What was intentionally meant to showcase and record the recipes used, prepared, and cherished from many years of working cattle and feeding hungry cowboys, this beautiful book blossomed into a much larger and more comprehensive story and history of the 7Up Ranch located outside Prescott, Arizona. Author Kathy McCraine, the visionary behind the book, and owner of the 7Up, grew up on a ranch in Arizona and has been involved with ranching, writing about it, and photographing it all her life. After graduating from the University of Arizona with a degree in journalism, she wrote for and edited several livestock and horse publications, then founded one of the first advertising agencies in the country to specialize in livestock.
Kathy met her husband, Swayze McCraine, in San Antonio, Texas, where she was editor of the International Brangus Journal, and he was managing a large Brangus operation. After their marriage in 1976, they ranched in Mississippi, Florida, and ultimately Arizona, where they operated several ranches before buying the 7Up Ranch. Kathy also competed in barrel racing and cutting. She was instrumental in putting together the original foundation mares in the Campwood horse program.
Kathy has published several books, and her freelance articles have appeared in such magazines as Western Horseman, Arizona Highways, Range, Cowboys & Indians, and Ranch & Reata. Her photographs have been exhibited in shows at the Phippen Museum of Western Art, Desert Caballeros Museum, and Trappings of the American West.
The timeline of the 7Up Ranch, where Kathy starts this book, is impressive. While the first settlers staked their claim in 1880 as part of the westward expansion effort of the United States of America, history doesn’t really start there. Kathy shares the early history of this location, long before the white homesteaders came west. From there, the history is long and storied with many twists and turns, literally and figuratively. Kathy outlines the ranch’s history in a way that draws the reader into the story and urges them forward. Kathy shares that she felt some sort of magic upon her first visit to the ranch in 1995. As the reader continues, her expert use of imagery, realism, and abundant creativity clearly paints the picture of that magic for her readers.
The history of this ranch could fill a book all on its own, but when she set out on this endeavor, Kathy intended to share the recipes used to feed the cowboy crews through the many years of cattle work. With deep roots planted in Louisiana thanks to Kathy’s husband Swayze, many dishes have a Southern influence, including the first recipe in the book, which outlines how to make a roux. The chapters roll on as Kathy shares appetizers and drinks, including Rocky Mountain Oysters, of course, and main course dishes. Chapter 17, which focuses on beef and pork is obviously our favorite including recipes for roasts, gravy brisket and even a stir-fry! Many recipes come with a story sharing what makes the recipe unique to the 7UP and the people who have populated it over the years. These stories are easily added to the readers’ experiences as they try out each dish at home or on their own ranch.
Kathy writes in a way that brings the reader to that moment, and her photography gives you the actual view. Her talented eye is showcased throughout the book in her many photos of the cattle, horses, landscape, and people who make up the 7UP Ranch. From roping in the branding pen, driving cattle across the countryside, and all the way to the cooks over the fire, the photos help the reader and the curious chef who uses some of the recipes feel like they are there.
A printed history of the 7UP Ranch, working to ensure that the past is preserved and remembered for generations to come, is an essential contribution to Arizona and ranch histories. Still, Kathy took it further and included the food from all those years. Food often brings people together after a hard day’s work and gives time for relaxation, planning for the future, and some good belly laughs while remembering comedic events from the day. It’s a chance to share the heroic, exciting, and scary stories that the whole crew may not have witnessed. It’s a time to connect with our fellow human beings. Kathy’s book is a beautiful combination of history and delicious food, giving her readers a chance to make their own history with the recipes enjoyed by cowboys, and now, one’s family.
To get your own copy of this wonderful book, check out Kathy’s website at https://www.kathymccraine.com/.
Arizona Beef Blog 