Lady Bird Johnson's Recipes

Cheese Wafers

Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson's recipe for...

Cheese Wafers

1 Cup Margarine or Soft Butter

2 Cups Flour

8 oz. Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Grated

1 Tsp. Cayenne Pepper

1/2 Tsp Salt

2 Cups Rice Krispies Cereal

Cut butter into flour, add cheese and seasonings, fold in cereal. Drop by small rounds on ungreased cookie sheet and flatten with a spoon.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 12-15 minutes, depending oven (careful not to get too brown). Yields approximately 5 dozen wafers.

Cheese Wafers are a *ranch staple* which are served on all occasions: with salads, with cocktails, etc., or just when one of the grandchildren gets the *munchies!*

 

Chocolate Nut Drop Cookies

Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson's recipe for...

Chocolate Nut Drop Cookies

1 Cup Butter

1/2 Cup Eggs (2 or 3)

3 Cups Cake Flour

1 Teaspoon Salt

2 Cups Light Brown Sugar

1 Cup Milk

1 Teaspoon Soda

4 Squares Chocolate

2 Cups Walnuts, Chopped

2 Cups Teaspoons, Vanilla

Cream butter, then add the sifted brown sugar gradually. Cream until light and fluffy.

Add the well-beaten eggs to the creamed ingredients.

Sift together the dry ingredients and add with milk alternately.

Add melted chocolate, chopped nuts and vanilla. Fold into mixture.

Drop by teaspoonfuls (one inch apart) on oiled baking sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.

Makes 6 dozen.

 

Delma's Cold Chicken Platter!

Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson's recipe for...

Delma's Cold Chicken Platter!

Chicken Breasts Cut In Strips

Olive Oil

3 T Lemon Juice

Capers

Salt and Pepper

Green Beans

Tomatoes

Salt and Pepper chicken and marinate overnight in olive oil. Lemon juice and capers.

Saute chicken briefly in olive oil and a little butter. Remove and let cool.

Blanche green beans and cook just enough so they are crunchy. Season with Salt and Pepper.

Thick slices of quality tomatoes, lightly salted and peppered.

Arrange chicken, green beans and tomato slices on a large platter.

Sprinkle a few extra capers over the platter and add a few sprigs of parsley (if desired).

Good for a Summer Luncheon or Buffet!

 

Hush Puppies

Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson's recipe for...

Hush Puppies

2 Cups White Corn Meal

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

3 Tablespoons Sugar

1/4 Cup Butter

1 Tablespoon Salt

3 1/2 Cups Boiling Water

Over heat, combine corn meal, baking powder and salt and add slowly to 3 1/2 cups boiling water, stirring briskly.

As soon as mixture is smooth, remove from heat and stir in butter. Cool.

Shape into "fingers" and fry in 2 inches hot fat (375 degrees) until golden brown. Drain on absorbent paper.

Makes about three dozen Hush Puppies.

 

Lace Cookies

Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson's recipe for...

Lace Cookies

1/2 Cup Flour

1/2 Cup Coconut

1/4 Cup Karo Syrup (Red or Blue Label)

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar Firmly Packed

1/4 Cup Margarine

1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla

Mix flour with coconut. Mix karo syrup, sugar and margarine until well blended - - cook over medium heat stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Gradually blend in flour mixture.

Drop by teaspoon fulls three to four inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees until brown around the edges (approximately 15-20 minutes). Makes 24 cookies.

Lace cookies are served alone or with fresh peach ice cream at the ranch. They're also perfect for that special tea or brunch.

 

LBJ Ranch Pickled Okra

Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson's recipe for...

LBJ Ranch Pickled Okra

3 LBS. Whole Okra

6 Hot Peppers

6 Cloves Peeled Garlic

1 Quart Vinegar

1 1/3 Cups Water

1/2 Cup Salt

1 T Mustard Seed

Wash Okra and pack in clean jars.

Add to each jar 1 hot Pepper and 1 Clove of Garlic.

Bring remaining ingredients to a boil. Cover okra with hot liquid, filling to within 1/2 inch of jar top. Adjust lids.

Process in boiling water for 10 minutes.

 

LBJ Ranch Spiced Tea

Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson's recipe for...

LBJ Ranch Spiced Tea

8 Cups Boiling Water

4 Family-Size Tea Bags

Small Can of Frozen Limeade

Small Can of Frozen Orange Juice

1 Stick of Cinnamon

Few whole Cloves

Sugar or Sweet and Low to taste

Place in a large pot and simmer a few minutes. May be served hot or cold. This is a favorite of family and guests at the Ranch -- Summer or Winter!!

 

 

 

 

Lemon Squares

Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson's recipe for...

Lemon Squares

2 Cups Flour

1/4 Cup Sugar

1 Cup Butter

Mix first 3 ingredients as for Pie Crust.

Pat into an 9 x 18 Jelly Roll Pan. Bake at 350 until very light brown -- about 15 minutes.

2 Cups Sugar

1 Tsp. Baking Powder

4 Tbsp. Flour

3 Beaten Eggs

Juice and Rind of 2 Lemons

Mix ingredients in order given and pour over baked crust. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until set. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Mollie Parnis Livingston, a dear friend of Mrs. Johnson's, gave her this recipe for lemon squares and it is one of her favorites.

The cook at the LBJ Ranch keeps them in the freezer so Mrs. Johnson will always have them when she wants a snack or a delicious ending to a meal!

 

 

Pedernales River Chili

Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson's recipe for...

Pedernales River Chili

4 Pounds Chili Meat (Coarsely-Ground Round Steak or well-trimmed chuck)

1 Large Onion, Chopped

2 Cloves Garlic

1 Teaspoon Ground Oregano

1 Teaspoon Comino Seed

6 Teaspoons Chili Powder (or more, if needed)

1 1/2 Cups Canned Whole Tomatoes

2-6 Generous Dashes Liquid Hot Sauce

2 Cups Hot Water

Salt to Taste

Place meat, onion and garlic in large, heavy pan or dutch oven, cook until light in color. Add oregano, comino seed, chili powder, tomatoes, hot pepper sauce, salt and hot water.

Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for about 1 hour. Skim off fat during cooking.

 

 

Spoon Bread

Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson's recipe for...

Spoon Bread

3 Cups of Sweet Milk

3 Eggs

1 scant cup of Corn Meal

Butter the size of a Walnut, melted

3 level teaspoons Baking Powder

1 level teaspoon Salt

Stir corn meal into 2 cups of milk and let mixture come to a boil. Making a mush. Add the remaining milk and well-beaten eggs. Stir in salt. Baking powder and melted butter. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

"Spoon bread was one of the Lyndon's Mother's delightful dishes," says Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson, "with a salad (fruit or green) and meat, it makes a perfect lunch."

 

 

Turkey Dressing

Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson's recipe for...

Turkey Dressing

Medium-size pan of Corn Bread

4 slices of toasted Bread

1 stalk chopped Celery

3 large Onions, chopped

6 Eggs

1/4 cup Butter

Salt, Pepper, Sage

Stock from Turkey

Mix together bread and corn bread that has been crumbled with stock from turkey. Be sure to use enough stock so it will not be stiff. Add eggs and remaining ingredients. Bake slowly for one hour.

Serves 8

 

Shrimp Squash Casserole

Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson's recipe for...

Shrimp Squash Casserole

3 Cups Yellow Squash

3/4 Cups Ran Shrimp

2 Tablespoons Margarine

2 Tablespoons Flour

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1/8 Teaspoon Pepper

1 Cup Chicken Broth

1/2 Cup Whipping Cream

1 Tablespoon finely Minced Onion

1/2 Cup Coarse Bread Crumbs

1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 Tablespoon Melted Margarine

- Wash and dry Squash. Cut crosswise into 1/4 inch slices.

- Thoroughly rinse shrimp under cold water and drain.

- Heat 2 tablespoons of margarine in sauce pan. Blend in flour, salt and pepper, cook until it bubbles.

- Remove from heat and add chicken broth gradually stirring constantly. Bring to a boil for 1 or 2 months.

- Blend in cream and minced onions. Mix in raw shrimp.

- Layer squash in 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. Spoon half of shrimp sauce over squash. Repeat with remaining squash and shrimp sauce.

- Cover tightly and place in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes.

- Meanwhile toss crumbs and parmesan cheese with melted margarine.

- After 30 minutes, top squash/shrimp with bread crumbs.

- Reduce oven heat to 350 degrees and return casserole to oven for 15 minutes or until crumbs are golden brown.

 

King Ranch Casserole

Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson's recipe for...

King Ranch Casserole

1/4 Cup Margarine

1 Large Onion, chopped

1 Can Ro-Tel Tomatoes

1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup

1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 Cup Chicken Stock

10 Corn Tortillas

2 Cups Diced Cooked Chicken

1 Cup Grated Longhorn Cheese

Preheat Oven to 300 Degrees

In a large saucepan, melt margarine over medium heat, add onion and cook until transparent, add tomatoes, soups and stock. Cook stirring until thickened.

In a large flat casserole, layer tortillas, chicken and sauce, top with cheese and bake 30 minutes.

Serves 6