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Lone Star Menu: Tastes of Texas

An image of the state of Texas in the background in blue with a restaurant style sign in the foreground showing a chefs hat and eating utensils along with the text of Lone Star Menu Tastes of Texas


In This Exhibit:   Chips and Salsa  |  Surf and Turf: Seafood  |  Surf and Turf: Beef  |  On the Side  |  Something Sweet  |  Wash it Down  |  Lone Star Recipes  |  Take Away  |  HOME

Lone Star Recipes

The cultures of Texas, as seen through the state’s cooking and native ingredients, have been showcased on a national and global stage by Texans in the spotlight, including those elected to higher office. Texans who rose to positions of leadership in the Governor’s Mansion—and even all the way to the White House—have brought with them recipes and tastes from home. Carl McQueary, an author who researched and wrote about the kitchen of Miriam “Ma” Ferguson, the first woman governor of the state, went on to publish an in-depth look at cooking for the state’s first families with his 2003 book Dining at the Governor’s Mansion.

Browsing more cookbooks at TSLAC, the variety of people who have made their homes in Texas becomes apparent. On display are a few titles that capture the cuisine and foodways of groups who together have created the Lone Star Menu.
 

The cover of a book showing an elegantly decorated table with silver candelabra , silver plates, and yellow and pink flowers. Dining at the Governor’s Mansion, 2003.

Dining at the Governor’s Mansion, 2003. Click or tap on image to view larger version.
 


The cover of a book showing a woman sitting at a table facing the camera with a knife and fork over a plate with food on it. Ma's in the Kitchen: You'll Know When it's Done: The Recipes and History of Governor Miriam A. Ferguson, First Woman Governor of Texas, 1994. Main Collection, 976.4061 F381M.

Ma's in the Kitchen: You'll Know When it's Done: The Recipes and History of Governor Miriam A. Ferguson, First Woman Governor of Texas, 1994. Main Collection, 976.4061 F381M. Click or tap on image to view larger version.

Miriam “Ma” Ferguson was the first woman governor of Texas. She served from 1925-1927 and 1933-1935. Known for her cooking, she also served as first lady to her husband, Governor James Ferguson from, 1915-1917.

 

 

The cover of a book showing a black and white drawing of the Texas State Capitol the title in green text in a curved banner and the sub heading in green text of Favorite Family Recipes of Texas Governors, Senators, and Other State Officials. Capitol Cook Book: Favorite Family Recipes of Texas Governors, Senators, and Other State Officials, 1973. Main Collection, 641.5 C862C.

Capitol Cook Book: Favorite Family Recipes of Texas Governors, Senators, and Other State Officials, 1973. Main Collection, 641.5 C862C. Click or tap on image to view larger version.

This collection of recipes from a mix of Texas official includes a wide range of Texas dishes.

 

 

The cover of a book showing a peach pie with a slice cut out of it and the slice on a plate next to it. Great-Aunt Jennie’s Cookies,” by Mrs. Price Daniel, of Austin. Favorite Recipes of Governors' Wives,1958. Jean Houston Daniel Texas Governor's Mansion Collection, 1987/173-12/5.Two page spread from the book Favorite Recipes of Governors' Wives,1958, showing Great-Aunt Jennie’s Cookies,” by Mrs. Price Daniel, of Austin next to a photo her in a formal gown. Included are recipes for Oatmeal Crispies, Banana Bread, and Blueberry Torte. Great-Aunt Jennie’s Cookies,” by Mrs. Price Daniel, of Austin. Favorite Recipes of Governors' Wives,1958. Jean Houston Daniel Texas Governor's Mansion Collection, 1987/173-12/5.

Great-Aunt Jennie’s Cookies,” by Mrs. Price Daniel, of Austin. Favorite Recipes of Governors' Wives,1958. Jean Houston Daniel Texas Governor's Mansion Collection, 1987/173-12/5. Click or tap on links and images to view larger versions.

Jean Houston Daniel, First Lady for Governor Price Daniel from 1957-1963, included this family recipe in a collection of recipes from all 50 states’ first ladies.

 

 

The cover of a book showing a drawing of the front of the United States Capitol and a drawing of a rose and stem below that. The White House Cookbook,1964. Main Collection, 641.5 ER93.A two page spread showing recipes for chili, okra, and various desserts. The White House Cookbook,1964. Main Collection, 641.5 ER93.A two page spread showing a black and white photograph of The Barbecue for West German Chancellor Erhard on the left page and recipes Texas-German Chocolate Cake, LBJ Carb Casserole, and for Fried Pies. The White House Cookbook,1964. Main Collection, 641.5 ER93.A two-page spread showing a photograph of Old World Greeting for the New First Lady as Chancellor Erhard Prepares to Kiss Mrs. Johnson’s Hand on Arrival at White House for Al Fresco Formal Dinner on the left page and recipes for President Johnson’s Spanish Cream and President Johnson’s Floating Island on the right page. The White House Cookbook,1964. Main Collection, 641.5 ER93.

The White House Cookbook,1964. Main Collection, 641.5 ER93.  Click or tap on links and images to view larger versions.

Known for his famous Pedernales River chili recipe, President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) was born in Stonewall, Texas. As part of his celebration of Texas food, LBJ served an official dinner for the West German Chancellor from a series of chuckwagons.
 

 

The cover of a brown stained and worn book with the title printed on in diagonal. The Texas Cook Book: A Thorough Treatise on the Art of Cookery, 1883. Main Collection, 641.5 L124 1883.A two-page spread of worn and stained pages with recipes for Catsup on the right page, Tomato Catsup, Pepper Catsup, Green Tomato Sauce, and Tomato Catsup – No. 2. The Texas Cook Book: A Thorough Treatise on the Art of Cookery, 1883. Main Collection, 641.5 L124 1883.A two-page spread of worn and stained pages with cursive hand writing on both pages of a recipe for brown bread and for corn bread. The Texas Cook Book: A Thorough Treatise on the Art of Cookery, 1883. Main Collection, 641.5 L124 1883.A two-page spread of worn and stained pages with instructions on the left page on how to clean woolen clothes and kid gloves, and the right page showing text for different merchants, including a grocer, a merchant and a druggist. The Texas Cook Book: A Thorough Treatise on the Art of Cookery, 1883. Main Collection, 641.5 L124 1883.

The Texas Cook Book: A Thorough Treatise on the Art of Cookery, 1883. Main Collection, 641.5 L124 1883.
 Click or tap on links and images to view larger versions.

Published in Houston in 1883, the Ladies’ Association of the First Presbyterian Church compiled these recipes “particularly suited for the climate” of Texas. The cookbook includes blank pages inserted after each chapter, where newspaper clippings and even handwritten recipes from the era were added. Reproductions from this volume are on display.

View another copy of this cookbook online via www.HathiTrust.org 

 

 

The cover of a book showing a photograph of pulled pork, red and green salsas, limes, and cilantro. Truly Texas Mexican: A Native Culinary Heritage in Recipes, 2014. TX Documents, Z TT422.8 M469tr.

Truly Texas Mexican: A Native Culinary Heritage in Recipes, 2014. TX Documents, Z TT422.8 M469tr.
Click or tap on image to view larger version.
 

 

The cover of a book showing black text on a light green background with a library sticker on the upper left corner. Texas Country German and Czech Style Recipes, 1971. Main Collection, 641.5 T312.

Texas Country German and Czech Style Recipes, 1971. Main Collection, 641.5 T312. Click or tap on image to view larger version.

 

 

The cover of a book showing a color photograph of four bowls of food with a plate of round bread next to them. Choctaw-Apache Foodways, 2015. TX Documents, Z S850.8 C127ch.

Choctaw-Apache Foodways, 2015. TX Documents, Z S850.8 C127ch. Click or tap on image to view larger version.

 

The cover of a book showing red text over a light green background. The Jemima Code: Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks, 2015. TX Documents, Z UA380.8 T499je

The Jemima Code: Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks, 2015. TX Documents, Z UA380.8 T499je. 
Click or tap on image to view larger version. 

Texas cooking is the result of cultures and ethnic influences people have brought to the kitchens and dining tables of the state over generations. These cookbooks are only a sampling of the variety of cuisines associated with the state.

 

 

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Lone Star Menu: Tastes of Texas Exhibit Pages:
Home | Chips and Salsa | Surf and Turf: Seafood | Surf and Turf: Beef | On the Side | Something Sweet | Wash it Down | Lone Star Recipes | Take Away

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Page last modified: February 25, 2025