Cooking in the West

One of the few good things about winter on the ranch is that you can wear coveralls. They are called “coveralls’’ because they hide a multitude of sins like Christmas cookies, fudge, eggnog, and winter comfort foods. You can wear your sweatpants under your coveralls and believe that you are hiding those winter pounds until the day of reckoning comes. When you see a robin and you can smell spring in the air, you realize it is time to struggle into your jeans, because you would look just plain ridiculous running around in coveralls when it is above 50 degrees.

Coveralls are such a versatile garment that there should be a poem written about them, and since It has been too windy to spend too much time outside this past month, I happily occupied myself with penning a poem about them and my late friend, Duane Mothershead, who lived over the hill on Upper Deer Creek until he passed in 2006.

“Ode to Coveralls”

—by Susan Metcalf

Cabin fever has claimed me, so I set out to pen a rhyme.

I decided to craft it in iambic pentameter and 4/4 time.

So I sharpened up my pencils and rolled up my sleeves,

Offered up a prayer: “Make me a muse tonight, please!

Now, I don’t have a fancy cowboy poet name like Zarzyski,

Which old Paul likes to explain, “Rhymes with whiskey.”

I darn near wore a hole through his dvd, “Words Growing Wild.”

My train of thought was derailed--no ideas, no brainchild!

I watched Baxter Black tapes till I knew them all by heart.

I laughed until my ribs hurt, but still my pen did not jumpstart.

I read some of Gwen’s and Sandy’s stuff, but I could not compete.

Those ladies have such perfect rhymes they just cannot be beat.

I searched Youtube videos of the Ringling Five made up of 7 guys.

They had a lot of great stuff that maybe I could sort of plagiarize?

Their crown jewel “Pantyhose” which they wore under their chaps

Gave me sudden inspiration that I could capitalize upon perhaps.

See there was a cowboy purist who lived over on the other creek

Who felt that Carhartt coveralls were only for the feeble and the weak.

He called them wimpy pants and sissy jumpsuits.

He wore union suits and five buckles over his boots.

Duane Mothershead did not care if coveralls would keep his clothes clean.

He would exclaim, “That’s why old Maytag invented the washing machine!”

This poem might not grace the stage at Elko or win a Pulitzer Prize,

But maybe it will ease the winter blues I see in windblown eyes?

My featured cook this week is my sister Jane Bellows of Joes, Colorado. She sent recipes that are perfect for Super Bowl Sunday! Thanks, Jane and go Bengals!

Beef and Cheese Log:

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 T. mayonnaise

1/2 t. Worcestershire sauce

2 T. chopped ripe olives

1 T. minced parsley

1 t. finely chopped onion

1/2 C. finely chopped dried beef (to roll log in)

Shape mixture into roll about 1½ inches in diameter. Then roll in dried beef. Chill till firm. Serve with crackers or even chips.

Chili Cheese Spread:

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese

4.5 oz. can chopped green chilies

1 C. salsa

6 oz. (1½ C.) shredded Cheddar cheese

Beat cream cheese and chilies together until smooth. Stir in Salsa and 1 C. shredded cheese. Top with remaining cheese. Cover and chill for at least one hour. Serve with vegetables, crackers, bread, etc.

Homemade Salami:

2 lbs. hamburger

1/4 t. mustard seed

3 T. Morton Tender Quick Salt

1/2 t. ground black pepper

1/2 t. garlic powder

1 C. water

Few whole black peppercorns

Mix well and roll into 1.5 inch rolls in foil with twisted foil ends. Refrigerate for 24 hours. Boil gently for 1 hour. Begin timing when water starts to boil. Take out and prick foil to drain. Cool, put in a plastic bag, and refrigerate. This doesn’t last over a week, and it doesn’t taste as good after being frozen.