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Kent Rollins' A Taste of Cowboy cookbook is available at Lehmans.com or in our retail store in Kidron, Ohio.[/caption]
True to his calling, Rollins cooks many of his feasts in cast iron pots over a campfire. The method, once so common among cowboys and pioneers, is now a lost art. This prompts many novice chefs to ask, “Can you really cook in that thing?” To which Rollins replies, “Yes, and you don’t need any modern gadgets to do it.” In fact, the humble cast-iron post encapsulates Rollins’ attitude toward cowboy cookery: how delicious meals can be created under the most unpretentious of circumstances with the most basic of tools and ingredients.
As proof, Rollins relates the most widely requested meal: “Our 14-ounce rib-eye steak cooked over a mesquite fire, our baked beans, and for dessert bread pudding with a whiskey cream sauce.” This single meal demonstrates the wealth of hearty, delectable flavors available from common ingredients.
Rollins attributes much of his accomplishments to his wife, Shannon. “To be married to this woman and still be able to cook on working ranches, just like the old cooks going down the trail in the 1880s – well, that’s my biggest success,” he says.
[caption id="attachment_37053" align="aligncenter" width="636"]
Find Kent and Shannon Rollins' Faith, Family & the Feast cookbook at Lehmans.com or in our retail store in Kidron, Ohio.[/caption]
That said, there are times things can go astray. “We try not to have failures, just solutions and more hard work,” he says. “When you cook in Mother Nature’s kitchen, you don't just have a plan that goes from A to B to C. We go all the way to Z.”
Rollins’ vivid storytelling of cowboy camps makes the lifestyle come alive for listeners. It’s how both Kent and Shannon can travel the country, feeding hungry folks with both food and stories. But it doesn’t prevent Rollins from continuing the legacy of cooking for cowboys on ranches during spring and fall gatherings – a rare tradition indeed.
Editor’s Note: Lehman’s has hosted Kent Rollins over the years, where he did meet and greets with our customers. For the latest store events and visitors coming to Lehman’s, check out our store events page.
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