High Tower Ranch - Part 3 (Chick's Bar and Diner)

 After a tour of a huge neighbouring ranch (and by neighbouring I mean maybe a dozen or so miles away!) which was very cool, a large group of us all went to, literally, the only restaurant in town, Chick's Bar and Diner. There's a little saying from this area and it goes like, "People say we're old fashioned - we hope so!" Chick's certainly does it's bit to keep that theme. In the restaurant were saddles on the booth separators, horned animal skull trophies on the walls along with lassos and old Indian tools and weapons so it has a real atmosphere to the place.
 After perusing the menu, and recalling how much I enjoyed the onion rings from 4B's Diner (see previous post "4-B's Diner" Lord of the Onion Rings"), I ordered a half-pounder burger with bacon and cheese and onion rings. Ah, that hit the spot. I love the little baskets that the food came in too, I've always wanted to eat out somewhere like this. Many thanks to the waitresses for their cheery and speedy service.

Not quite what an English chap such as myself might first
picture when "fish 'n' chips" is on the menu

 That night, a storm set in with fierce winds bringing snow from the north where a cell was devastating communities with huge power outages. I had worn only a shirt all day as it had been very warm but the next morning (after a breakfast of homemade Eggs Benedict) when, very sadly, it was again time to move on, a few extra layers had to be added! The entire look of the valley had changed. Powdery snow had fallen, dusting the hill tops and fields like icing-sugar to then be whipped by the furious winds which were making just standing up difficult.
 Well, after sad goodbyes to my wonderful hosts at the High Tower Ranch B+B, yet another little chapter of this adventure had come to a close and I was on the road again. I shall certainly be taking fond memories with me from my stay in the Ruby Valley. It has been a very, very, very, awesome, awesome, awesome, experience!

Seasoned with Epizeuxisness,

Jacob

My tantalizing-super-delicious-mouth-watering bacon cheese burger!

Manly moment #3?

He, he! Just joking.

The waitresses from Chick's Bar and Diner

Carol's trusty, old stove really came
into it's own when the temperature dropped.

It seems totally bonkers that I've got all these layers on
compared to yesterday's blazing sunshine!

Oh, I neglected to mention these. Carols home-made
cinnamon rolls topped with a caramel glaze

"To glorify my Savior, Jesus Christ, the Creator 

of the universe and spread further abroad His glorious gospel." - Yours Truly

High Tower Ranch - Part 2

I found a cowboy hat. This has got to be
one of the coolest ever silhouette shapes!

 After breakfast was awaiting another treat: the chance to ride one my hosts' horses. There is a tab on some posts "Besides Cooking..." which means that I've mentioned other things in that post that I enjoy greatly, sometimes as much as I do cooking. Horses and riding is definitely included in that. It's amazingly good fun, there are many object lessons you can learn and...well, it's a rather manly activity all round!

Chocolate cake. What more needs be
said?

 That afternoon there were two local Autumn festivals. For the second one, Oktoberfest, there was an auction for home-made cakes so Carol set about putting her abundant knowledge to work by making a huge chocolate cake. (She has this amazing "baker's toolbox".) 

If you're going to bake, why not do it
properly?

 At the first event there was loads of seasonal-type food that people had brought like, autumn themed cupcakes, toffee apples and spiced, hot cider. Steve plays in a real "cowboy band" who were playing music at the first event. However, it somehow got around that I am a musician too and, if you're a musician, you will know what that can lead too... I've never played an acoustic bass before or a fretless bass and I ended up playing an acoustic, fretless bass! It was great fun and everyone loved it.

 However, because of this, my band and I were then asked to do the music at the larger, second event in town where Steve and his band were going to play. Carol entered her cake (I didn't get to take a photo of the finished relsult) and there was a BBQ too! What a great day! I was just blown away with how incredibly kind and hospitable all these people were.

More to come!

Performing at the Oktoberfest

Meet 'Shorty', my noble steed.

Manly moment #2!

"I'm not one of those posing pretty boys..."
Those are lyrics in an actual country song!

Being taught by a master horseman. Steve has been riding since he could sit up!

"To glorify my Savior, Jesus Christ, the Creator 

of the universe and spread further abroad His glorious gospel." - Yours Truly

High Tower Ranch - Part 1

Welcome to the Ruby Valley!

 Having departed from Deer Lodge the following morning, (a bald eagle flew right over head as I hit the road) it was time to drive south again to the Ruby Valley. Man, is this place beautiful. Mountains all around, green pastureland and herds and herds of black cattle. This is unquestionably real cowboy country and so that means cowboy food. Good, honest, country home-cooking.

...unfortunately Frank couldn't come.

Say "Hi," to Patty...

 I had the pleasure of staying at High Tower Ranch (a real ranch!), hosted by the amazingly kind and hospitable Steve and Carol who also run a B&B (which gets 5+ stars!). Carol's kitchen, I could tell from just walking in, was the HQ for some prodigious cooking. She has a professional background in catering and even ran a confectionery bakery at one point so, to say the least, filled with wisdom regarding food! Just look at her herb draw...

Prepping the potato salad

Now, that's a cool draw!

 I was greeted with homemade cookies while venison burgers were made and grilled up. These burgers were just gorgeous! I personally love a good burger because of the amazing cacophony of flavours that they can posses, especially ones that you've made from scratch. I had the privilege of making the potato salad. Personally, I've never been a great fan of it but this was absolutely delicious. Seeing, step by step, what goes into a dish often helps. In fact, this often will make you appreciate most things. 

Home-made, blueberry muffins

Bacon and fresh fruit

Considering this is what I had for
breakfast the previous morning...

 The next morning I woke up to a harmony of smells that all men know and love. Breakfast. But not just any breakfast. Carol had baked muffins, fried eggs, brewed coffee, prepared fresh fruit, and griddled bacon and fresh pancakes. I know you can smell this as you're reading! Guys, no question, this was absolutely, hands down, without a doubt, the best ever breakfast of the trip and, from just stepping into the kitchen that morning, immediately entered the top five breakfasts of my life! I am living proof that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. 

My abundant thanks, Carol, this
meal is a precious memory

 However, allow me to share one piece of wisdom that I have learned on my journey with food so far. The single most important reason as to why this breakfast will forever stick in my mind was the love and kindness with which it was prepared. I cannot emphasise this enough: love, guys, is the seasoning that always comes through the strongest in any dish so use it and don't be sparing! It's free!

Stay tuned for Part 2...

Steve, playing host and doing a spectacular job. If ever you have the chance to meet Steve, ask him to do his Daffy Duck impersonation. It's priceless!

I know, I know. They're very green but I'm yet to appreciate pickles...

Manly moment #1 (See next post for #2)

  

"To glorify my Savior, Jesus Christ, the Creator 

of the universe and spread further abroad His glorious gospel." - Yours Truly

"4-B's Diner" Lord of the Onion Rings

Now that's an onion ring!

Antique cover to the original menu

 Having left the camp near Glacier National Park, (See previous post "Watermelon Carving and Cookies on my Face" and any other posts with the tab "Glacier") I arrived at a little town called Deer Lodge. Deer Lodge is one of the last places in which a "4-B's" restaurant can be found. Started in 1947 by Bill Hainline, "4-B's" got it's name from his family which comprised of his wife, Barbara, son Bill Jr. and daughter Barbara. Thus we got four 'b's!
 "4-B's" offers fantastic service from its staff plus has some great food on its menu. The 'hero burger', chicken alfredo with salad and the monstrous beef taco. The dish that receives the most attention, however, is the tomato soup for which I managed to acquire a recipe from the web so see below. (It is yet untested in my kitchen but if you happen to sometime give it a go then do let me know how it turns out!)

The monster taco!

 I selected from the menu the Montana ranch hamburger steak with gravy, grilled onions, mash potato, onion rings and garlic toast and boy was I happy to see that turn up in front of me! Man, I love onion rings... But, what really topped off the meal was being allowed to personally thank plus get a photo in the kitchen with the woman behind all the cooking.

Seasoned with Glee,

Jacob

Montana ranch steak

"4-B's Old fashioned Tomato Soup"

 Serves: 2

 Time: Just over an hour

 In a saucepan, combine a tin of chopped tomatoes, 310 ml of chicken stock, two tablespoons each of butter and sugar, half a small onion and one quarter of a teaspoon of baking powder. Bring this to the boil and let it simmer for one hour. In another saucepan, heat up 470 ml of double/single cream and then stir this into the soup and serve!

"To glorify my Savior, Jesus Christ, the Creator 

of the universe and spread further abroad His glorious gospel." - Yours Truly