Contrary to established myths, cowboys did not spend all their time getting drunk in saloons or at the gambling table, distracted by shooting half the local town. There were two categories of Far Westers: professional gamblers and professional shooters.
The cowboy, on the other hand, was an ordinary hard-working hustler. He seldom saw saloons, at best when he got a few months’ pay after a long haul. Even so, with a monthly salary of $40 to $50 and a glass of whiskey costing 25 cents, there wasn’t much room to spare after the necessary purchases had been made.
In cowboy slang, the food was called “chuck,” the chuckwagon, and the man who cooked the food was called “bean-master,” “dough-roller,” or “grub-slinger. The first two nicknames in part reflect what the chasers ate: homemade unleavened dough bread and beans. Beef, dried fruit, and coffee were also on the menu.
A typical daily menu would look something like this
- Chowder
- Beans
- Pie
- Coffee.
A typical cowboy lunch:
“Sons of bitches chowder.”
- 1 kg boneless beef
- Beef heart
- One pound of liver
- Guts (intestines, pancreas)
- Brains
- Potatoes and carrots (optional)
- Salt, pepper, hot sauce
Dice meat, heart and liver into small pieces. Put into a saucepan and pour water over meat and simmer for 2 to 3 hours. Season with salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste. Add vegetables and finely chopped tripe. Simmer for another hour without bringing to a boil.
“Evening Beans.
- 1 kg red beans
- 1 kg bacon or ham
- 2 chopped onions
- 4 tbsp sugar
- 2 chopped hot chili peppers (more to taste)
- 0.3 kg tomato paste
Wash the beans and leave soaked overnight. Then drain the water, place in a deep saucepan, add the remaining ingredients and stew over low heat until the beans are tender. Add water if necessary. Salt to taste.
“Bean Pie.”
- 1 large cup cooked and mashed beans
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 whipped egg yolks
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
Mix all the ingredients and put them in the pie dish. Bake at 180° C for 30 minutes. Brush with the remaining egg white and reheat until brown.
Real Coffee.
“Pour one pound of Jamaican coffee over spring water. Boil over good heat for at least half an hour. Then drop a horseshoe into the pot. If the horseshoe sinks, add more coffee. When the horseshoe floats to the surface, the coffee is ready.”