During our time in Montana, not only did we go to some delicious restaurants, but we also took advantage of the rare treat of having access to kitchens while traveling.  Between our own camping, staying with friends in Bozeman, as well as in Big Sky, we had plenty of opportunities to cook, which is a huge relief for those of us with dietary restrictions.

Don’t get me wrong, I love dining out, but sometimes I get tired of the stress and planning that often goes hand in hand with the combination of celiac disease and restaurants.  It’s so nice, when vacationing, to have the option of cooking.  In Montana, we had that option and used it!

Some my favorite meals on our trip were ones that were created in a kitchen, with friends, or in a cabin in the middle of nowhere.  Here are some highlights of our culinary adventures:

We spent a lot of time with our friends, Jason and Sarah, in Bozeman and basically squatted in their house for a week.  A true Montana-man, Jason hunts elk, antelope and other large mammals that I would run away from if I came across their path.  Well, Jason kills them.  We were the beneficiaries of Jason and Sarah’s hard work in the wilderness, and enjoyed homemade elk and antelope burgers one night.  Delicious!  We also roasted up some squash and made a salad, to make a perfect weeknight dinner.

When we weren’t mooching off Sarah and Jason, we stayed in Forest Service Cabins.  These cabins were the perfect idea of camping for me.  A large wood stove for cooking, an outhouse (with hand sanitizer and toilet paper!) and an enclosed space.  Of course this didn’t stop me from being convinced in the middle of the night that a serial killer, and/or bear, was coming to get me.

With the wood stoves, you could have quite the romantic meal in these cabins.  (Until you spill the entire bottle of red wine on the floor…broken glass and mopping sort of ruins the ambiance.)  David’s pyro skills were put to the test, getting the wood stove started but we made some delicious meals.  Steak in the skillet, roasted onions, potatoes and green beans.

I purchased all of the produce at the Bozeman farmer’s market the night before.  Yum!

We enjoyed steak, eggs and potatoes the next morning, for breakfast.  The perfect solution for leftovers.

At the end of our trip, we left Bozeman and cabins behind, and headed to Big Sky, a ski area in Montana.  We stayed with a large group and enjoyed relaxing and eating delicious food.  I was particularly nervous about this time and my dietary needs because of the size of the group and not knowing everyone, but our hosts had carefully planned all of the meals to be gluten-free.  Our friends, Stewart and Crawford, made sure that I was well taken care of.

We enjoyed lots of grilling, roasted potatoes, salads, and other yummy, naturally gluten-free dinners.  I had one of the most amazing risotto dishes ever, while in Big Sky, courtesy of our new friend, Parker.  Fancy mushrooms, shallots, and red wine.  I ate the leftovers for the next few days!

One night, David cooked one of his specialties, salmon on the grill, and it was just like being at home, except at a higher altitude.  Side note: roasted potatoes and risotto take much longer to prepare when in Montana.  Allow extra cooking time.

As you can see, I did not go hungry while out west.  We truly enjoyed the perfect combination of dining out and eating in.  If only all vacations could be this simple…

As I write this post, I’m uploading approximately 800 photos from our month away.  Don’t worry, I won’t put you through the pain of looking at all of those photos, (only my mom gets the unabridged version) but I just can’t resist giving you some highlights.  It makes me nostalgic for the west as I watch photo upon photo on the screen.  I still can’t believe we had the opportunity to go away for over three weeks, but the pictures are a great reminder that yes, it really did happen.

If you’ve never been out west, you must.  I know this is unsolicited advice, but Wyoming and Montana were two of the most amazing places I’ve ever been.  (I find that every time I describe these two states, I come back to the adjective, “amazing.”  I need to come up with a better descriptor, but that’s all I’ve got for now.)

Why do I want to pack my bags and move out west?  Well, I’m glad you asked…

Meeting your gluten-free needs, and beyond: Jackson Hole, Wyoming was one of the most gluten-friendly places I’ve ever been.  Every restaurant accommodated my dietary needs, and most already had something on their menu distinguishing the dishes that could be made GF.  Wow!  Eating out in Jackson was genuinely a treat, each time.  Muffins, brownies, fresh baked bread…oh, and it was all delicious too.

Sweet quinoa, coffee and a good book: What more could one want for breakfast?

Gluten-free samosa? Yes, please.

National Parks: Yes, I know this one seems obvious, but no matter how many times I hiked (and David can attest, we hiked a lot), I was still in awe of the scenery, the landscapes, the terrain, the views.  So much beautiful land to take in.  We were in Wyoming and Montana almost three weeks, and I still don’t feel like I saw it all.

Northwest Entrance to Yellowstone

Jenny Lake: Tetons

Boiling River in Yellowstone: Yes, we got in the water and enjoyed an early morning dip.

Summits & Altitude: While my lungs were a little confused (and angry) at first, my eyes and legs could not get enough of the many uphill hikes.  Pushing yourself to the top of a peak is so rewarding (even if you almost get hit by lightening as a result).  Who knew a view could be worth hours of sweat and climbing.  Of course, once you reach the top, then “it’s all down hill” and the hard work is done.  Snow makes the descent a little tricky.

Sacagewea Peak in the Bridger Mtns

Big Game: Since David did the bulk of the driving, he put me in charge of “finding big game.”  I’ve got to admit, I was terrible at finding animals lurking in the woods, but when the buffalo are right next to your rental car, it’s hard to miss them.  Fortunately, there were no bear sightings for this girl out west.  We did see a Mama moose and her baby, which was a little frightening.

Another buffalo, crossing the road

Water: I don’t typically think of water when I envision the west, but we saw some gorgeous rivers and alpine lakes.  Very different from the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic, but I’ll take a float down the Yellowstone River any day.

Yellowstone River

Snake River

Lava Lake in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness

Forest Service Cabins: A hidden gem, you can rent these cabins for a night (for about $30) and let me tell you, it’s glamorous camping.  Both of our cabins had wood stoves, which we used to prepare feasts each night for dinner.  Any camping that involves shelter, steak and wine, is good for me.  I still managed to get spooked out but no bears bothered us.

Our cabin in Dillon, MT (not to be confused with the Dillon, TX in Friday Night Lights)

David getting the wood stove started

Yummy dinner courtesy of the wood stove.

Rain or Shine: While we were in Montana, we saw nearly every kind of weather possible.  Hail, thunderstorms, ominous clouds, and even snow.  Sure, I would have loved sunny skies every day, but the summer months are short and folks out west take advantage of each day that’s not below freezing.  The weather didn’t stop us, or anyone we were with, from fly fishing, hiking, camping, rain or shine.

Is that a storm behind us? In retrospect, yes.

Snow in Big Sky: I was in the house reading; everyone else was fly fishing.

I’m glad to be back home, but I miss the days out west of hiking, relaxing, and being with friends.  I still have more to share with you though.  ‘Western tour nostalgia’ will continue in the weeks ahead.  Humor me.