Five Marys Ranch Raised Cookbook: Homegrown Recipes fro… (2024)

I first discovered Five Marys Farms on social media about four years ago. Business-savvy Mary Heffernan has created a strong brand for her family’s ranch and followers enjoy peeking behind the scenes at the ranch and the daily routine with all four daughters (all named Mary—they go by middle/nicknames). Mary and Brian started from scratch raising livestock in a small town after leaving the Silicon Valley where Brian was a successful lawyer and Mary had several businesses.

Five Marys Ranch Raised Cookbook is an excellent collection of recipes, lovely photographs, and brief notes about their daily life and their goals as ranchers.

The book is divided into eight chapters:
Breakfast, Appetizers, Beef, Pork, Lamb, Sides, co*cktails, and Dessert.

Stand-out recipes for me:
*brown-butter waffles with brown-sugar bananas
*caramelized onion dip with garden vegetables
*rancher’s pie
*sweet-and-spicy baby back ribs
*spicy lamb meatballs with cucumber-mint tzatziki
*roasted cauliflower with buffalo sauce
*ranch 75 mimosas
*sweet drop biscuits with grilled peaches and cream

Most of the recipes are slight spins on fairly popular dishes. While there isn’t anything super unique here, the book has a great design lay-out and all recipes have easily obtainable ingredients, simple instructions, and the few I’ve personally tried so far have been delicious!

Thanks to Sasquatch Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Five Marys Ranch Raised Cookbook is scheduled for release on September 8, 2020.

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I loved the story of this family who gave up their life in suburbs and went all in on owning a ranch. Granted, they had the financial means to do so. Most of us are not blessed with being that fortunate. But I loved the quest for more simple Life.

Sections include breakfast, appetizers, beef, pork, lamb, sides, co*cktails and desserts.
The recipes and photos were fantastic. From biscuits to homemade English muffins and sesame lime pork lettuce cups to jalepeno poppers, the variety was immense but full of lip smacking food. I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy of this book. My only complaint: no chicken section but that won't impact my rating.

Thank you Sasquatch books for granting my wish on Netgalley to receive this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm buying this one, if only for the pictures alone. The recipes are great, but what I loved about the book itself is that Mary does not have her kids runway ready in the photos. All of her girls have messy braids, their clothes aren't white and perfectly pressed. They're barefoot, mismatched, and dirty to some degree. It was so refreshing. Her recipes took on the same air. There isn't a hint of pretentiousness anywhere in this book and I'm pretty sure I saw dishes in the sink in one of the photos. This is someone I can relate to. And it doesn't hurt that she included a rhubarb cheesecake recipe too❤

This was lovely! I now want to quit my job and move to a ranch. The photos are stunning! I loved the stories and family anecdotes. The recipes are awesome and full of fresh, healthy ingredients. I am a 5 Mary's fan now!

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Five Marys Ranch Raised Cookbook is a wonderful new cookbook and style guide by Mary Heffernan. Due out 8th Sept 2020 from Sasquatch Books, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is such a lovely book, written with warmth and generousity, full of well developed recipes with a quintessentially American farmland flavor and hospitality that it's impossible not to like it. The book is lavishly illustrated, showing the Heffernan family, pets, lifestyle, stock, and surroundings in gorgeous detail.

The book is laid out logically and accessibly. An introduction/bio for the Heffernan's journey from being yuppies (he ran his own law firm, she was an entrepreneur) to ranchers was interesting and provided some salient philosophical takeaways. The recipes are arranged roughly thematically: breakfasts, appetizers/small bites, beef, pork, lamb, sides, beverages, and desserts.

Ingredient measurements are supplied in American measurements only. There is an included conversion chart for metric measures in the back of the book. Descriptions are contained in the header for each recipe. The nutritional information is not included. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in headers with the recipe descriptions. The recipes themselves are beautifully finished with lots of nice unexpected juxtapositions of flavor and texture (citrus and crisp fried Brussels sprouts, lamb loin served with a green olive and orange relish - amazing and delicious). The recipes are (obviously) meat heavy, it's a ranch cookbook. There are a fair number of meat-free recipes however, and the overall quality of the writing and neat and hearty fusion style of the foods will allow vegetarians a surprising amount of use for the recipes in the book - notably all of the sauces, condiments, dressings, marinades, and other flavor enhancers (and there are a pile of them) can be adapted to meat-free uses.

The production values are top notch, and yes, the book shows a jealousy inducing "instagram perfect" family (as I look around at my messy kitchen countertops and wash my 3rd load of laundry for the day), however, it's honestly written with such warmth and candor that I found myself admiring them reaching for (and apparently working together to achieve) their dreams and raise their lovely family in a gorgeous rural setting. The photography is abundant and gorgeous and adds a lot to the recipes. Serving suggestions are beautifully presented and appropriate.

Five stars. I'll be buying my own copy.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I had never heard of the Five Marys before this cookbook and I can't believe all that I was missing! The Five Marys Ranch Raised Cookbook is the perfect mix of Ree Drummond's cooking style and Joanna Gaines' effortless, rustic simplicity. Author Mary Heffernan serves up hearty recipes my family is sure to love and there are some ideas that this mom is super excited to try (hello, leftover chili mac & cheese). More than just a recipe collection, the accompanying photos and stories gives readers a glimpse inside daily life at Heffernan's ranch, making this cookbook really stand out. As a matter of fact, it hasn't made it on my cookbook shelves yet because I can't stop flipping through it!

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3.5 stars

It is as much about the journey and lifestyle of Mary and her family as it is the recipes and that is fine by me. It was informative and interesting, with lovely photographs of their ranch and family.

She also includes practical tips for how to turn your gas grill into a smoker, how to season cast iron, or make your own butter, etc.

Solid selection but faves were:
Buttermilk Biscuits with Strawberry-Lemon Jam
Cast-Iron Dutch Baby Pancake with Cherries
Brown-Butter Waffles with Brown-Sugar Bananas
Bacon-Jalapeno Poppers
Teriyaki Been Jerky
Jannie's Beef Stew
Brined Pork Chops with Applesauce
Shredded Pork Ragu with Pasta
Sweet and Spicy Baby Back Ribs
Honey-Ginger Braised Pork Rice Bowls
Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
Chopped Kale Salad
Creamy Coleslaw
Braised Lamb Shanks in Red Wine Sauce
Skillet Cornbread with Honey Butter
Rhubarb Cheesecake with Pistacchio Crust
Salted Honey Almond Pie (for something a bit different)
Whiskey Punch

I hadn't heard of Five Marys Ranch prior to picking this up. This is almost two books. First, the family's backstory. That's great - really inspiring and interesting at this point in time. The writer's tone is great, almost like you're talking to a friend. The recipe part is OK. The recipes are hearty and good, meant to evoke ranch life. But if you've got some of the Pioneer Woman's cookbooks, you may have a lot of these recipes. In general, I have versions of most of these recipes already. The tips and notes (like on beef) are unique and interesting. The best chapters in here are the beef and appetizer chapters. There is a photo for each recipe, and the book in general is beautifully photographed.

This is almost more of a book to read when you're in the mood for something comforting and hearty (I would love to visit their ranch!). As a go-to cookbook, the recipes aren't really as quick or healthy as I like to cook on a regular basis. But this is worth checking out for the backstory and food guidance.

Ever visited a ranch and wondered at the amazing food? Five Mary’s ranch raised cookbook gives you a unique look at ranch raising and the food they serve in their restaurant. I thought the recipes were absolutely gorgeous!

What did I like? If your a carnivore then really... look no further. This not only sets the appetite but it gorges on meat. From lamb, pork to beef, some excellent recipes for your favorite carnivore. Ranch working is hard work so the food they serve should be and is sustainable! Some gorgeous recipes!

Would I buy or recommend? Yes, I would LOVE a copy. Hell I’d love to visit, even if it was to help out. Nothing like seeing first hand what ranching is like. A gorgeous book! I hope it sells a ton, just so we can get more books like this. I love it!

I received a complimentary copy to read! I loved it. Great and fabulous looking recipes! Five stars!

You have permission to laugh at me. I managed to confuse Five Mary's with Six Sisters.

Mary Heffernan is living a life I never knew I wanted. My heart is a bit broken because I am of a 'certain age' where taking on that type of adventure is no longer possible.

4 stars

This book was received as an ARC from Sasquatch Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was in the mood for a good cookbook and along the style of growing up on a ranch and farm. Every recipe featured looked simple and delicious. I can not wait to feature some of these recipes for our next Cooking Demo especially the Homemade Biscuit, The Steak Lettuce Wraps and the Caramel Banana Waffles to name a few. Plus I loved the photos put in of the family showing how much they loved their ranch and their life creating the sentiment behind the business in the first place.

We will consider adding this title to our Cooking collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I had never heard of Five Marys Ranch before I saw this cookbook.

The photos inside are beautiful and there is a great flow to the recipes.

While I don't think I will try many of the recipes because I don't eat bacon and a lot of meat, the recipes seemed easy to make and have a great ranch feel to them. (I think my husband would enjoy the food more than I would.)

I do think I will try making the Homemade English Muffins, Buttermilk Biscuits with Strawberry-Lemon Jam, Brown-Butter Waffles with Brown-Sugar Bananas, Carmelized Onion Dip with Garden Vegetables, and the Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches.

I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review from NetGalley and the publisher.

Five Marys Ranch-Raised Cookbook by Mary Hefferman is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in late September.

Recipes from breakfast, shareable hors’ d'oeuvres, meats, side dishes, drinks, and desserts from the Heffermans, natural business owners who give it up, pull stakes, and move their family to live on a ranch in Northern California that produces cows, sheep, and pigs, and welcomes guests for classes and sharing in their bounty. It all seems rurally idyllic, like the Pioneer Woman, but more bougie, less hokey, and there's no recipe that's too much more exotic than a charcuterie board, steak carpaccio, and zabaglione.

I had first seen this cookbook on Ballerina Farmers instagram stories and knew it had to be a good cookbook. Since I got the book, I have made a few of the recipes and my family loved them. My favorite one that we've tried is making the butter. We have a store that sells heavy cream straight from the dairy farm and the butter was outstanding. It has now become one of our favorite things to make and my daughter loves to make it too. Thank you for this amazing cookbook and we do plan on purchasing it to add to our collection!

What a delight. Two kids from corporate America embark on a journey that not only solidified their young family but opened up a community that was welcoming and instructional. We journey with them as each daughter all named Mary grow into future ranchers and protectors of the ranch. Technically a cookbook this reaches beyond to not just entice but excite you to try each and every recipe while enjoying the back story to each adventure. It encourage you to sit and explore this heavenly world the Heffernans have created.

Awesome ranch cookbook! The recipes uses fresh ingredients and they have that "grandma's food feel". I really enjoyed reading about their farm and story and seeing their kids photos throughout the book because it makes the book feels more personal, like if your friend had sent you these recipes. The food photos are mouthwatering and all the recipes have photos! Gorgeous book, 5 stars for sure!

I'm obsessed with everything to do with this cookbook and farm. From great recipes, the fabulous photography, to the little girls working the farm with their parents. I follow them on Instagram now and highly recommend owning the cookbook to keep for reference for a long time. This is one I will keep on a kitchen shelf.

I fell in love with this family, the idea of their lives, the food they make to sustain themselves and their grit.
This is a book that I leave out on the coffee table and thumb through when I feel the need to “escape”, via the fabulous images, to my fantasy of farm life BUT I always end up with a recipe to cook “next”.

The photography in this book is amazing and makes me want to try every single recipe in here! Also, I love how the book starts with the backstory of the family! It really makes you connect with the family and their recipes!

There's a bunch of interesting looking recipes in this book and some really great photos. A few of the recipes I'd love to try are leftover chili mac and cheese, cast-iron tamale pie, wood-fired porterhouse steak with mushroom-shallot sauce.

An excellent cookbook! These recipes feel like home. They are all recipes that have been perfected by adding a little something extra to our everyday cooking. My family has given 5 stars to this book and so will yours!

I’ve followed Mary on social media, and purchased M5 meat, and was so excited to get her cookbook! It’s an absolutely beautiful book with amazing food and ranch landscape photography, the recipes have simple and easy to find ingredients, and I know this will become a go-to for me!

I dream about returning to my roots and living back on the farm. The amazing food here reminds me of some of my favourite dishes.

With a nod to her daughters and animal friends on the farm, this cookbook has a bit of country sass.

Highly recommended

I liked this book with her glimpse into ranch life. I only gave it a 4 star because we don't have home grown, excellent meat that we can pull from the freezer. I liked the fact that she included recipes for various animals meat, deserts, sides and even for drinks.

They raise animals for meat and that's the majority of recipes: beef, pork and lamb.

What a beautiful book! Photography, story as well as recipes. Loved it!

Beautiful photos and enjoyed hearing their story of how their ranch began. My favorite cookbooks have photos to go along with the recipes and this one had it all.

Enjoyed and tried some recipes-- really good!

I saved a number of recipes that I'm excited to try.

Wholesome recipes to fill those bellies! Love this cookbook.