SWITCHELL

SWITCHELL:

Long before soda pop, Gatorade, or can drinks, a common hydrator for field hands, farmers and those working the outdoors during warm summer months was a drink called Switchell. One wrangler rode up upon the chuckwagon to replenish his canteen with water and mumbled at the cook, "What I would give for a cup of switchell" 

The drink mentioned in Laura Ingalls Wilder's book, "The Long Winter" describes the switchel beverage that her mother had sent for Laura and her father to drink while haying: "Ma had sent them ginger-water. She had sweetened the cool well-water

with sugar, flavored it with vinegar, and put in plenty of ginger to warm their stomachs so they could drink till they were not thirsty. Ginger-water would not make them sick, as plain cold water would when they were so hot." Since the drink had become common serving during the haying seasons, often, it was called Haymaker's punch.

From Practical American Cookery and Domestic Economy, Elizabeth Hall (Miller, Orton & Co: New York, 1853) The drink was made using the following recipe: 

5 cups of cold water
½ cup of blackstrap molasses
¼ cup of apple cider vinegar (preferably raw, unfiltered)
3 tablespoons ground ginger

It was not uncommon during the 19th century to find ginger spice dried and grounded. Although, the same drink can be make using fresh ginger root. Nevertheless, switchell would be a luxury that most Cowboys on the trail never enjoyed as outfits supplied minimum needs and coffee or water was the common beverage of the trail-hand drover.

Young boys stacking hay bales in Barn

Another Recipe: 

Here’s a classic Haymaker’s Punch recipe found in the  archives of The Old Farmer’s Almanac:

• 1 gallon water
• 1 ½ cups molasses
• ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger   

The electrolyte potassium found in each ingredient other than water makes Switchel a natural health tonic that boosts the immune system.  Apple cider vinegar also helps assist in detoxify your organs!

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The Spirit of the West, Ellensburg, Washington

                                                                       

                                                                                        
                                                                                                    Story by Roger Edison

The Spirit of the West gathering in Ellensburg, Washington has brought the best traditional cowboy musicians, poets, and artists together to celebrate the western tradition of ranching and the cowboy life. Past nationally known entertainers — many of whom have performed at Carnegie Hall, Grand Old Opry, National Public Radio and numerous other venues around the world included - Don Edwards, Waddie Mitchell, Baxter Black, R. W. Hampton, Wylie and the Wild West, Stephanie Davis Band, Paul Zarzyski, Sourdough Slim, Doris and Belinda and Juni Fisher.

Troy Texas FunFest Chuck Wagon Cook Off-Competition

The Troy, Texas Chamber of Commerce added an old fashioned Chuck Wagon Cook-Off during Fun Fest 2010 held April 17th. The annual Fun Fest includes having an opening parade lead by horse teams, arts and craft show, tough as nails car show, carnival, and other attractions that build city support also  held last weekend. Like many town festivals, the Fest concluded with its American Fire Work Show.

Waffles, Crepes, Pancakes and Hoe-Cakes

There are many different foods which are synonymous. The similar style making the food item yet changing the method use to cook the item, or perhaps changing one of more particular ingredients. This is certainly true with Waffles, Crepes, Pancakes and Hoe-Cakes.

How long has it been since you had a bowl

"When was the last time you had a bowl of Wolfe Brand Chili?" "Well that's too long."

The original Wolf Brand Chili recipe was developed in 1895 by a Texas ranch cook and Lyman T. Davis. Recognizing that they had something good, the pair brought their specialty by wagon to the oil boomtown of Corsicana, Texas. There they sold it for five cents a bowl in front of the Blue Front Saloon.

Way of the Chuckwagon

There is a majestic beauty viewing over the massive grazing lands that run from Texas north through the Dakotas reaching into Canada. These plains expanded westward into Colorado meeting the rocky mountains and northwest to the Cascade Mountain Range. Scenic hills covered in tall Buffalo grass that whispers its historic past as one might sit silent reflecting upon the romantic images of the American West. As the wind blows through the wild blades of green stems that still flourish today, the sounds of the cowboys yawp can nearly be heard as they command their livestock on the long cattle-drives. Today, no other item best reflects the images of those cowboys who worked the cattle drives than the “Chuck Wagon”.