BIG BEND
BOOKS
The Big Bend Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from the Heart of West Texas
Out of the blue comes this stunning book from a publisher more
noted for its history books than its regional cuisine. And this cookbook
features not only recipes from the Big Bend, but also people, places, and
stories, too.
The book is modest in size but packs a wallop. Its 288 pages are of
high-quality paper stock and the beautiful book design does a nice job
of blending food and regional legend and lore. I only wish the book
would open up and lie flat on the countertop, but maybe that's why we
have copy machines, so we can take a picture of the recipe and keep the
book clean.
The content of the book includes much, much more than recipes.
There are travel suggestions for vacationing in the Big Bend; vignettes
of some of the contributors; even a Geology 101 on the Marathon
Basin! One section, called "Foraging in the Trans-Pecos Region”
contains recipes using the ubiquitous chiles pequin (birds drop these
spicy-hot seeds everywhere), honey-mesquite bean pods, agarita berries
(the fruits of a common Chihuahuan Desert shrub) and prickly-pear
pads (nopalitos) and fruits (tunas).
Many of the recipes are local variations of standards like fruit cobber,
pecan pie, fresh-baked bread, pesto, etc. But most of the recipes sound
like something out of gourmet cookbooks: Grilled Romaine with
Chorizo and Goat Cheese (courtesy of Marfa Table); and Steve
Anderson's (of Big Bend Brewery) 22 Porter Beef Stew; and Fideos de
Nicolas (from Nicolas Gallego). Then there is Endive Salad with Toshi's
Slightly Asian Dressing (from Michael Serva of Cochineal), and, well,
you get the idea.
Oh, and the price? A good buy at $24.99, and sure to be a popular
holiday gift.
Book reviews by Jean Pittman, Front Street Books, Alpine.
My Wild Life: A Memoir of Adventures within
America’s National Parks
Here is a delightful book for naturelovers, and particularly those who revere
our national parks. One might consider
Roland “Ro” Wauer the quintessential
observer of nature. His interest in birds,
butterflies, and the plants and flowers
they feed on—as well as all other living
aspects of the natural world—has been a
life-long passion that began in childhood
and continues to this day.
His story is an enviable one. After all,
we don’t all get to have a long career in
the most beautiful places in our country.
From Zion National Park and Crater
Lake to the Big Bend, Guadalupe
Mountains, Great Smokey Mountains,
Death Valley (which he recommends
highly) and three more national parks,
Wauer has sought the common and rare
species of all kinds of plants, reptiles,
birds, butterflies, mammals and insects.
At a recent book-signing, Wauer said
Big Bend National Park remains his
favorite of all.
Among other extraordinary
accomplishments, the author has held
the rare Trans-Pecos Rat Snake in his
hands long enough to be photographed.
And he has observed and photographed
all types of ecosystems and their
creatures.
The author’s prose is clear,
enthusiastic, interesting, and
authoritative. This book will fuel your
own interest in getting back out into
nature and observing such treasures for
yourself.
Also highly recommended are Wauer’s
earlier books on Big Bend: Naturalist's
Big Bend: An Introduction to the Trees
and Shrubs, Wildflowers, Cacti,
Mammals, Birds, Reptiles and
Amphibians, Fish, and Insects (Texas
A&M Univ. Press, 15.95) and For All
Seasons: A Big Bend Journal (Univ. Texas
Press, 25.00) Wauer has penned several
guides to the birds and butterflies, all of
which are available through bookstores.
A gallery of fine Western,
Southwestern and Wildlife art
432-386-8748 • 2707 E. Hwy 90
the.open.range.alpine@gmail.com • www.theopenrangefineart.com
Alpine
Alpine
BIG BEND GALLERIES
tomcurrystudio@gmail.com
432-837-0735• 104 W. Murphy
BIG BEND GALLERIES AND ARTISTS / 2015 19