A Biscuit Built to Last ~ D. K. Deters

While working on my latest novel, I added some dialogue between characters about hardtack. The story takes place in 1881, and it got me to thinking about this simple creation.

Hardtack, also known as pilot bread, sea biscuit, ship biscuit, or molar breakers, is a dense biscuit made from flour, water, and sometimes salt. Hardtack was baked and then thoroughly dried to remove moisture.

Since hardtack is made without fat, yeast, or dairy, it can last for years, even decades, if kept completely dry. It doesn’t spoil easily, but it was notorious for becoming infested with weevils when stored in damp conditions.

Stereograph shows a captain sitting on a 50lb crate of hardtack during the Civil War.

From the Library of Congress.

Hardtack was a staple for the military during the Civil War. Throughout the 19^th century, it also served as a practical food source for long-distance travelers, cowboys, and line riders.

On the trail, cowboys might smash these sheet-iron crackers with the butt of a pistol or the heel of his boot before eating them. Some preferred to drop a square into a tin cup of hot Arbuckles’ coffee and let it soak until spongy.

When the chuckwagon cook fried up salt pork or bacon, hardtack could be dropped into the grease. The pieces would absorb the fat, softening the hardtack and crisping the edges. Another method was to smother the pieces with flour gravy. Any leftover hardtack could be wrapped in a cloth, crushed with a stone, and tossed into a pot of wild game or pinto beans to help thicken the mixture.

My conclusion? Hardtack may have kept a cowboy’s stomach from growling, but I doubt anyone ever asked for a second helping because of its delicious flavor!

The soldier’s rations of hardtack. From the Library of Congress.

MODERN HARDTACK RECIPE

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour

1½ cups water (approximately)

1 teaspoon salt (optional)

Directions

1.      Preheat the oven to 375°F.

2.      Place the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Gradually add the water, stirring until a stiff dough forms.

3.      Knead the dough until smooth. It should be firm and dry, not sticky.

4.      Roll the dough out to about ½ inch thick or thinner if desired.

5.      Cut into squares approximately 3 inches across.

6.      Use a fork or wooden skewer to prick several holes through each square. These holes help the biscuits bake evenly.

7.      Place on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes.

8.      Turn the biscuits over and bake for another 30 minutes.

9.      For traditional, long-lasting hardtack, reduce the oven temperature to 200°F and continue drying for another 1–2 hours, until the biscuits are thoroughly hardened.

10.  Make sure the biscuits are completely cool and dry before putting them in an airtight container.

Sources:

Chisholm Trail Museum – Hardtack: A Cowboy's Snack

Texas Historical Commission – Hardtack, the Original MRE

The Takeout – The Rock-Hard Food Cowboys Smashed Apart With Guns Before Eating (Yum)

Behind the Rescue: Giving Horses a Second Chance ~ Brandi Creek

Hi everyone! Brandi Creek here.

If you've read my books, you know horses have always been a big part of the stories I write. But there's another side of the horse world that has always held a special place in my heart.

Horse rescue.

I've always cared deeply about horses that have been neglected, abused, or found themselves in circumstances they never deserved. I've followed stories about horse rescues, rehabilitation efforts, and even the wild Mustangs that roam our public lands. There's something about those stories that stays with me, and I've always admired the people who dedicate their lives to helping these animals.

So when I started thinking about my next series, I decided it was time to explore something a little different.
A Different Kind of Ranch

Welcome to Last Light Ranch & Rescue, located in the fictional town of Copper Hollow, Colorado.

Unlike the traditional ranches in many of my books, Last Light has a different purpose. It's a place where horses arrive carrying all kinds of histories, and where the people who care for them are determined to give them a better future.

Not every rescue story is the same. Some horses arrive underweight and suffering from neglect. Others have physical injuries that require extensive veterinary care and rehabilitation. Some have experienced abuse, leaving them fearful of the very people they're supposed to trust. And then there are horses that simply haven't been given the opportunity to thrive.

I wanted to explore those different circumstances because I think it's important to understand that horse rescue involves so much more than bringing an animal to safety. It takes dedicated people, knowledgeable care, resources, and an enormous amount of commitment.
The Stories Behind the Horses

One of the things I'm particularly excited about with this series is introducing readers to different kinds of rescue situations.

Each horse has an individual story, and the challenges aren't always the same. Some require extensive physical rehabilitation, while others need help overcoming fear and learning to trust again.

One of the horses at Last Light is a wild Mustang who came to the ranch after being gathered under the BLM's Three Strikes Rule. His story brings another side of horse rescue into the series, one that has always interested me because I've followed the challenges facing America's wild Mustangs for years.

I also want to show the people behind the rescues. The ones who put in the long hours, celebrate the smallest improvements, and refuse to give up on an animal simply because its recovery is taking longer than expected.

These are the stories that inspired me to create Last Light Ranch & Rescue.
A New Adventure in Copper Hollow

Of course, I wouldn't be writing a Brandi Creek romance without a few cowboys!

Last Light Ranch has three men who inherit the property and discover they're taking on something much bigger than they initially imagined. As they navigate their new responsibilities, they'll encounter plenty of challenges, unexpected friendships, and, naturally, a little romance.

The series still has everything I love writing: strong women, protective men, family, friendship, ranch life, and emotional love stories. But it also gives me an opportunity to explore a subject I've cared about for a long time.

I'm excited to introduce readers to a different kind of ranch, a whole new cast of characters, and some very special horses.

Love at Last Light, the first book in my new Last Light Ranch & Rescue series, releases December 18, 2026.

I hope you'll join me in Copper Hollow, Colorado, and fall in love with this new ranch family.

I'd love to hear from you! Have you ever followed the story of a rescued horse or had the opportunity to see an animal overcome a difficult past? I'd love to hear about it.

Happy reading,

Brandi Creek

hello@brandicreekauthor.com

Check out my Amazon Page

 

Thankful for Cowboys: 10 Things That Make a Western Romance Hero Worth Falling For

November is the month for counting blessings like family, friends, good books.

Readers who take a chance on my books. 

Cats who allow me to use a small portion of my own desk.

And, of course, fictional cowboys.

Here are ten things that make a western romance hero worth falling for.

1. A grumpy cowboy makes us want to discover his weakness.

Luke Wolfe isn’t the sort of man you’d hire to lead the town’s welcoming committee. Which makes pairing him with Goldi so much fun. He can insist he prefers peace and quiet. But in Goldi’s Grumpy Cowboy, he falls hard.

2. A little rivalry makes the romance sweeter.

When two stubborn people clash, even an innocent conversation can turn competitive. Someone has to get the last word. Someone has to prove a point. In Red’s Enemy Cowboy, enemies-to-lovers romance gives us the pleasure of watching certainty unravel, one inconvenient spark at a time.

3. He remembers the little things.

How she takes her coffee. Which pie she orders. The dream she mentioned once and tried to laugh off. Meanwhile, she’s reconsidering her entire position on falling in love

4. He falls for a woman with plans of her own.

I love writing heroines who bring their own ambitions, opinions, and complications into a romance. Their heroes have to learn who these women are and what matters to them. Winning her heart requires paying attention to the life she wants.

5. Forced proximity exposes all sorts of inconvenient truths.

Put two people on the same committee, and eventually they have to speak. Strand them in a cabin during a storm, and avoiding each other becomes a much bigger project. It’s difficult to maintain a satisfying grudge when the person responsible keeps giving you reasons to reconsider.

6. His softer side catches us off guard. And throw in he can laugh at himself, and he’s hard to resist.

Confidence looks good on a cowboy. So does a little humility. Give me the cowboy who handles a frightened animal with patience. One who can laugh at himself when he’s done something silly like burns dinner. If he washes the dishes afterward, somebody should marry that man.

7. He makes ordinary moments romantic.

A hand offered across an icy patch. His coat around her shoulders before she admits she’s cold. Flowers are lovely, but a cowboy who notices she’s shivering before she does? He’s making a strong case for himself.

8. He has something to lose.

The best romantic tension comes when love matters enough to frighten both people. Pride gets in the way. Old hurts interfere. A misunderstanding lands exactly where it can do the most damage. I want readers to understand why a cowboy might struggle to say what’s in his heart. Then I want to see him take the risk.

9. He chooses her and keeps choosing her.

Through family complications, stubborn disagreements, and days when neither of them says the right thing, by the time I reach the last page, I want to believe these two will still be stealing kisses in the kitchen years from now.

10. He gives us a happily ever after we believe in.

By the end, I want to imagine these two sharing ordinary days. Teasing each other. Disagreeing about something ridiculous and finding their way back to laughter. Can the cowboy still be stubborn and capable of driving her crazy? Almost certainly. But at the end, we know why the cowboy and his heroine belong together.

What makes a cowboy hero irresistible to you? A grumpy attitude, a generous heart, a sense of humor, or something else? Tell me in the comments.

Niki J. Mitchell
Romancing the West!

 

The Dishwasher ~ Julie Lence

Last year, during Thanksgiving week, hubbs and I were watching television when an ad came on for Cascade dishwasher soap. The ad claimed Cascade dishwasher soap dated back over 50 years, which prompted me to ask hubbs how long the dishwasher had been around. (Mom didn’t have one in the 70’s & I really don’t remember if any of my friends’ moms had one.) Hubbs guessed the dishwasher came on scene in the 50’s, maybe a bit earlier. A quick inquiry on Google left me stunned.

The 1^st dishwasher was built in 1850 by Joel Hoghton. Constructed of wood, Hoghton’s dishwasher had a crank on one side of the barrel, that, when turned, would spray water across the dishes. Though having to turn a crank wasn’t the best way to wash dishes, Houghton was awarded a patent for his invention. L.A. Alexander crafted his own dishwasher in 1860. Based off of Hoghton’s model, Alexander’s dishwasher rotated dishes through a tub of water using a gear mechanism. Like Hoghton, this dishwasher was also not successful.    

 

Josephine's model

In 1889, another hand-operated model was introduced. Invented by Josephine Cochrane and George Butters, this dishwasher was named Lavaplatos and appeared in the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. Married to wealthy business man, William Cochran, and living in Illinois, Josephine shared her ideas regarding a dishwasher with her friend George, who was a mechanic. Working together, the duo crafted a model in Josephine’s shed in 1886, with George going on to become one of Josephine’s employees. He formed Garis-Cochrane dishwashing manufacturing company, received a patent for their dishwasher in December 1886, and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006.  

 

1959 Hobart Kd12 KitchenAid

Josephine’s and George’s model required the use of a crank outside the washer. Dishes and silverware were held in place by use of wire compartments that were placed on a wheel that was then placed inside the unit. Pressurized hot water from a spray arm inside the unit washed the dishes; the water boiled from a copper kettle also inside the unit. The dishwasher’s handle was used to disperse hot soapy water onto the dishes, while another mechanism sprayed hot water to rinse them. At this time, only hotels, restaurants, and the wealthy had use for a dishwasher. 

George’s company was eventually incorporated into Hobart Manufacturing under the KitchenAid brand. In 1949, KitchenAid crafted a dishwasher based off of Josephine and George’s model, and the 1950’s ushered in the use of dishwashers in the average person’s home. Today, most homes have a dishwasher, and KitchenAid is now part of Whirlpool Corporation.          

13th annual Read A Book, Help A Cowboy

 

The 13th annual Read a Book, Help a Cowboy campaign is in full swing!

From October 1 through December 24, ten percent of the net proceeds from all of my book sales are donated to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.

The JCCF is a non-profit organization that assists rodeo athletes who’ve sustained catastrophic injuries and are unable to work for an extended period. Every book purchased during this promotional period adds to the donation total. Don’t forget to include books on your Christmas lists!

Back in 2013, I was researching details for The Christmas Cowboy, the first book in the Rodeo Romance series. I wanted to know how much medical care an injured cowboy would receive at a rodeo versus going to the hospital.

In the story, the hero is a saddle bronc rider named Tate who sustains an injury at a rodeo. In an attempt to get my facts straight for the story, I reached out to the Justin Sportsmedicine Team®. Through mobile medical centers, they provide care at more than 125 PRCA rodeos annually. Their responses to my questions were extremely helpful and I was so impressed with them, I wanted to do a little something in return.

So I launched a campaign to donate a portion of my book sales to the JCCF during the month of December.

In 2015, I added the month of November to my promotion, giving two months to raise funds for JCCF. Then I extended the promotion period for my Read a Book, Help a Cowboy campaign to October 1!

If you enjoy rodeos and the cowboys who make them possible (or reading about them in books), I hope you’ll take a look at the JCCF. It’s a great organization that really does make a difference when these cowboys are injured.

And I hope you’ll take a look at my books, too!

Be sure to get your copy of A Cowboy Christmas that includes interviews with rodeo cowboys who’ve received a hand up from the JCCF.

Remember, from October 1 through December 24, every book purchased helps benefit the JCCF, and that includes eBooks, paperbacks, hardbacks, audio books, and Kindle Unlimited pages read! 

With more than 140 books to choose from there’s sure to be a book for everyone, including those on your holiday shopping list!

Happy reading!

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield grew up on a farm where her childhood brimmed with sunshine, hay fever, and an ongoing supply of learning experiences.

Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

When this award-winning author isn’t writing or testing out new recipes (she loves to bake!), Shanna hangs out at home in the Pacific Northwest with her beloved husband, better known as Captain Cavedweller.

Arizona State University

By Kristy McCaffrey

In 1886, the Arizona Territory offered a less-than-ideal educational environment. The Pleasant Valley War between competing cattle rustling gangs was in full swing and wouldn’t end until six years later in a fatal gunfight in the town of Tempe. Despite this, however, Tempe—with the burgeoning towns of Phoenix and Mesa nearby—would become home to the Arizona Territorial Normal School.

The school was opened on February 8, 1886, on a 20-acre cow pasture that belonged to George and Martha Wilson. The institution began with a four-classroom building, a well, and an outhouse to instruct the first 33 students. These young men and women arrived on horseback—some having ridden for miles from Mesa or tiny farming communities even farther away—and, in addition to their studies, would need to rent a room with a local family during their enrollment.

Teddy Roosevelt at Old Main on March 20, 1911.

The Normal School was charged to provide “instruction of persons, both male and female, in the art of teaching, and in all the various branches that pertain to a good common school education; also, to give instruction in the mechanical arts and in husbandry and agricultural chemistry, in the fundamental law of the United States, and in what regards the rights and duties of citizens.”

Charles T. Hayden

The idea for a school of higher education was spearheaded by two men, Charles T. Hayden and John S. Armstrong. Arizona Territory was struggling to achieve statehood and the national press loved to print stories of the lawlessness present. It was Hayden who sought to civilize the place with education and culture.

Today, Arizona State University is a sprawling multi-campus school with over 200,000 students and covers more than 1,500 acres in metro Phoenix.

Kristy McCaffrey is an alumna of Arizona State, along with her mother, father, husband, son and daughter-in-law. As a newly married couple, Kristy and her husband named their dog Sparky after the ASU mascot.

Connect with Kristy

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Colorado's 12,000 year old Lindenmeier Site

          

 One of the most important archaeological sites in North America is right in our backyard! The Lindenmeier Site is located near Fort Collins, Colorado within the Soapstone Prairie Natural Area.

   The archeological site dates back 12,000 years to the Ice Age and was discovered with the help of a cowboy named George McJunkin.

       Although the Clovis people lived here previously, the Folsom culture is the most prominent at the site with findings of sewing needles, hide-scrapers, beads, and stone tools making the Lindenmeier site the most extensive Folsom culture site found to this day.

  

What were they thinking about as they sat around the first fire pit? Where they bragging about today's hunt, or wondering what the weather would be tomorrow. 

    The Folsom people were highly mobile hunter-gatherers who followed seasonal migration patterns across the Great Plains and American Southwest. They were given their name when archaeologists discovered their distinctive projectile points near Folsom, New Mexico, in the late 1920s.

 The Folsom Point is thin, finely crafted stone projectile has a distinct channel (flute) chipped out of the sides to help attach them to spears and atlatl darts.

                       

The atlatl is the weapon that filled the evolutionary gap between the spear and the bow and arrow. 

                                    My atlatl, thank you Tim H.
                                

    Discovered originally in 1908 by a former enslaved cowboy named George McJunkin, George tried numerous times to interest archaeologists, but with little success. 

     In 1918 he sent sample bones and a lance point to the Denver Museum of Natural History, who sent paleontologist Harold Cook during the following spring, and he and McJunkin did some exploratory digging. But a thorough excavation did not occur until 1926, sadly after McJunkin's death. The site would become known as the Lindenmeier site, named after William Lindenmeier, the landowner at the time.

                                   

    Finding the Folsom site, forever changed American archaeology by linking human tools directly to Ice Age megafauna.

     The City of Fort Collins owns the site today. The property is open for visits from March 1 until November 30 each year.

                           

    The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a National Historic Landmark. Artifacts from the site can be found at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and in private collections. 

Directions

Soapstone Prairie is 25 miles north of Fort Collins, allow about an hour travel time. From Fort Collins, take Hwy 1/ Terry Lake Road to County Road 15 north (towards Waverly). From CR 15, turn north onto Rawhide Flats Road and continue north to the entrance station.

From I-25, take exit 288 (Buckeye Road) west to County Road 15. Go north on CR 15 and turn north onto Rawhide Flats Road. Follow Rawhide Flats Rd to the entrance station. Soapstone Prairie is not accessible via I-25 exit 293 (CR 126/CR 5).

My Stories: 

Western Romance: Break Heart Canyon * Undercover Outlaw * Cowboys, Cattle and Cutthroats * A Cowboy’s Fate*Special Delivery. 

Contemporary Romantic Thriller: Fatal Recall

Medieval Romance: The Dragon and The Rose * Iron Heart        *Promise Me Christmas. 

Victorian Romance: Lady Gallant * Victorian Dream 

Romantasy: The Fae Warriors Trilogy: Solace * Bliss * Portence 

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