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Home on the range with Tom Brokaw’s wife

Meredith Brokaw and her friend share recipes from the American West in their new cookbook, ‘Big Sky Cooking.’ Cook up these dishes at home

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updated 12:20 p.m. ET June 5, 2006

Former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw and his wife, Meredith, are originally from South Dakota. After spending many years in New York, they returned to the West. This time they bought a ranch in the Big Sky state of Montana. Meredith and her friend Ellen Wright turned their love for the region, its food, and its lifestyle into the “Big Sky Cookbook.” The women were invited on “Today” to demonstrate how to prepare some of their hearty frontier recipes, including the Perfect Bison Burger and Stetson Salad. Try these recipes and Tom's Sunset Margaritas at home:

Perfect Bison Burgers
Meredith Brokaw and Ellen Wright's "Big Sky Cooking"

Serves 6

There are two tricks to making a good burger: don’t overhandle the meat, and don’t overcook it, especially if it’s bison. Bison meat is very lean — almost no fat — so it tends to overcook easily. It’s better for our health because of the lack of animal fat, but it requires understanding.

The fixings can also make or break a good hamburger. The buns need to be buttered lightly and toasted or grilled. Crispy lettuce, slices of ripe tomato, and slices of red or sweet onion are all the necessary partners for the burger’s perfection. Our McLeod Hot Mustard is a good addition, and ketchup is a must.

INGREDIENTS

3 pounds ground bison or beef
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
6 hamburger buns (sesame seed, poppy seed, onion, or plain)
6 iceberg lettuce leaves, washed and dried
6 slices ripe tomato
6 slices onion (red, Vidalia, or Walla Walla)
Ketchup
McLeod Hot Mustard (recipe follows)
Mayonnaise (optional)

Recipe continues below ↓
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DIRECTIONS

Prepare a hot grill.

Form the meat into 6 patties, being careful not to overhandle. Place the patties on the grill rack, 3 to 4 inches over direct heat, and grill, turning once, about 2 minutes per side for medium-rare.

Spread each bun half with 1 teaspoon butter. Place the buns, buttered sides down, on the grill rack and toast briefly.

Assemble the burgers with the toasted buns, patties, lettuce, tomato slices, onion slices, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise (if desired).

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


McLeod Hot Mustard
Meredith Brokaw and Ellen Wright's "Big Sky Cooking"

Makes 3 cups

Hands down, this is the best homemade mustard in the world. It keeps for several months in the fridge and is excellent with steaks and chops, chicken and roasts, sandwiches and hot dogs. I’m never without it.

INGREDIENTS

1 (4-ounce) container dry mustard (Colman’s is a good choice)
1 cup cider vinegar
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs

DIRECTIONS

In a large heavy-bottomed casserole over medium heat, combine the mustard and vinegar until blended. Add the sugar and eggs and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the mustard thickens to the consistency of ketchup, about 7 minutes. Cool; store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES



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