On May 23, 1871, the Texas legislature directed the governor to appoint a superintendent to administer a new Texas Bureau of Immigration with "the purpose of promoting and protecting immigration" into the state. Brochures described Texas as a destination for the immigrant. One such brochure was titled, "Texas, the Home for the Emigrant, From Everywhere.” State agents traveled to southern and northern states, as well as to Europe, to encourage potential immigrants to seek land in Texas, at a time when a number of other prairie states and territories were pitching similar campaigns. The new Constitution of 1876 brought an end to the bureau, as it included a specific prohibition against using state funds "for any purpose of bringing immigrants to the State."
HOME REMEDY: CHIGGERS
From Household Remedies & Cures: “Soak affected skin in cold water for several minutes, followed by a cold compress. Severe bites can be treated with camphor or calamine lotion applied with a clean cloth.”
HOMESTEADING: SHARPENING A KNIFE
To sharpen an axe for cutting small trees, place the axe on a flat surface such as a table or stump. Use a clamp if you have one to keep the axe stable during sharpening. Clean the axe head and sides. File the axe edge working from left to right, matching of the bevel of the blade to avoid having to reshape the angle of the blade. Files sharpen blades when they are pushing, traveling in one direction. Work across one side of the blade until it is sharper, then turn over the axe, clean the file and repeat the process on the other side until the edge is sharp.
RECIPE: MINA'S COLE SLAW
Longtime Austin resident Mimi Panciera Fite sends this month’s recipe that she says is the same as one her grandmother used to serve. “She said it came from the old country. It was an inexpensive and delicious salad from the garden. Her family came to Texas from Italy in the 1800s . . . The name Panciera derives from the stomach armor plate that the Roman soldiers used to wear in Italy.”
Makes: 12 servings
Ingredients
· ¾ green cabbage, finely shredded
· ¼ red cabbage, finely shredded
· 3 medium carrots, grated
· 1 cup mayonnaise
· 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
· 1 tablespoon honey
· 1 teaspoon celery seeds
· ¼ teaspoon salt
· ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Directions
Mix the shredded green cabbage, red cabbage and carrots to a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, combine the mayonnaise, honey, salt, pepper, apple cider vinegar and celery seeds in a small bowl and whisk together. Add more honey to make the slaw sweeter.
Pour about half of the dressing onto the cabbage and carrots and toss. Slowly add more dressing until you reach the desired slaw-to-dressing ratio.
IN THIS MONTH: 1854
On April 26, 1854, the U.S. War Department ordered a survey of land for Indian reservations in unsettled territory, “preferably on timbered land of good soil adjacent to navigable water.” Four leagues of land on the Brazos River below Fort Belknap were selected for use by the Caddos, Wacos and other tribes, and another tract of the same size 40 miles away for the Comanches. A third tract on the Brazos was designated for the Mescalero and Lipan Apaches. The reservations reverted to the state when the tribes were removed to the Indian Territory in 1859.
HOME REMEDY: PAPULES
From Household Remedies & Cures: “Apply a mixture of one part apple cider vinegar and three parts warm water to infected (pimple), rinse and dry. Repeat twice daily until eruption cures.”
HOMESTEADING: WEED CONTROL
To control weeds around homes and gardens, use a mixture of vinegar, soap and salt, with attention to not apply it near vegetables and ornamentals that are not at issue. Kitchen water use can be used with great economy.
RECIPE: GRAMMIES DROP COOKIES
Pflugerville resident Lydia Harris sends this month’s “historic recipe for brown sugar cookies that my grandmother got from her grandmother when Texas was still mostly open land. She baked them for all of her children, and grand- and great-grandbabies as they grew up.”
Makes: 12-15 cookies
Ingredients
· 1 1/2 cups flour
· 2/3 cup brown sugar
· 1 egg
· 1/4 cup melted butter
· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
· 1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
· 1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a big mixing bowl beat together the brown sugar, egg, butter and vanilla until its thoroughly mixed.
In a smaller bowl mix the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add that to the brown sugar mixture and stir it all together.
Scoop about one tablespoon of batter per cookie and drop onto cookie sheet about two inches apart.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. “Don’t burn the cookies because they’ll be too hard to eat unless you dip them in milk.
Enjoy these cookies at the table with a glass of milk or in a shady spot outdoors with lemonade, and think about how you’re living some yummy Texas history.”
IN THIS MONTH: 1836
On March 11, when Texas Army General Sam Houston arrived in Gonzales, he learned of the fall of the Alamo and decided to begin the mass evacuation of tens of thousands of Texans in what became known as the Runaway Scrape. As much of Texas fled eastward, Houston and the Texas Army tracked and captured Mexican Army General Santa Anna near LaPorte after a surprise attack and battle that lasted only 18 minutes. The victory won independence from Mexico for Texas.
HOME REMEDY: HAIR LOSS
From Household Remedies & Cures: “Massage approximately one-half cup of onion juice into the scalp once a day, then thoroughly rinse with fresh water, until loss of hair is abated.”
RECIPE: GARDEN CHICKEN STEW
Austin resident Elle Harper sent this recipe for a “delicious stew worthy of the pioneers.”
Makes: 6 servings
Ingredients
· 4 Tbsp. olive oil
· 1 lbs. boneless, skinless, chicken thighs, cut into chunks
· 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
· 1 medium sweet onion, cut into 8 wedges
· 8 oz. baby carrots sliced into 1-inch chunks
· 6 garlic cloves, chopped
· 1/2 cup white wine
· 1 lbs. baby potatoes, quartered
· 2 bay leaves
· 4 cups chicken broth
· 1 cup water
· 1/2 cup pearl couscous
· 1 cup frozen peas
· Few small handfuls of baby spinach
· Fresh chopped parsley
· Salt and fresh black pepper
Directions
Dust the chicken with flour, salt, and pepper, to taste. Set aside. Heat oil in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat, when oil is hot, add chicken, and cook until brown, about 6-8 minutes. Add onions, carrots, and garlic. Pour wine while stirring and scraping to loosen browned bits from the bottom of the dutch oven. Cook the vegetables, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes or until they begin to soften. Add potatoes, bay leaf, chicken broth, and water. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Add couscous, increase heat to medium, and cook uncovered until the couscous is tender, about 15 minutes. The liquid will slightly reduce.
Stir in spinach and peas. Discard bay leaves and stir in parsley. Serve immediately or cool at room temperature, then refrigerate for 3-4 days.
IN THIS MONTH: 1846
On Feb. 15 in Austin, the Republic of Texas officially relinquished its control to the First Legislature of the new State of Texas. The flag of the Republic of Texas was lowered, and the flag of the United States was raised. The Lone Star Republic had become the Lone Star State. Proclaimed iconic Texas General Sam Houston, a former president of the Republic who would soon become the new state’s first U.S. senator: "Texas will again lift its head and stand among the nations. It ought to do so, for no country upon the globe can compare with it in natural advantages."
HOME REMEDY: DROOPY EYELIDS
From Household Remedies & Cures: “Slice white potatoes and cover eyes with them for several minutes to address drooping eyelids.”
HOMESTEADING: FELLING A TREE
Cutting trees to clear land should follow these steps to avoid injuries and damage: Select a sharpened broadaxe and hatchet, identify the tree height, its lean and any hazards, plan an escape route for when the tree falls, trim away underbrush with the hatchet, cut a notch on one side, make the bore or back cut and then use the escape route for when the tree begins to fall.
RECIPE: CAMPFIRE RIBEYE
Austin resident Jay Sanchez sent this recipe for a “Real Texas main course.”
Makes: 4 servings
Ingredients
· 24 oz Ribeye Steak (2 bone-in steaks)
· 2 tsp salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Trim fat from the steaks and cover each side with salt and pepper to taste. Grill the steaks by searing each side, then cooking each to the state of doneness required. Remove from the grill and let sit for 15 minutes before slicing. Serve with potatoes or vegetables of your choice.
IN THIS MONTH: 1839
On Jan. 19, the riverside hamlet of Waterloo was approved as the new capital of the Republic of Texas. After President Sam Houston vetoed a site near LaGrange, his successor, Mirabeau B. Lamar, endorsed a site he had visited on the Colorado River. The commission purchased 7,735 surrounding acres that was renamed Austin.
HOME REMEDY: VERMIN
From Household Remedies & Cures: “Halved and quartered horse apples scattered beneath a cabin will deter vermin and rodents.”
HOMESTEADING: HANDIWORK
Escaping frosty temperatures by staying indoors during January is a good time to complete handiwork projects — and to learn sewing, embroidery, knitting and crocheting. If you’ve been wanting to explore those traditional homesteading skills, you can enroll in a textile-arts class at Pioneer Farms or watch how-to videos on YouTube or other online sources.
RECIPE: FIRESIDE COCOA
Austin resident Jaw Smith sent this recipe for the perfect warm-up for cold January nights.
Makes: 1 serving
Ingredients
· 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
· 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
· Pinch of salt
· 1 cup milk or any combination of milk or cream
· ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Stir together the cocoa, sugar, salt, and approximately 2 tablespoons milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until cocoa and sugar are dissolved. Add the rest of the milk and heat it over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it is hot. Mix in the vanilla and serve.
IN THIS MONTH: 1870
On Dec. 5, Black rodeo cowboy Bill Pickett was born in the Jenks-Branch community in Williamson County (now Leander). After observing dogs subduing huge steers by biting their upper lips, the young Pickett found he could do the same thing. In 1888 he performed at the first fair in Taylor, his family's new hometown. As the "Dusky Deamon," Pickett performed at rodeos and fairs throughout Texas and the West. Capitalizing on his fame, by 1907 he was working as a cowboy and performer with the 101 Ranch Wild West Show in Oklahoma. He entertained millions in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America and England, and was featured in several motion pictures, the first black cowboy star. Pickett died in 1932 after being kicked in the head by a horse. In 1972 Pickett became the first Black honoree in the National Rodeo Hall of Fame.