Texas Cannonballs (black stuffed olives)
"Texas Cannonballs" (black stuffed olives) is a dish that appears to have been invented and named (quite creatively) by Russell H. Ritchey at the website "Flavors of Texas." A…
Texas Trio (steak, chicken, shrimp)
The Lone Star Steakhouse (many franchised locations) offers a "Texas trio" of sirloin steak, chicken breast, and fried shrimp. The "Texas trio" combination, if offered in a…
Golden Triangle (Dallas, Houston, San Antonio)
"Golden Triangle" usually means the Texas cities of Beaumont, Orange and Port Arthur. Some now consider "Golden Triangle" to mean the largest Texas cities of Dallas, Houston,…
“Maid in the living room, cook in the kitchen, whore in the bedroom” (Jerry Hall)
Jerry Hall was married to Mick Jagger (of the Rolling Stones) and is, perhaps, the most famous Texas model. She came a long way from the woman who once worked at a Dairy Queen in Mesquite, Texas.…
“Crazy as a peach orchard boar” (“Madder than a peach orchard boar”)
"Crazy as a peach orchard boar" (also "madder than a peach orchard boar") is a Southern expression used in Texas and elsewhere. Its exact origin and meaning remains unknown, but…
“I dearly love the state of Texas, but I consider that a harmless perversion on my part…”
Molly Ivins (1944-2007) often poked fun at Texas ways, but she dearly loved the state. "I dearly love the state of Texas, but I consider that a harmless perversion on my part, and discuss it…
“Good thing we’ve still got politics in Texas - finest form of free entertainment ever invented”
Molly Ivins (1944-2007) was more than a political commentator or a humorist. She was a Texas original, and it showed in everything she wrote. She loved to write about the often ridiculous goings on…
“Never make a speech at a country dance or a football game”
Lyndon B. Johnson's father advised him to "never make a speech at a country dance or a football game." It's good Texas advice; you don't interrupt football games! 15 July…
“The vice presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm spit” (John Nance Garner to Lyndon B. Johnson)
"The vice presidency isn't worth a pitcher of warm spit" was the advice that John Nance Garner (vice president under Franklin D. Roosevelt) gave to a fellow Texan, Senator Lyndon B.…
Totopo
A totopo is a flat, round corn product similar to a tortilla. In the United States, however, it's a brand name for a triangular tortilla corn chip. The Mexican totopos and the American totopos…
Texas Haircut (financial term)
A "haircut" is a financial term meaning that one side is getting "shaved." For example, a debtor cannot repay a loan and offers fifty cents on each dollar owed to satisfy the…
“Once you get rid of integrity, the rest is a piece of cake” (J.R. on Dallas tv series)
"Once you get rid of integrity, the rest is a piece of cake" was Larry Hagman's favorite line on the long-running television series Dallas. He played mean old J. R. Ewing. Wikipedia:…
“You had me at hello” (Renée Zellweger in the film Jerry Maguire)
"You had me at hello" was the line that Renée Zellweger (from Katy, Texas) told to Tom Cruise in the movie Jerry Maguire (1996). Country star Kenny Chesney wrote a song called "You…
Wind Energy Capital of Texas (McCamey nickname)
McCamey used to be an oil town, but, in the 1990s, it transformed as a wind energy town. In 2001, the Texas legislature declared McCamey to be the Wind Energy Capital of Texas. Wikipedia: McCamey,…
Wine Root Stock Capital of the World (Denison nickname)
Denison was named the Wine Root Stock Capital of the World by the Texas legislature in 1989. Denison citizen Thomas Volney Munson (1843-1913) studied grapes and discovered many new varieties. His…
Most Air-Conditioned City in the Nation (Houston slogan)
"Houston's hot," as the saying goes. Since the 1940s, to attract tourists and conventions, Houston has promoted itself as "the most air-conditioned city in the nation." No…
Eagle Capital of Texas (Rains County)
Rains County was designated the Eagle Capital of Texas by the Texas Legislature in 1995. There is an annual Eagle Festival. Rains County is an important nesting and feeding area for bald eagles and…
Meat Goat Capital of America (Mills County nickname)
Mills County is known as the Meat Goat Capital of America. In the past twenty years, goats have become a major industry in Mills County -- so much so that goats outnumber people! Handbook of Texas…
Lavender Capital of Texas (Blanco nickname)
Blanco calls itself the "Lavender Capital of Texas," trademarked from 2004 and made official by the Texas legislature in 2005. Blanco hosts a Lavender Festival and the Hill Country has a…
Winter Texan
"Winter Texan" is what is called a "snowbird" in Florida -- someone who comes down from the north to experience a more moderate temperature during winter (December through…