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Gifts for Proud Texans!

 

Is there a homesick Texan on your gift list? Or perhaps Texas pride runs deep in the family? A Texas-themed gift may be just what you're looking for. Whole Earth calls Texas home so we have quite an array of Texas items for people of all ages.

 

Bamboo Texas Cutting & Serving Board

If you’ve ever spent much time in Texas, you’re aware that Texans are a proud bunch. The shape of state is everywhere: on signs, t-shirts, tortilla chips, cookies, even hot tubs. The Totally Bamboo Texas Cutting Board is just the latest in a line of products honoring our fair state.  The Bamboo is sustainable, premium grade, grown with no pesticides or fertilizers, and the board is manufactured using no artificial colors, all to preserve food safety. Have a proud Texan who loves to cook or entertain? This Texas cutting and service board may be just the thing.

 

 

Nomadix State Flag: Texas Towel

Texans can declare themselves at the beach, lake, pool or hot yoga class with this Texas State Flag beach towel. Each towel is sustainably made of material that uses polyester thread made from certified post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, approximately 30 bottles per towel. Rather than dying threads and then weaving the designs, Nomadix has chosen to print them instead, reducing the amount of wastewater used in the process. They also participate in 1% for the Planet, where they donate 1% of their sales — not just profits — to environmental causes. So let your Texan show their Texas pride and support the planet!

 

 

Texas Whiskey: A Rich History of Distilling Whiskey in the Lone Star State by Nico Martini

When thinking of Texas spirits, whiskey might not be the first beverage that comes to mind. But the move to artisanal production of beer, cider, vodka and tequila has also blessed the state with a number of whiskey distilleries. Texas Whiskey describes over 100 of them in a 500 page field guide to "World Class Bourbons, Premier Ryes, and New Single Malts from the Lone Star State." The Garrison Brothers began the first distillery in the aftermath of Enron and jump-started a new Texas tradition. Texas Whiskey divides the state into regions, visits distilleries and catalogs some of their best offerings. Descriptions of the different spirits include proof, nose and palate. Take the tour, on the page or on the road (with a designated driver), and sample some of Texas' best.

 

 

The Swimming Holes of Texas by Julie Wernersbach and Carolyn Tracy

Here's another potential Texas tour: swimming holes! While it won't be possible to start visiting these swimming holes until warm weather returns, the gift of The Swimming Holes of Texas will allow for the planning to begin and anticipation to grow for fun in 2022. The book describes 100 Texas swimming holes in detail. Information includes a description of the swimming experience, the history and ecology of the site, admission fees, hours, parking and amenities like restrooms and showers as well as pointing out sites that are family and dog friendly. The book is divided by region so it's easy to plan a summer tour of the best Texas swimming holes.

 

 

Tumbleweed Texstyles Bluebonnet T-Shirt

Texans love their Bluebonnets. And what's not to love? Whether it's a solitary plant blooming its heart out or acres of Bluebonnets gathered together to delight the eye and the nose (Bluebonnets have a wonderful spicy scent!), Bluebonnets bring us joy. However, Bluebonnets are a difficult plant to paint or draw. That's one reason we like the Tumbleweed Texstyles Bluebonnet T-shirt. It's a surprisingly good rendering of how a blossom is put together, and it's in the shape of Texas! Made of soft cotton/polyester blend, the shirts are unisex sized and will be appreciated by Bluebonnet lovers.

 

 

The Homesick Texan Cookbook by Lisa Fain

Lisa Fain was a homesick Texan living in New York City looking for the comfort foods of home when she began collecting the recipes that eventually became The Homesick Texan Cookbook. What sets this cookbook apart from many others is Fain's skill at reproducing Tex Mex and other classic Texas foods that just might be more delicious than the originals. And with her clear instructions, the chances of a successful outcome are excellent. If you're not a Texan, you may be surprised at the strong Southern influence running through the cookbook. It's genuine and oh so good. If you live in Texas, finding the chiles and other local ingredients will be a breeze. If you're sending the cookbook to a homesick Texan, you can send regular care packages of dried chiles and other useful items like canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce. If you're ready to up your Tex Mex skillset or you're sending some love to a Texan who's far from home, this cookbook is a winner. 

 

 

Queso! Regional Recipes for the World's Favorite Chile-Cheese Dip by Lisa Fain

With Lisa Fain's latest cookbook Queso! Regional Recipes for the World's Favorite Chile-Cheese Dip you'll find winning recipes for potlucks and football and family gatherings during the holidays. Give the home team something to cheer about with a scrumptious chips and queso treat. If you've enjoyed Fain's Homesick Texan cookbooks, then you'll be confident that she knows all about good queso. She starts with a survey of chile con queso the "early years", visits Tex-Mex classics, moves on to some modern quesos from the Border, and adds quirky quesos and a good selection of recipes that use queso as an added ingredient. Your friends and family will be enjoying these recipes for years to come.

 

 

Houston Cooks: Recipes from the City's Favorite Restaurants and Chefs by Francine Spiering

Houston is an international city with folks from around the world calling it home. This is reflected in the number of restaurants offering cuisines that have their roots far from Texas. In Houston Cooks: Recipes from the City's Favorite Restaurants and Chefs, Francine Spiering introduces us to some of the best loved restaurants and chefs in the city who generously share a few of their most popular and favorite recipes. This is not necessarily a cookbook for the novice. Some of the recipes are from fine dining establishments so one might spend the day prepping for a spectacular centerpiece for a fancy dinner. The range of recipes in Houston Cooks is truly international and also includes homegrown and fusion dishes. The book features 40 restaurants and 80 recipes. The recipes include: appetizers and small plates, brunch, soups, salads and sides, mains, desserts, and drinks.

 

 

One Hundred 80 Degrees State of Texas Dish

Remember when we said that you can find all sorts of things in the shape of Texas? Here's one of our favorites: the One Hundred 80 Degrees State of Texas Dish. This is a one quart stoneware casserole that's microwave and dishwasher safe. It's decorated with a crowd of iconic Texas people, places and critters including Ladybird and Willie, Big Bend and the Alamo, as well as a shrimp, bison and roadrunner. We like this dish for cornbread but it's a useful size for all sorts of casseroles and sides. It can be used as a serving dish or put it on display! If you're shopping in-store, we have an even larger, two quart version of this fun State of Texas Dish.

 

 

One Hundred 80 Degrees Texas Dish Towel

If you like the State of Texas Dish, you'll be pleased to know that there is a matching Texas Dish Towel. The same artist, Faye Passow, has added even more iconic Texas items to the towel. It makes a fun hostess gift, can be used to wrap smaller gift items, and when put to use at home, greatly reduce the use of paper towels, one small victory for the planet! Plus, dish towels lend a touch of color and flair in the kitchen. So add a Texas Dish Towel to your collection or share the love with another Texan.

 

 

Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas by Stephen Harrigan

You may have seen Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas on our suggested gift lists before. Why? Because it's a great book about Texas. Is there a history buff on your gift list? How’s their grasp of Texas history? Even if they think they know it all, there are many surprises to entertain and consider in this grand retelling of the history of Texas. Stephen Harrigan is an engaging guide who focuses on intriguing characters, riveting stories and telling details. He’s written a page-turning account of Texas from the days of the ancient peoples who quarried Alibates flints on the High Plains to George W. Bush. A reader can open it anywhere and find a fascinating story just waiting to carry them away.

 

 

So as we said earlier, we have lots of items with a Texas theme. These truly are just a few of our favorites. Visit one of our brick and mortar stores or check out our online store. There's a special Homesick Texan Collection!