Yo Johnny Cakes

1 egg
2 c. white or yellow cornmeal
1 tsp. salt
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 c. milk

Beat 1 egg.
Stir in 2 cups white or yellow corn meal, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups milk (to make batter thick).
Drop spoonfuls of batter onto a well-greased hot griddle and fry to a golden brown on each side.
Stir batter occasionally to keep well mixed.

Tips:

Serve hot with butter.
Makes 12 Johnny cakes - plenty for all of you cowpokes!

Best Dang Beans In The West

2 pounds pinto beans
2 pounds salt pork
2 chopped onions
4 tabespoons brown sugar
1 can tomato paste

Clean and soak beans over night.
Drain.
Put beans into a dutch oven and then pour water on top.
Add the remaining ingredients and then let beans simmer until they are tender.

Tips:

Sample the beans while cooking and you can add more salt and water if needed.