Side Dishes

Brown Rice Pilaf

2 Tbsp butter or margarine

1 small onion, minced

1 carrot, minced

8 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

2 c brown rice

1 lemon

6 c chicken or vegetable broth

Heat a 12-inch Dutch oven over 9 hot coals. Melt butter or margarine and add onion, carrot, and garlic; cook for 5 minutes. Stir in rice and cook 5 more minutes. Add juice of 1 lemon and broth. Cover the Dutch oven lid and place 15 hot coals on top. Cook, covered, 50-60 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed. Serves 6 to 8.

Dian Thomas, from Recipes for Roughing It Easy

Tourist camp near south entrance to Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1924. (Photo by Baker)

Fact

In August of 1952, the Old Timers of Ogden had a picnic at the Magpie picnic area about 20 miles up Ogden River. After returning from the picnic, George A. Fisher wrote about the picnic for the local newspapers. Fisher was a Uinta National Forest Ranger for 10 years. He ended his article with the following poem:

I want to go back to that Ranger shack,

To that cabin in the pines;

I want to hear as night draws near

The forest music chimes.

I want to feel that years can’t steal

The peace in the pines I knew;

I want to hear with the old time cheer;

“Get off, we’re about to chew.”

I want to talk and I want to chalk

The dreams we had as we rode

Of paving the way for a better day

To a crowd coming down the road.

Let me go back to that Ranger shack,

To that cabin in the pines;

Please let me talk — maybe help me walk

Tow’rd that camp fire and old times.

Campers at South Bay Camp on Elk Lake, South Sister in background, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon, 1921.

Spanish Rice

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 green pepper, diced

6 cloves garlic, minced

1 (15-oz) can crushed tomatoes

2 c rice, uncooked

1 tsp salt

2-1/2 c water

1/8 tsp saffron powder (optional)

Heat a 12-inch Dutch oven over 12 to 15 hot coals. Heat oil and add green pepper and garlic; cook until soft and add tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add rice, salt, water, and saffron, blending well. Cook, covered, 15-25 minutes, or until rice has absorbed liquid. Serves 4 to 6.

Dian Thomas, from Recipes for Roughing It Easy

Double oven, circa 1950.

Noodles

1 egg

1/2 eggshell water

1/2 tsp salt

Flour enough to stiffen

Roll thin, let dry, turning 3 or 4 times Cut in strips

Boil chicken until meat comes off bone. Onion in broth.

Bob Williams Recipe as dictated by Mary Youngblood, wife of Ranger Frank Youngblood, Council Ranger District, Payette National Forest, Idaho, 1957.