Wow! Did this week in Montana manage to challenge my preconceived notions about Montana living and dining.
I expected to find fresh produce and an interest in living off the land – and the fresh fish, game (yes, I tasted bison and antelope), fresh laid eggs, garden fresh radishes hit the spot!
What I didn’t expect was that my fishing guide would bring all the fixins for an organic salad, only use pottery and stainless steel for serving (no plastic bottles or utensils here!), and his wife had made freshly baked wheat-free organic agave nectar brownies for a delicious treat.
I didn’t expect that when invited to a local’s home for a wine and cheese get together that we’d be snacking on homemade sushi, garden fresh berries, wild salmon and fresh from the farm cheese.
I didn’t expect to see the packed farmers markets in small towns like Big Timber and Livingston, where neighbors shared the best of what their farms have to offer.
And perhaps the most fun, was seeing how it could all tie together whether for a picnic, a dinner party, a cozy family get together or a night in – I learned so much about what Montana has to offer and its history by reading and preparing a few of the recipes from Meredith Brokaw’s delightful “Big Sky Cooking” cookbook. Check it out even if you can’t get to Montana anytime soon – and you will learn how some of our nation’s best culinary secrets lie in the tastes of the Wild Wild West.
