The Pioneer Woman Cooks

The Pioneer Woman Cooks

Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl

Ree Drummond

CONTENTS

The Pioneer Woman Cooks

CONTENTS

DEDICATION

INTRODUCTION

NEWS FLASH: ISOLATED RANCH WIFE ENTERS THE DIGITAL AGE

THE CAST OF CHARACTERS

STARTERS

BBQ JALAPEÑO POPPERS

PICO DE GALLO

PW’S POTATO SKINS

KATIE’S ROASTED CORN SALAD

HOT ARTICHOKE DIP

IN THE MORNING

CINNAMON ROLLS

INY’S PRUNE CAKE WITH BUTTERMILK ICING

BUTTERMILK BISCUITS

EGG-IN-THE-HOLE

BASIC BREAKFAST POTATOES

PW BREAKFAST BURRITOS

BREAKFAST BOWLS

MARMALADE MUFFINS

MIGAS

FRENCH BREAKFAST PUFFS

MAPLE PECAN SCONES

HUEVOS HYACINTH

EDNA MAE’S SOUR CREAM PANCAKES

DINNER

SIMPLE, PERFECT CHILI

MARLBORO MAN’S FAVORITE SANDWICH

ONION STRINGS

SPICY PULLED PORK

MACARONI AND CHEESE

BEANS AND CORNBREAD

SKILLET CORNBREAD

SHERRIED TOMATO SOUP

PIZZA CRUST

POTATO-LEEK PIZZA

Variation

COWBOY CALZONE

SUNDAY DINNER

PERFECT POT ROAST

CHICKEN POT PIE

PERFECT PIE CRUST

CHICKEN SPAGHETTI

SUPPER

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHAPS AND CHINKS

CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK

PW’S CREAMY MASHED POTATOES

MEATLOAF

TWICE-BAKED POTATOES

FRIED CHICKEN

BRAISED BEEF BRISKET

CHEESE GRITS

RIB-EYE STEAK WITH WHISKEY CREAM SAUCE

HOMEMADE RANCH WITH ICEBERG WEDGE

COMFORT MEATBALLS

SIMPLE, PERFECT ENCHILADAS

LINGUINE WITH CLAM SAUCE

LASAGNA

PENNE ALLA BETSY

COWGIRL DINNER PARTY

SANGRÍA

ROASTED BEEF TENDERLOIN

BURGUNDY MUSHROOMS

CREAMY ROSEMARY POTATOES

OLIVE CHEESE BREAD

CRÈME BRÛLÉE

SWEETS

PATSY’S BLACKBERRY COBBLER

FLAT APPLE PIE

CHOCOLATE SHEET CAKE

MOCHA BROWNIES

OATMEAL CRISPIES

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE (IN AN IRON SKILLET)

PEACH CRISP WITH MAPLE CREAM SAUCE

RED VELVET CAKE

ANGEL SUGAR COOKIES

KEEPIN’ IT REAL

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INDEX

The End

About the Author

Credits

Copyright

About the Publisher

DEDICATION

THIS COOKBOOK IS DEDICATED TO MARLBORO MAN, who rescued me years ago from a certain future of black pumps, weekly pedicures, take-out Thai food, and stop-start traffic. Thank you for turning my life into something I never imagined and for showing me a side of the world I never thought would apply to me. Thank you for loving me through my daily foibles as I continue to plow through life in the country, and for never making me feel like a misfit…even though I am.

Thank you for giving me our weird and wonderful children, and for involving them so wholly in the day-to-day work on the ranch. Thank you for teaching them how to work cattle and haul hay so I can stay home and act busy. Thank you for giving them a childhood so different from my own, and for not scoffing if I want to take them to a musical in the big city every couple of years.

Finally, thank you not only for tolerating the kitchen hurricane this labor-of-love cookbook caused, but for helping me wash a pot or two.

You surprise me daily.

And I love your Wranglers.

INTRODUCTION

I grew up on the seventh fairway of an idyllic golf course in a corporate town of 35,000. As the daughter of an orthopedic surgeon, my childhood was defined by summers at the pool, vacations on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and Broadway trips to New York with my mom. I was the archetypal town girl, firmly attached to all the wonderful conveniences of a suburban existence: landscaped lawns, manicures, pedicures, facials, take-out food…and lots of shopping. I had no idea any other kind of life existed.

Still, I decided my experiences needed a little broadening. I blazed straight to Los Angeles for college, attended USC, and drank in all the wonderfulness of the city. I lived large, vowing never, ever to live away from a large city for the rest of my life. I loved the energy, the people, the pace. I adored the freaks on Venice Beach.

circa 1986