Like thousands of other pioneers the families who were part of the 1846 Donner-Reed wagon train headed west in search of new opportunities. But this group instead found untold hardship and an immortal place in the annals of Western history. Terry Del Bene, a retired archaelogist, puts an interesting spin on the tale of the ill-fated Donner Party expedition. Documenting the historic wagon trip across America to the untimely fate met by the travelers in the high Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, Del Bene provides the reader with not only a history lesson but also recipes of the day. Del Bene shares his knowledge of 19th century foods and cooking methods, and adds some ideas for hosting your own Donner party event. This is an informative and entertaining look at the food and cooking methods used by those early American travelers.