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Cowboy Jam Session: Christmas gift ideas #1

Jeri L. Dobrowski

Over the past few months I’ve made some great finds for those on my Christmas list. It is with delight that I report most of the items are useful, inexpensive, or something the recipient specifically requested. In some instances they are all of the above.

Among the gifts I’ll be wrapping this season are bottles of Kent Rollins’ Red River Ranch Seasoning. My husband and I used the seasoning at Rollins’ Red River Ranch Chuckwagon Boot Camp in April 2011. After tasting pork chops, steaks and potatoes prepared with the blend, we’re hooked. We use it exclusively on steaks and chops. Seven ounces of Red River Ranch Seasoning sells for $9.95 plus $5.25 shipping. Order online at http://www.kentrollins.com or contact Shannon Rollins, 3930 Benvanue Rd., Byers, TX 76357; 580-471-3775.

While you’re at it, order a copy of Kent’s soon-to-be-released cookbook, On the Trail and in the Kitchen, due out in late November or early December. We cooked out of Kent’s previous 54-page, spiral-bound cookbook while at camp, but it’s out of print. My two personal favorites from it are Green Chili Hominy Casserole and Upside Down Pizza. Kent indicated that he’s including such tried-and-true recipes in the new collection, along with recent additions to his campfire repertoire. On the Trail and in the Kitchen sells for $18 plus $5.25 shipping. (A container of seasoning and a cookbook comes to a total of $33.20, including shipping.)



I previously suggested sending the hard-to-shop-for Western heritage buff in your life to the Red River Ranch Chuckwagon Boot Camp on the Oklahoma/Texas border. I’m reiterating that suggestion. Participants learn how to cook chuckwagon staples like those served up on cattle drives and wagon trains. Kent also teaches the proper ways to season and clean cast iron and shares his experiences and knowledge from the catering business. It is an unforgettable experience. Special rates are available for couples. For more on the class, go to the web site or contact Shannon (see above).

Earlier this year, I brought you word of the Buck Brannaman movie which was showing in theaters and making headlines at film festivals across the country. (Watch the trailer at http://www.buckthefilm.com) The 88-minute, PG-rated Buck continues to win awards, including Best Documentary at DocuWest, Golden, CO. Director Cindy Meehl followed Brannaman on his clinic circuit, capturing 300 hours of footage. A longtime student of horseman and clinician Ray Hunt – who learned from natural horsemanship clinician Tom Dorrance – Brannaman was the inspiration for the Nicholas Evans novel, The Horse Whisperer.



Recently released on DVD, the movie would be a superb gift and incredibly affordable! Buck is available from Amazon.com for just $5.49. It is eligible for free shipping on orders over $25. Buy five copies and they would ship free to the same address. Amazon also carries two paperback books by Brannaman: The Faraway Horses: The Adventures and Wisdom of One of America’s Most Renowned Horsemen for $10.98, and Believe: A Horseman’s Journey for $11.53. The DVD and two books total $28, qualifying for free shipping.

Even in this electronic age, wall calendars still serve a purpose – most especially in homes of busy families. I favor those with generous squares to record important dates and notes of interest. If they feature interesting artwork or photos, all the better. For years I’ve purchased the Cowgirls of the Old West Calendar: Historic Photographs & Illustrations published by ZON International Publishing. The 2012 edition features advertising illustrations and historic photos dating from 1880 to 1930. Cowgirls sells for $13.95 plus shipping. Buy two calendars for $27.90 and get a third calendar free. Order from ZON International, P.O. Box 6459, Santa Fe, NM 87502; 505-995-0102; http://www.zonbooks.com.

If your interests run toward farming, consider Mort Künstler’s American Farm Wall Calendar by Lang. It features images of American farm life when horses and steam engines were commonplace, although early gasoline-powered tractors and vintage automobiles are also shown. Renowned for his detailed, historically-accurate depictions, Künstler painted this series under the pen name Emmett Kaye. The 2012 American Farm Wall Calendar retails for $15.99. I purchased mine from http://www.calendars.com and paid $1 for shipping.

I first became familiar with Künstler’s work (mortkunstler.com) on a visit to the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, GA (www.boothmuseum.org). His paintings are among those in the Civil War Gallery. The Booth houses the largest permanent exhibition space for Western art in the country.

Next month’s gift ideas includes music and books, among them the children’s series Farm Country Tales and If I Were a Farmer by Gordon W. Fredrickson.

Over the past few months I’ve made some great finds for those on my Christmas list. It is with delight that I report most of the items are useful, inexpensive, or something the recipient specifically requested. In some instances they are all of the above.

Among the gifts I’ll be wrapping this season are bottles of Kent Rollins’ Red River Ranch Seasoning. My husband and I used the seasoning at Rollins’ Red River Ranch Chuckwagon Boot Camp in April 2011. After tasting pork chops, steaks and potatoes prepared with the blend, we’re hooked. We use it exclusively on steaks and chops. Seven ounces of Red River Ranch Seasoning sells for $9.95 plus $5.25 shipping. Order online at http://www.kentrollins.com or contact Shannon Rollins, 3930 Benvanue Rd., Byers, TX 76357; 580-471-3775.

While you’re at it, order a copy of Kent’s soon-to-be-released cookbook, On the Trail and in the Kitchen, due out in late November or early December. We cooked out of Kent’s previous 54-page, spiral-bound cookbook while at camp, but it’s out of print. My two personal favorites from it are Green Chili Hominy Casserole and Upside Down Pizza. Kent indicated that he’s including such tried-and-true recipes in the new collection, along with recent additions to his campfire repertoire. On the Trail and in the Kitchen sells for $18 plus $5.25 shipping. (A container of seasoning and a cookbook comes to a total of $33.20, including shipping.)

I previously suggested sending the hard-to-shop-for Western heritage buff in your life to the Red River Ranch Chuckwagon Boot Camp on the Oklahoma/Texas border. I’m reiterating that suggestion. Participants learn how to cook chuckwagon staples like those served up on cattle drives and wagon trains. Kent also teaches the proper ways to season and clean cast iron and shares his experiences and knowledge from the catering business. It is an unforgettable experience. Special rates are available for couples. For more on the class, go to the web site or contact Shannon (see above).

Earlier this year, I brought you word of the Buck Brannaman movie which was showing in theaters and making headlines at film festivals across the country. (Watch the trailer at http://www.buckthefilm.com) The 88-minute, PG-rated Buck continues to win awards, including Best Documentary at DocuWest, Golden, CO. Director Cindy Meehl followed Brannaman on his clinic circuit, capturing 300 hours of footage. A longtime student of horseman and clinician Ray Hunt – who learned from natural horsemanship clinician Tom Dorrance – Brannaman was the inspiration for the Nicholas Evans novel, The Horse Whisperer.

Recently released on DVD, the movie would be a superb gift and incredibly affordable! Buck is available from Amazon.com for just $5.49. It is eligible for free shipping on orders over $25. Buy five copies and they would ship free to the same address. Amazon also carries two paperback books by Brannaman: The Faraway Horses: The Adventures and Wisdom of One of America’s Most Renowned Horsemen for $10.98, and Believe: A Horseman’s Journey for $11.53. The DVD and two books total $28, qualifying for free shipping.

Even in this electronic age, wall calendars still serve a purpose – most especially in homes of busy families. I favor those with generous squares to record important dates and notes of interest. If they feature interesting artwork or photos, all the better. For years I’ve purchased the Cowgirls of the Old West Calendar: Historic Photographs & Illustrations published by ZON International Publishing. The 2012 edition features advertising illustrations and historic photos dating from 1880 to 1930. Cowgirls sells for $13.95 plus shipping. Buy two calendars for $27.90 and get a third calendar free. Order from ZON International, P.O. Box 6459, Santa Fe, NM 87502; 505-995-0102; http://www.zonbooks.com.

If your interests run toward farming, consider Mort Künstler’s American Farm Wall Calendar by Lang. It features images of American farm life when horses and steam engines were commonplace, although early gasoline-powered tractors and vintage automobiles are also shown. Renowned for his detailed, historically-accurate depictions, Künstler painted this series under the pen name Emmett Kaye. The 2012 American Farm Wall Calendar retails for $15.99. I purchased mine from http://www.calendars.com and paid $1 for shipping.

I first became familiar with Künstler’s work (mortkunstler.com) on a visit to the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, GA (www.boothmuseum.org). His paintings are among those in the Civil War Gallery. The Booth houses the largest permanent exhibition space for Western art in the country.

Next month’s gift ideas includes music and books, among them the children’s series Farm Country Tales and If I Were a Farmer by Gordon W. Fredrickson.