September 1, 2022
Heffernan (Five Marys Ranch Raised Cookbook) returns with more recipes from her Northern California ranch. As expected, many recipes are meat-centered and mouth-watering. The book is organized by seasons and further divided into menus for complete meals, like a "Pack-Ahead Rodeo Picnic" (cocktail, entr�e, side, and dessert) and a "Down-Home Ranch Dinner" (salad, entr�e, side, and dessert). Offerings are fancier than "down-home" implies, but not too fussy. Guacamole is dressed up with pomegranate seeds, while Heffernan adds hibiscus and Aleppo pepper to her paloma cocktail. The recipes are clearly written and nearly all are accompanied by photographs. Additional DIY guides ("Mobile Herb Garden"; "Beeswax Wraps") add to the cookbook's homestead flavor; if readers want to learn how to render lard, Heffernan has instructions for that too. A complete index rounds out the work. VERDICT Tell patrons to pack their bags and load their wagons. They'll be raring to move to a ranch after reading this charmer.--P.J. Gardiner
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