August 2002 Issue

Game Boys

Staubach and Aikman, together at last. A Bum Phillips belly laugh. Jerry Levias, first and always. These and other heroes of Texas football, past and present, pose for a pigskin portfolio.

By Brian D. Sweany

Family Circus

Children of all ages! Step right up and get to know a South Texas clan whose nomadic way of life is a link to the past.

By Katy Vine

Ladies, First

Three former Texas first ladies dish about life in the Governor’s Mansion and share recipes that have served them well.

By Patricia Sharpe

Horns Aplenty

Will this be the year that the University of Texas Longhorns—the most talented college football team in the country—win their first national title since 1970? Yes. Hook ’em.

By Brian D. Sweany

Mr. Happy Man Goes to Washington

Ron Kirk may be this year’s most jovial political candidate, but his bid for the U.S. Senate is as much about race as personality. He knows it. His fellow Democrats know it. And you’d better believe the Republicans know it.

By Patricia Hart

Happy Trails

For a great escape, head to Corpus Christi, the city on the bay that sparkles.

By Patricia McConnico

On The Road

GAZING AND GRAZING No one drives all the way up to the McDonald Observatory, on top of Mount Locke in far West Texas, just to eat. But astronomy buffs have a treat in store if they happen to wander into the StarDate Café. Not only is its menu of quesadillas,

By Patricia Sharpe

Southwestern Potato Salad

The perfect complement to a few slices of brisket, a slab of ribs, and a couple of links of sausage.

By Texas Monthly

Get Your Groove Back

A new book on dance halls explains why Texans are itching to go boot-scootin'.

By Joe Nick Patoski

Books That Cook

Lean Star Cuisine

By Patricia McConnico

Tomato Aspic

2 1/2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin 1 quart tomato juice (4 cups) 1 small can spicy tomato juice, such as V-8 or Bloody Mary mix 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper 6 whole cloves 2 bay leaves 1 tablespoon sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons powdered mustard dash Worcestershire

By Texas Monthly

Riviera

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES Like a jet-setter back from a vacation on the Côte d’Azur, the Riviera has reopened after an intensive two-week remodeling job looking not just rested but ten years younger. The exterior of the old-guard Dallas restaurant has been painted butter yellow, new fabrics brighten banquettes and chairs,

By Patricia Sharpe

Bitter Rivals

W. K. Stratton's new book, Backyard Brawl, dissects the football feud between the state's two largest universities.

By Texas Monthly

Giving It the Old College Try

Former Lufkin High School starting quarterback Reggie McNeal talks about motivation, recruiting and playing ball at Texas A&M.

By Elyse Ashburn

Texas Tidbits

In Texas, high school football is a Friday night religion. How much do you know about your faith?

By Lindsey Stanberry and Tiffany Welsh

Love Creek Apple Enchiladas

Love Creek Orchards

By Texas Monthly

Training Camp

At the Mack Brown Women's Clinic on football, no men are allowed. Females ask tough questions, learn about offensive strategy, and have a ball.

By Patricia McConnico

Golden Watermelon Soup With Champagne Gelée and Balsamic Ice Cream

Chef Michael Marshall creates a light dessert that is not as sweet as you would think.

By Patricia Sharpe

Team Photo

Wyatt McSpadden and his son Trevor talk about the logistics of getting football heroes together for the perfect photograph.

By Wyatt McSpadden and Trevor McSpadden

First Draft

Senior editor Brian D. Sweany talks about this month's cover story, "Horns Aplenty."

By Texas Monthly

Classic Mansion Chicken Salad

Adapted from a recipe by Texas cookbook author Helen Corbitt.

By Texas Monthly

Orange-Zest Biscuits

2 cups flour 4 tablespoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 5 tablespoons vegetable shortening zest of 1 orange, grated or finely chopped 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup orange juicePreheat oven to 425 degrees. Sift dry ingredients together. Cut in shortening and then stir in orange zest.

By Texas Monthly

Fried Green Tomatoes

Margaret Moffette Lea Houston

By Texas Monthly

Texas History 101

UT spirit has been alive and kicking since the University of Texas was founded. Discover the colorful history behind some of the UT traditions, from Bevo to "The First Battle."

By Stephanie DiCapua

Best Fests

RED ALL OVER Medina is minuscule—one main street, a couple hundred residents, a dozen or so stores—but during the International Apple Festival on Saturday, August 3, the town will be happily overrun by apple bobbers, bagpipers, balloon blowers, puppeteers, clowns, arts and crafts sellers, and 18,000 visitors. In midsummer, apples

By Patricia Sharpe

Strawberry-Cream Cheese Stars

8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 quart fresh strawberriesUsing an electric mixer, combine first 4 ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat until smooth; cover and refrigerate. Clean and hull strawberries (holes should be about 1/2 inch in diameter).

By Texas Monthly

Will Rogers’ Chili

Miriam "Ma" Ferguson

By Texas Monthly

Grilled Shrimp-Pasta Salad

Pasta With Vinaigrette1/2 cup olive oil 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon finely chopped assorted herbs (your choice of fresh basil, oregano, tarragon, rosemary, etc.) kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste8 ounces uncooked rotelle (spiral

By Texas Monthly

Favorite Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1 cup brown sugar 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups pecan pieces 4 cups flourUsing an electric mixer, beat butter with sugar and brown sugar until creamy. Beat in eggs, baking

By Texas Monthly

Coconut Cake Number One

Orlene Walton Sayers

By Texas Monthly

Governor’s Mansion Lemon Yogurt Cake

Cake1 cup unsalted butter, softened 2 cups granulated sugar 6 eggs, separated 2 teaspoons lemon zest 1 teaspoon lemon extract 3 cups cake flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup plain yogurt, whole or lowfatPreheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan. Cream

By Texas Monthly

On Screen

THE GREAT INDOORS Kids’ late-summer doldrums usually leave them particularly restless. They become prone to manic behavior—fads flourish, fixations blossom, expectations intensify. But as any well-informed individual between the ages of five and ten knows, nothing is more anticipated this month than the premiere of Spy Kids 2: The Island

By Katy Vine

Science

ANALYZE THIS Ever wonder how a rat can see in the dark? Well, this month you can attend some eye-popping exhibits around the state that will satisfy even the most inquisitive minds, and you don’t have to have a Ph.D. in biology to appreciate them. “Animal SuperSenses” at Galveston’s Moody

By Patricia McConnico

Tune In

LEAVE IT TO DIVA What do Cher and Dolly Parton, two of the most recognizable performers in the world—one for her outlandish outfits and the other for her, well, smile—have in common? Not much—on the surface, that is. Other than the obvious (they are both singers, actors, and blondes; yes,

By Eileen Schwartz

Sports

‘TIS THE SEASON As the World Cup reminded us, soccer, where you kick the ball up and down the field, is really football. But when Americans talk about football, we mean more than feet. We mean hands, arms, heads; we mean hard-hitting blocks, bubbly cheerleaders, marching bands. We mean spectacle.

By Michael Hall

The Thirty-Year Itch

After pursuing solo careers, the members of the Flatlanders have reunited and released the long-anticipated CD Now Again. Was it worth the wait?

By Jeff McCord

Church and Statecraft

Right with his party, wrong with his religion: where God and government intersect for Rick Perry and Tony Sanchez.

By Jan Jarboe Russell

A Wyly Strategy

Dallas billionaire Sam Wyly is gearing up for another battle in his war with Computer Associates. This time he may have the firepower to win.

By Kathryn Jones

Sinking Flagship

Free advice for the UT System's new chancellor.

By Paul Burka

The Buzz

Kathy Hepinstall is one of four underappreciated Texas writers you should be reading this summer.

By Mike Shea

Burning Questions

What is the safest way to dispose of a diseased cow carcass—and what does it have to do with the Ames strain of anthrax?

By Jim Atkinson

Lee Otis, Free

The troubled life of Lee Otis Johnson.

By John Schwartz

Ethan Hawke

Ethan Hawke on his second career, as a novelist.

By Pamela Colloff

Ray’s Quarry

Raymond C. Caballero, El Paso's feisty mayor.

By S. C. Gwynne

Cliff Hanger

A vacation to die for (almost).

By Kinky Friedman

Restaurant Guide

By Patricia Sharpe, Patricia McConnico, Eileen Schwartz and Stacy Hollister

Around the State

By Patricia McConnico, Eileen Schwartz and Katy Vine