Texas Judicial Cookbook
Compiled by Dennis R. Mott
Photography by Ryan Myers Ovation Books: Austin, Texas (2007)
ISBN 10: 0-9790275-2-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-9790275-2-9
Reviewed by Angela Evans - July 10, 2007
This gorgeously illustrated cookbook is a tribute to the Texas Judicial system and the hundreds of historic courthouses that dot the state. Compiled by Dennis R. Mott, the Texas Judicial Cookbook contains 59 recipes proffered by former and sitting judges, and from an assortment of state and county officials including President George W. Bush, his wife and his mother, as well as Governor Rick Perry, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, and more. The recipes are enhanced by the inclusion of photographs of the officials who submitted the various recipes, and of many of the historic courthouses found in the state. Tidbits of trivia about these historic courthouses are sprinkled liberally throughout the book.
The recipes in this cookbook are organized primarily by county, with the concluding section devoted to those recipes garnered from state and county officials, such as the Bush family. The recipes in this collection epitomize the diversity of culinary traditions and cultures that contributed to the unique taste of Texas cookery. The recipes in this book use readily available ingredients and all are very easy to prepare, making this ideal cookbook for both novice and seasoned cooks.
Some of the mouth watering, and diverse range of recipes that you'll find in this book include:
Blueberry Streusel Coffee Cake
Katie's Cranberry Chicken
Cream Cheese and Poppy Seed Kolache Rolls
Hopkins County Stew (it can be made with either chicken or beef)
Taco Soup
Cowboy Chow
Evan's Spicy Sausage
Hummingbird Cake (despite its name, it does not contain any hummingbirds!)
Chicken Pork Jambalaya
Braised Doves
Crawfish and Rice
Jailhouse Rolls
Appple Dumplings (made with a can of Mountain Dew soda - sounds a bit odd, but I tried it out and they were surprisingly tasty.)
Chuck Wagon Chili
Black Bean Salsa
In its own right, the Texas Judicial Cookbook offers an excellent assortment of easy to prepare and tasty recipes. However, the inclusion of information about the state's historic courthouse, and the plethora of photographs of these magnificent structures makes this a book that will not only delight cooks, but also anyone with an interest in Texas history or historic architecture. Additional information about this unique cookbook can be found online at: www.texasjudicialcookbook.com.
