Sherry Monahan - The Western Writers of America Cookbook: Favorite Recipes, Cooking Tips, and Writing Wisdom

Sherry Monahan served as Western Writers of Americas president from 2014 to 2016 and began her author career when she penned her first book, Taste of Tombstone, in 1998. It was her passion for food and history that led her to create that first book. She now has several books on daily life and women in the West. That same passion landed her a monthly magazine column in 2009 when she began writing her food column in True West titled Frontier Fare. Her last two books were historical cookbooks called Frontier Fare and The Cowboys Cookbook. Shes also written for Arizona Highways and Cowboys & Indians.

Sherry has appeared on Bill OReillys Legends and Lies, AHCs Gunslingers, and on the History Channel in many shows. She earned a Wrangler in the 2010 Western Heritage Awards for her performance in the Cowboys and Outlaws show. In 2015 Sherry was sworn in as an honorary Dodge City Marshal. Sherry was also awarded the Gold Will Rogers Medallion for The Cowboys Cookbook in 2016. Her website is www.sherrymonahan.com.

Nancy Plain is Western Writers of Americas vice president (201618) and writes nonfiction for the young-adult reader. Her books on Western and frontier topics include biographies of the cowboy artist Charlie Russell, the Nez Perce leader Chief Joseph, the photographer Solomon Butcher, and the artist/ornithologist John James Audubon. Recognition for Nancys work includes four Spur Awards, a YALSA Finalist Award from the American Library Association, the Nebraska Book Award, the Will Rogers Medallion Award, a Booklist Editors Choice citation, and the National Outdoor Book Award. She joined Western Writers of America in 2008.

Happy Cooking Trails from all of us at Western Writers of America!

A TWODOT BOOK

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ISBN 978-1-4930-2494-0 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-4930-2495-7 (e-book)

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

Printed in the United States of America

Western Writers of America, Inc., (WWA) was founded in 1953 to promote the literature of the American West and bestow Spur Awards for distinguished writing in the Western field. The founders were largely authors who wrote traditional Western fiction, but the organization swiftly expanded to include historians, nonfiction authors, young adult and romance writers, and writers interested in regional history.

Literature of the West for the World describes the collective works of WWA members whose Western literature and includes traditional and contemporary Western fiction, historical analysis, mysteries, biographies, romance, short stories, screen and documentary writing, poems, songs, and more. Our members seek to uncover new facts, deal with new issues, seek more understanding, and offer more for readers to enjoy.

Since its inception, WWA has become the premier Western writers organization in America and currently boasts over six hundred members. Our members hail from all over the United States as well as other countries across the globe. What unites us is our passion for the American West. No matter where WWA writers physically sit creating our work, the West is always on our mindsand sometimes out our window.

Writers lives can be solitary, even if were married and have a family. We do, however, have a chance to share our joys, frustrations, and sorrows once a year with each other. WWA members come together at our annual convention, which ends up being like a family reunion. While we dont have a dish to pass at our reunion, we do like to eat.

The editors would like to thank the WWA members who took the time to share their stories, recipes, and photos with us for this fun and tasty project. This book includes recipes from our members, their spouses, publishers, and others who are connected to our organization. Weve included some of our favorite dishes to make, eat, or drown our rejection letter sorrows in. Youll find some funny stories, writing tips, snippets of Western history, and much more from our members.

The money earned from this book will go to support our Homestead Foundation. Western Writers of America formed the Homestead Foundation to support its educational and award-giving functions. One way we do this is with our James Ersfeld Memorial Writing Symposiums. WWA members believe in perpetuating the stories and legendsboth past and presentof the American West. The New York Times has called Westerns Americas Epic, a part of our culture. We want to ensure the sacrifices and struggles that have built this epic will be remembered by Americans young and old, into the twenty-first century and beyond. We intend to spread the word through our own writing and by inspiring others to read and write stories that are set in the American West.

We do this by granting awards for the best in Western writing; by presenting panels and encouraging the presentation of Western topics at local exhibitions and organizations; and by sponsoring literacy efforts, and encouraging people to read and write about stories set in the American West.

Join us through this culinary journey from those who love to write stories about anything, so long as they are set in the American West. As we sometimes say out West, Strap on the feedbag!

Chapter One

N othing gets a bleary-eyed author up and out of bed faster than the scent of a freshly brewed cup of coffee or tea. Throw in some sizzling bacon, fluffy hotcakes, and some warm sorghum and were there! Some of us choose to be healthy and eat fruit or whip up a protein smoothie, too. We all start our days differently. Some of us get dressed as if were going to an office, and some of us just sit in our comfy clothes.

Barbara Dans Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins

MAKES 24 MEDIUM-SIZE MUFFINS

These muffins have long been a favorite recipe of mine. When my father-in-law lived with our family, he and the children occasionally had a sore throat and had trouble swallowing. Fortunately, these soft, nutritious muffins were regarded as a treat by everyone. (They are just as delicious when eaten by healthy individuals!)