Never before has there been a cookbook that will make you want to whip up something in the kitchen and boogie down to the music at the same time!
If you enjoy cooking, eating, listening to music, or are simply a fan of Austin City Limits, you will love this one-of-a-kind cookbook. Dip into the musicians' recipes, experiment with flavors—both musical and culinary—and stir up a little music history. We can't all be talented musicians, but we certainly can enjoy cooking like them.
On one of my very first shows in 1989 as key makeup artist for Austin City Limits, I had the chance to meet and work with the great Stevie Ray Vaughan. And what an incredible show that was! Twenty years later I look back and I'm awestruck by so many of these incredible artists and their original musical styles. How fortunate to be in ACL's Studio A with a studio audience and to listen to so much wonderful live music. It takes my breath away just thinking about it! It has been an exciting and unbelievable journey thus far.
Working with ACL gave me the up-close and personal opportunity to meet many more gifted musicians. On occasion, if time allowed before the show, the artists and I would share a tête-à-tête. Yes, there have been several great stories, some legendary tales, countless jokes, and even showbiz gossip. I wish I could share, but what happens in the makeup chair stays in the makeup chair!
When it comes to cooking, I'm looking for the next great recipe. And when you can talk about cooking and sharing some recipes with some of the most amazing performing artists in music history, it doesn't get any better than that. After many years of talking appetizers and barbecue and main dishes with the artists, I thought, "Wouldn't it be great to share all this with the treasured fans of ACL?" So I decided to pitch the idea for this cookbook to the show and they loved it! They wanted to help as much as they could despite already having a lot on their plate, especially considering the show's other venue, the Austin City Limits Music Festival, held annually in October.
So off I went, writing, calling, chatting with artists and musicians or their managers and publicists, and asking them if they'd be willing to contribute a favorite recipe to this book. They were all very positive, generous, and enormously supportive. I also thought it was important that this cookbook support charity for awareness only, and decided to ask the artists to let people know about the important community, national, and international organizations they support with their time and money, so that if you were so inspired, you too could lend a helping hand. After all, when it comes to cooking up a better world, there can't be too many cooks.
So when you entertain your guests with any of these yummy dishes, you will most definitely take pleasure in saying "Oh, it's a recipe from B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Femi Kuti, Bruce Hornsby, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, David Gray, Joan Baez, or Joss Stone," just to name a few. That's sure to make your guests sit up and applaud!
So, fire up the grill, light up the stove, and if you want something real tasty, turn on Austin City Limits! Because everything tastes better with a little Music in the Kitchen!
Bon appetit! Cheers! And enjoy the music!
Willie Nelson
Show dates: 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000
Serving up: Country, country rock, outlaw country
A few ingredients: Nothing says Texas like a heaping helping of the music of Willie Nelson. His career began as a teenager, singing in a Baptist church and playing guitar in polka bands. After moving to Austin, Willie quickly became an enormously successful performer, recording jazz standards, country-rock, and gospel in his distinctive singing style. He has become an international icon, winning countless American Music Awards, Country Music Association Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, and Grammy Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000), and appearing in hundreds of benefit concerts. He is most proud of his work with charities such as Farm Aid, which he co-founded in 1985 with Neil Young and John Mellencamp, and the Spears Foundation for Hepatitis C Awareness.
Willie has also had a successful acting career, appearing in almost two dozen movies.
More tasty morsels: willienelson.com
Willie's charity: Farm Aid, farmaid.org
Willie's Tequila-Mango Salsa
- 1/3 c. Austin Slow Burn Spiced Peach Jam with Habanero
- 3 T. red onion, diced
- 1/4 c. cilantro, chopped
- 2 c. mango, coarsely chopped
- 1 large avocado, chopped
- 1 c. strawberries, chopped (optional)
- 1/2 c. jalapeños, diced (optional)
- Jose Cuervo Especial to taste (set to the side with a shot glass and drink at your own risk)
Mix all ingredients and serve with chips. Great on chicken or fish.
