Regardless of whether your idea of a ranch vacation more closely resembles Billy Crystal's adventures in "City Slickers" or if you prefer something on the more luxurious side, like Colorado's Five Diamond Award winning C Lazy U Ranch, you can now re-create the culinary side of the ranch experience right in your own home.

Author Gwen Ashley Walters, an accomplished chef in her own right, has done extensive research visiting America's top guests ranches (tough work but someone's got to do it). The result is a book that's a must for any western travel or cooking aficionado.

Gwen provides detailed information on 30 premier guest ranches including rates, travel information, seasons, activities, amenities and full menus. There are also dozens of recipes, favorites at the ranches, which have been modified so the home cook can recreate them with equally beautiful results.

Included are ranches from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Texas and Wyoming. Liberally illustrated with black and whites photos, there's also a full color, eight page layout that will have you calling your travel agent. Recipes range from the traditional and hearty to the gourmet and many reflect the their native regions.

If you can't manage a ranch vacation, this might just be the next best thing.