The Pioneer Woman Cooks

Book Description (taken from the Harper Collins website)

My name is Ree.
Some folks know me as The Pioneer Woman.

After years of living in Los Angeles, I made a pit stop in my hometown in Oklahoma on the way to a new, exciting life in Chicago. It was during my stay at home that I met Marlboro Man, a mysterious cowboy with steely blue eyes and a muscular, work-honed body. A strict vegetarian, I fell hard and fast, and before I knew it we were married and living on his ranch in the middle of nowhere, taking care of animals, and managing a brood of four young children. I had no idea how I'd wound up there, but I knew it was exactly where I belonged.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks is a homespun collection of photography, rural stories, and scrumptious recipes that have defined my experience in the country. I share many of the delicious cowboy-tested recipes I've learned to make during my years as an accidental ranch wife—including Rib-Eye Steak with Whiskey Cream Sauce, Lasagna, Fried Chicken, Patsy's Blackberry Cobbler, and Cinnamon Rolls—not to mention several "cowgirl-friendly" dishes, such as Sherried Tomato Soup, Olive Cheese Bread, and Crème Brûlée. I show my recipes in full color, step-by-step detail, so it's as easy as pie to follow along.

You'll also find colorful images of rural life: cows, horses, country kids, and plenty of chaps-wearing cowboys.

I hope you get a kick out of this book of mine. I hope it makes you smile. I hope the recipes bring you recognition, accolades, and marriage proposals. And I hope it encourages even the most harried urban cook to slow down, relish the joys of family, nature, and great food, and enjoy life.

 Howdy. I’m Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman. Welcome to my frontier! I’m a thirty-something ranch wife, mother of four, moderately agoraphobic middle child who grew up on a golf course in the city. I attended college in Los Angeles and wore black pumps to work every day. I ate sushi and treated myself to pedicures on a semi-regular basis. I even kissed James Garner in an elevator once. Then, on a brief trip to my hometown, I met and fell in love with a rugged cattle rancher. Now I live in the middle of nowhere on a working cattle ranch. My days are spent wrangling children, chipping dried manure from boots, washing jeans, and frying calf nuts. I have no idea how I got here…but you know what? I love it. Don’t tell anyone.

You can browse inside The Pioneer Woman Cooks HERE. 




MY REVIEW

Oh. My. Word. I love Ree Drummond and I love The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I have been reading Ree's blog for a few years so I was more than a little excited when I was given the chance to review her book! Ree writes an amazing blog and she has also written an amazing cookbook. If you are familiar with her blog than you will know what I mean when I say reading this cookbook is just like reading her blog.

The recipes are great too but what makes this cookbook stand out from the billions of other cookbooks out there is Ree's personality and how well you can see HER in this cookbook. The addition of photos from her life is really cool too. Phrases like "Place the warm meat on a plate with a heaping pile of mashed potatoes. Cowboys love the word "heaping"." make this cookbook actually FUN to read... even if you aren't exactly a cooking genius.

I don't cook much but this book made me want to.

If you are still looking for a fabulous gift for the chef in your life... or the blogger in your life for that matter... than this is definitely the book for you! I LOVE it. Love it. Well done Ree!