RanchSeeker Blog

There is nothing quite like homemade pancakes on a lazy weekend morning. Why not make them healthier by adding the super-food oats! The folks over at White Stallion Ranch in Arizona have provided us this yummy recipe for Oatmeal pancakes that is sure to please breakfast lovers.  This Oatmeal Pancake recipe is easy, delicious and healthy!

Great food is always an important part of any vacation. 

Oatmeal Pancakes

Ingredients

2 cups old-fashioned oats 

2 cups buttermilk 

3 beaten eggs 

2 tablespoons sugar 

4 tablespoons butter (not oil) 

½ cup flour 

1 teaspoon salt 

1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions:

Combine oats and buttermilk and let stand overnight

Combine the eggs, sugar and oil in a small bowl and beat together. Add to the oat/buttermilk mixture

Add flour, salt and baking soda. Add a bit of cinnamon if you like!

Cook on a hot griddle.

Enjoy!

White Stallion Ranch is a traditional dude ranch located in Tucson, Arizona. Nestled at the base of the beautiful Tucson Mountains on 3,000 acres of pristine Sonoran Desert you will be surrounded by rugged mountains, cactus and unspoiled desert. With several different rides to choose from first-time trailblazers to life-long riders will have ample time to enjoy the beauty of the desert from atop a horse. The True family has one of the largest privately owned herds in Arizona which means they have the right horse for every guest.

The True family and their staff look forward to having you and your loved ones visit them on your next vacation. 

Happy Trails!

Let RanchSeeker help you find your ideal guest ranch vacation today.

Just because your dude ranch vacation is over doesn’t mean that you can’t still eat like a cowboy at home. Skillet Texas Hash is a popular dish among cowboys since it kick starts the day off with lots of protein and nutrients to provide enough energy for the long day ahead. You may not be rustling up any cattle but everyone whether they spend their days out on the range or in an office can benefit from a hearty morning meal.

This delicious, savoury Texas hash recipe comes together quickly and could even be made ahead and heated up in the morning. Using a cast iron skillet will ensure that your hash will cook evenly, and (if seasoned properly) will give it amazing flavor.

An added bonus is it can all be prepared in just one pan which means less clean-up afterwards. Some people even enjoy this recipe for dinner too.

Skillet Texas Hash

Ingredients

6 to 8 red potatoes cubed

4 strips of bacon (turkey or pork) chopped (can substitute ground chorizo or sausage meat)

1 white onion diced

2 bell peppers chopped

2 cloves of garlic, finely minced

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon ground cumin

3/4 cup prepared salsa (optional)

3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese

sour cream and sprigs of fresh cilantro to garnish

Olive oil

Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions:

Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Place bacon ( or chorizo or sausage meat) into the skillet and cook until bacon is crisp, 4- 5 minutes.

Meanwhile put potatoes, onion, bell peppers, garlic, cayenne pepper and cumin into a large bowl and toss to combine. Coat with olive oil and toss again. Add salt and pepper, to taste. 

Pour the contents of the bowl into the skillet. Continually stir potatoes until cooked thoroughly and begin to crisp *approximately 25 minutes*. Stir in the salsa (if using), then sprinkle cheese on top and broil 3- 4 minutes until bubbly. Carefully remove the hot skillet from grill and garnish with sour cream and cilantro. 

Serve while hot.

Yield:4-6 servings

Sounds yummy doesn’t it?

If you make this be sure to add a comment to our comment section and send us a picture.

Happy Trails!

At White Stallion Ranch, the personal touch and hospitality of a traditional dude ranch is carefully blended with the service and amenities of a fine resort. Reconnect with nature, family, friends and serenity while riding through the unspoiled desert, rugged mountains and cactus that have brought Hollywood film-makers to the ranch for over 70 years. The ranch is situated between Phoenix and Tucson, making it easy accessible from Arizona’s two major airports. 

While staying at White Stallion Ranch you will be treated to delicious home-cooked meals prepared by the ranch’s chef as well as healthy snacks.  Here are just a few to try out at home.

Spicy Granola

  (1batch)                                                                           (double batch)

4 cups old-fashioned rolled Oats                                                8c

1 cup unsweetened desiccated coconut*                                    2c

1 cup sliced almonds                                                                  2c

1 cup pecans                                                                              2c

1 ½ tsp. Cinnamon                                                                    3t

½ tsp. Nutmeg                                                                           1t

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter and ½ cup honey                   1c marg + 1c honey

2 cups mixed dried fruits such as cranberries, cherries,         3 or 4 c for taste

currants, golden raisins, apricots, prunes and/or dates    

¾ cup brown sugar, packed                                                 1 1/2 c

*Available at natural food stores

Preheat oven 350 degrees

In a large bowl stir together oats, coconut, nuts and spices.  In a small saucepan melt butter with honey over low heat, stirring occasionally.  Pour butter mixture over oat mixture and toss to combine well.  Mix in brown sugar well.

Spread granola evenly in 2 shallow baking pans and bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, stirring frequently and switching position of pans halfway through baking, until golden brown, about 15 minutes.  In large bowl, combine granola with dried fruits and cool, stirring occasionally.  (Granola keeps in an airtight container, chilled, 1 month.)

Makes about 10 cups.

(the granola at the ranch may look different than it appears here)

TRAIL MIX

2  lbs. Peanuts (dry roasted, etc.)

1  8-1/2 ounce pkg. pretzel chips (use air crisps if you can’t find pretzel chips)

1  7 ounce pkg. small twisted pretzels

1  5-3/4 ounce pkg. thin pretzel sticks

1  5.6 ounce pkg. corn nuts

1  cup vegetable oil

1  cup melted butter

2  Tbsp. chili powder

2  Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

5  drops green Tabasco sauce

1  Tbsp. garlic salt

1  Tbsp. Lowrie’s seasoned salt

1  tsp. ground cumin

Mix nuts and pretzels in large roasting pan.

Mix oil and melted butter, chili powder, Worcestershire, Tabasco sauce, garlic salt, seasoned salt and cumin; pour over pretzels, mixing well.

Bake in a 350º oven for 1 hour, stirring often.  (If you use air crisps instead of pretzel chips then only add them the last 20 minutes of baking)

( pretzels go great in Trail Mix)

For more recipes from White Stallion check out our past blogs:

Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin Recipe

White Stallion Ranch’s Hatch Green Chili & Cheese Breakfast Casserole

( Mealtimes at White Stallion are always  special)

Happy Trails!

Let RanchSeeker help you find your ideal guest ranch vacation!

The Old Wild West conjures up visions of dusty towns, rolling tumbleweed, rowdy saloons, good time gals, sheriffs sporting six-point star silver badges, notorious outlaws and good ole cowboys. What is often overlooked is the hearty western cuisine that was prepared by the ranch’s cook during that era.  After completing a grueling day of wrangling cattle and working out on the range, the American cowboy would have worked up quite an appetite!  In those days, the ranch cook wielded a tremendous amount of power, so it was always wise to stay on his good side. His mood could determine whether the cowboys ate well or not that day. The quality of his food also played an important role in attracting top hands to a ranch, since other than getting a good night’s sleep there was nothing more important than being served up a top-notch meal at the start and end of each day. 

Western cooking entailed much more than baked beans cooked over an open fire. Below are just a few recipes that the American cowboy might have enjoyed after a long day in the saddle out herding cattle! 

IMAGE SOURCE 

Sonofabitch Stew

This was a favorite beef stew dish among cowboys of the America West. It was also known as rascal stew or by the name of some unpopular figure of the time. For example, some cowboys called it Cleveland Stew in (dis)honor of President Grover Cleveland displacing cowboys from the Cherokee Strip. If you’re not into eating animal organs, pass this one up. However, if you want to put some hair on your chest, belly up to the table and pound this meal down.

2 pounds of lean beef

Half a calf heart

1 ½ pounds of calf liver

1 set sweetbreads (that’s the thymus gland for you city slickers)

1 set of brains

1 set of marrow gut

Salt, pepper to taste

Louisiana hot sauce

Cut the beef, liver, and heart into one-inch cubes. Slice the marrow gut into rings. Place these ingredients into the Dutch oven and cover with water. Let it simmer for 2 to 3 hours. Add salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Chop sweetbreads and brains into small pieces and add to stew. Simmer another hour.

Source: Cowboys Recipes That’ll Put Hair on Your Chest  

Buffalo (or beef) Steaks with Chipotle-Coffee Rub

Ingredients:

3 teaspoons ground coffee

3 teaspoons ground chipotle pepper (or chipotle chile powder)

1/4 cup paprika

2 teaspoons toasted cumin seeds

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon salt

4 buffalo or beef steaks (8 ounces each)

Combine coffee, ground chipotle, paprika, cumin seeds, sugar and salt. Rub mixture into steaks.  Grill steaks until desired doneness.  Makes four servings.

Source: The Chuckwagon – Western Recipes 

IMAGE SOURCE 

Cowboy Coffee

Out on the trail, coffee was a staple among cowboys. Piping hot coffee helped a cowboy shake off the stiffness from sleeping on the hard desert ground, and it was also a good beverage to wash down the morning sour dough biscuits.  But cowboys didn’t have the luxury of fancy coffee brewers or french presses. They had to pack light, so all they usually had was a metal coffee pot, sans filter, to brew their coffee in. No matter. A cowboy could still make a decent cup of coffee. Here’s how.

1. Bring water to a near boil over your campfire.

2. Throw your coffee grounds right into the water. That’s right. Filters are for city slickers.

3. Stir the coffee over the fire for a minute or two.

4. Remove the pot from the fire and let the coffee sit for a minute or two to allow the grounds to settle at the bottom of the pot. Add a bit of cold water to help speed along the settling process.

5. Carefully pour the coffee into your tin cup so that the grounds stay in the pot.

6. Stand around the fire with your left thumb in your belt loop and your coffee cup in your right hand. Take slow sips and meditate on the trek ahead.

Source: Cowboys Recipes That’ll Put Hair on Your Chest  

Guest ranches today serve up anything from hearty western-style cuisine to haute cuisine and something in between. Regardless of which guest ranch you decide to stay at you will find that meal times are a special part of the day. They provide an opportunity to discuss the day’s events, make new friends and dine on delicious ranch fare. Click on the links below to see a sampling of just a few of RanchSeeker’s ranch recipes and learn a little more about the ranch’s featured.

White Stallion Ranch’s Hatch Green Chili & Cheese Breakfast Casserole

Sundance Guest Ranch’s Summer Berry Salad with ‘Liquid Gold’ Dressing

Red Reflet Ranch's Homemade Biscuit Recipe 

Happy Trails!

Let RanchSeeker help you find the ideal guest ranch vacation today.

Thank you White Stallion Ranch for once again sharing one of your ranch recipes with RanchSeeker fans!! Be sure to check out other recipes provided by this Arizona guest ranch. Great food is always an important part of any vacation.

What do you prefer most breakfast, lunch or dinner? For breakfast lovers here is a recipe that is sure to kick start your day off just right!

Hatch Green Chili & Cheese Breakfast Casserole

Hatch Green Chili and Cheese Breakfast Casserole

12 lg. eggs

1- 1 1/2 lbs shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1-1 1/2 lbs. shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups diced green hatch chilies

1/4 c. chopped red roasted red peppers

1/4 c. heavy cream

3 T. flour

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix eggs, flour, cream, and salt and pepper in bowl.

Layer the jack cheese in 9×13, greased baking dish

Sprinkle chilies and peppers on top of jack cheese.

Layer the cheddar on top of all ingredients.

Pour egg mixture over cheese and chilies

Cover with foil and bake @350 for 40 minutes, uncover and finish baking until set

(about 15-20 minutes more)

Remove from oven let cool a bit cut into squares and serve with salsa, sliced tomatoes and avocados.

Happy Trails

Let RanchSeeker help you find your ideal guest ranch vacation today!

Visit the White Stallion Ranch an authentic western guest ranch nestled at the base of the beautiful Tucson Mountains on 3,000 acres of pristine Sonoran Desert. In the meantime enjoy this yummy recipe for Peanut Butter Bars provided by their chef.

Peanut Butter Bars

Preheat oven 350 degrees (300 convection oven)

¾ c. shortening

¾ c. peanut butter

1 c. brown sugar

1c white sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 ¼ c. flour

1 ¼ c. oatmeal

¾ tsp. baking soda

¼ tsp. salt

Cream the shortening, peanut butter, sugar, egg and vanilla well.  Mix together the flour, oatmeal, soda and salt.  Beat the flour mixture into the creamed mixture.  Spread the dough by hand over sprayed and floured 9”x13” baking pan.  Bake 25 minutes until still chewy.  Immediately sprinkle on the chocolate chips and spread over the bars when melted.

Topping

1 c. powdered sugar

½ c. peanut butter

1 c. chocolate chips

2-4 Tbs. Milk, as needed

Beat topping ingredients well, using enough milk to get a creamy consistency, then swirl over the chocolate.  Cut and serve.

Let RanchSeeker help you find your ideal guest ranch vacation!

Happy Trails!

The kind folks over at Sundance Guest Ranch have provided us with one of their treasured recipes to share on Ranchseeker. Sundance Guest Ranch, located in British Columbia, offers an all-inclusive package with accommodations, meals and about 5 hours of riding each day through some of the most spectacular countryside in the province. The ranch is almost as famous for the food that they serve their guests as it is for their horses!

Prepare this delicious light summer salad for your family brought to you by the ranch’s very own Chef Lauren Chimilar and let us know how it turns out.

Summer Berry Salad with ‘Liquid Gold’ Dressing:

 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup water

4-6 garlic cloves

3/4 cup nutritional flake yeast

1.5 cup vegetable oil

*Blend the first 5 ingredients in a blender or food processor. Slowly add oil while still blending*

*The salad uses a fresh artisan lettuce blend, goat cheese, toasted pine nuts, sweet yellow peppers, cucumber, blackberries and raspberries*

Don’t miss out on the “Health Wellness and Lifestyle” episode that airs on Joy TV in Canada in July where this delightful salad will be featured on the show.

Happy Trails!

Let Laughing Water Ranch be your Montana adventure destination for your next vacation. Located in Fortine, Montana, this authentic western dude ranch is situated against the foot hills of the Whitefish Divide. It encompasses 220 breathtaking acres of mountain timber and rolling pastures which is nestled in a beautiful valley just west of Glacier National Park and bordered on three sides by the Kootenai National Forest. With miles and miles of scenic trails available for riding throughout the public lands of the National Forest mountain trail riding is Laughing Water Ranch’s main focus. There are nice and easy rides for the novice rider to the low lakes and more challenging rides for the more advanced rider on high country trails. Colourful names such as the “Trail of Tears,” “Laughing Water Overlook,” and the “North Fork of Deep Creek Trail” will become part of your everyday vocabulary when signing up for a ride while staying at the ranch. Since Laughing Water Ranch is the only dude ranch in the area you will enjoy visiting nearby lakes, stopping for lunch by babbling brooks and taking in scenic vistas uninterrupted by other riders.

Laughing Water Ranch

There are other activities to fill your days as well. From fishing, hiking and swimming in the summer months to cross-county skiing, snow-shoeing, ice-fishing and even dog sledding in the winter. During the year the ranch also features specialty weeks that shouldn’t be missed out on. “Cattle Drives”, “Ladies Only”, “Horse Confidence”, “Extreme Trail Rider”, “Wild West Week”, “Hands on Horse Week” and “Kids Hands on Horse Week” will have you coming back again and again. Laughing Water Ranch’s friendly, personable staff will ensure that you and your travelling companions enjoy your guest ranch vacation to the fullest while being treated to delicious western cuisine, comfortable accommodations in either their lodge rooms or cabins and fun filled days exploring Montana’s wilderness.

Happy Trails!

Nestled in a peaceful valley along the banks of the Colorado River you will find the Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch. Opened in 1912 it is considered the oldest continuously operating guest ranch in the state. Though the original log lodge and cabins have been modernized the Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch has tried to retain the look and atmosphere of the “old west” so that you will feel like you are stepping back in time. A vacation at the Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch means all your meals and many of the activities like horseback riding, "Gold Medal" fly-fishing/fishing, kid’s program, hayrides, camp-fires, mountain biking, evening entertainment are included in one weekly rate per person.  The ranch also has lots of great amenities like a hot tub, swimming pool, petting corral, free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities and most importantly a bottomless cookie jar.

Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch

The Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch is proud to maintain their own herd of over 100 horses. It doesn’t matter whether you are new to horseback riding or a very experienced rider or fall somewhere in between the ranch has the ideal horse waiting just for you! Their experienced wranglers will pair you with a horse suited to your level of riding that you get to ride all week. You will also will receive personalized riding instruction and helpful tips throughout the week to help you become a better rider. For those seeking a real thrill the Bar Lazy J Ranch now offers a zip line that is one of Colorado's longest and fastest zip lines and is the only one that crosses the Colorado River. You will be zipping along at speeds in excess of 35 miles per hour that drop 82 feet in elevation and cross 1500 feet.  Now doesn’t that sound exciting? A dude ranch vacation at the Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch truly has something for everyone in your group from fun outdoor activities during the day to cozy camp-fires at night this Colorado guest ranch promises a true “Western Experience”. Happy Trails!

Getting together with girlfriends for an evening out is always fun but wouldn't it be great to go somewhere for a weekend or even a week together to spend time catching up, making new memories and trying something new other than lying on the beach drinking over-priced, calorie-laden  Piña Coladas? A dude ranch vacation may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but listen up ladies you don’t know what you’re missing out on until you try a Women’s Only Cowgirl Getaway.

Why Pick a Women’s Only Cowgirl Getaway for your Next Vacation There are many reasons to choose a vacation tailored just for you and your besties at a dude ranch. It is an ideal opportunity to leave behind demanding schedules and commitments, if only for a little while, and to reconnect with the special women in your life, whether it’s your mother, sister or best friends. A Cowgirl Getaway will provide you with the opportunity to expand your horizons and perhaps take you out of your comfort zone which can be an exciting experience. There are lots of activities to choose from like horseback riding, hiking, kayaking, and of course spa treatments just to name a few. So pack your bags and get ready for a fun-filled dude ranch vacation at one of the following guest ranches that offer Cowgirl Getaways.

Free Rein Guest Ranch:

Located in beautiful British Columbia, Free Rein Guest Ranch is a small, family operated guest ranch that offers an intimate hands-on experience with their well-trained horses and the great outdoors. From September 7^th-14^th the ranch offers a Cowgirls Only Week. “The kids are back in school and the madness of summer days are over, it’s a wonderful time for the girls to simply get together, enjoy the those final warm days of summer with great rides, great conversation and a glass of vino or two as the sun goes down”- Debbie Atha, owner

Free Rein Guest Ranch

A 7 day stay includes:

• Cabin or Lodge Suite Accommodation
• Daily maid service and Egyptian cotton linen and towels
• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with all non-alcoholic beverages
• Unlimited riding from 9:30am to 5pm daily
• A personal horse assigned to each guest and guided riding for duration of stay
• Wildlife viewing and bird watching
• Riding and natural horsemanship instruction
• Mountain biking, Nature hikes, Swimming, Kayaks/canoes/row boat
• Sauna

Chilcotin Holidays

What's included:

•  Accommodation in our cozy ranch house.
• Three, family-style, hearty, healthy home-cooked meals a day.
• Horseback riding, bareback riding, and horseback competitions.
• Selection of our cowboy/wrangler activities and ranch pastimes - ladies only!
• A welcoming glass of sparkling wine (cowgirls 19 and older).
• Complimentary straw cowgirl hat

Grab your mom, your sister, your daughter or your best friend, and come join the Laughing Water Ranch for their Ladies only week from May 17^th-23rd. No cooking no dishes, no responsibility just fun and relaxation.

Montana Guest Ranch

Your week will be filled with unlimited horseback riding, mixed in with riding lessons if you wish and you can practice your horsemanship skills on their unique Trail Challenge Course. Or take an educational hike and learn about the local foliage and fauna. Evenings relax with your friends and other guests while enjoying sing-alongs around the campfire. There will also be wine tastings and a visit to a local brewery.  

Coffee Creek Ranch:

This California guest ranch is offering 50% off for the week on May 8-15th for women only to celebrate Mother's Day.

Coffee Creek Ranch

What’s included:

• $687.50 for an all-inclusive vacation
• 3 meals a day
• Private cabin
• Horseback riding
• 6 nights & 7 days of total relaxation

Red Reflet Ranch:

The month of May (before Memorial Day weekend) this Wyoming guest ranch offers a Women’s Only Cowgirl Getaway with rates starting at $2,220 for a 4 night all-inclusive stay.

Red Reflet Ranch

What’s included:

• Daily horseback & riding lessons from well-known horsewoman Tammy Trollinger
• Hiking to view spring flowers in full regalia
• Spacious chalet with private hot tub
• Gourmet meals with wine pairing provided by Executive Chef Matthew Cariveau
• Private cooking classes

White Stallion Ranch:

Susanne Walsh, White Stallion Ranch’s head of guest relations said this about their Cowgirl Getaways in Tucson, Arizona "The BEST thing about our Cactus Cowgirls is watching women from all over the country become best friends. They return every year, they keep in touch and travel together throughout the year and each year new friends are added. They become a sisterhood after just one week together..."

White Stallion Ranch

Choose from 3 upcoming, different Themed Getaways:

• The Cactus Cowgirls Ride Again- Sunday, January 17 – Sunday, January 24, 2016
• Cactus Cowgirls at Rodeo Time- Tuesday, February 23rd – Sunday, February 28th, 2016
• Cactus Cowgirls-Country & Culture- Sunday, August 31, 2014 – Sunday, September 7, 2014

From Thursday March 3^rd- Sunday March 6^th the Flying E Ranch present their Women’s Only “Cowgirl True” weekend. If you think these two award-winning artists are spectacular as individual performers - wait ‘till you see them in action as a duo!

Flying E Ranch

When singer/songwriter Belinda Gail and cowgirl poet Diane Tribitt hit the stage together as ‘Cowgirl True’ that is exactly what you get - Cowgirl to the core! These award-winning and gifted ladies have combined their talents to bring their love of the West and their rich ranching heritage to life in what feels like a ballet of song and poetry. As they effortlessly weave together music and poetry you will laugh, you will sigh…and maybe even wipe away a tear. But most of all you will walk away having glimpsed the heart and soul of the West.

What’s included:

• Workshops presented by Belinda and Diane
• Enjoy an evening of special entertainment with these special ladies
• Campfire cookout under the Arizona stars
• Special amenities & daily events.
• Sunday morning horseback ride to cowgirl church and breakfast on the desert
• Rates include 4 day/3 night stay with tax and gratuity per person.
• Lodge room: $660.00 per person
• Poolside room: $685.00 per person
• Luxury suite: $710.00 per person