First Families of the Twin Territories

[old okie]

Anyone here a member of this group? If so, that means that some of your family members were here prior to statehood...and may have made the land run of '89, or one of the others.

The reason why I'm posting this is a strange request, really. It was well-documented that the first crops the settlers planted failed in 1890 due to drought, but they planted turnips in the fall and had a bountiful harvest before the first frost. The settlers actually survived that dreadful time by using the turnips for everything--personal food, as substitues in many recipes, feed for animals, etc.

A number of years ago when I was teaching Oklahoma history, I assigned a project for my students to research their family histories. One student found that her great-grandmother had many recipes that used turnips. I would LOVE to find a resource for such recipes, as we are now covered up with our own bountiful turnip crop! I've searched Oklahoma cookbooks and the Internet to no avail...except the "standard" uses for turnips.

Any ideas, suggestions, resources from your own families? I know this is a weird one, but I figure if anyone can give me information about this, it will be someone here.

This thread might fit better under "Food and Restaurants," so to the mods, feel free to move it, and re-title if needed.

[Generals64]

Anyone here a member of this group? If so, that means that some of your family members were here prior to statehood...and may have made the land run of '89, or one of the others.

The reason why I'm posting this is a strange request, really. It was well-documented that the first crops the settlers planted failed in 1890 due to drought, but they planted turnips in the fall and had a bountiful harvest before the first frost. The settlers actually survived that dreadful time by using the turnips for everything--personal food, as substitues in many recipes, feed for animals, etc.

A number of years ago when I was teaching Oklahoma history, I assigned a project for my students to research their family histories. One student found that her great-grandmother had many recipes that used turnips. I would LOVE to find a resource for such recipes, as we are now covered up with our own bountiful turnip crop! I've searched Oklahoma cookbooks and the Internet to no avail...except the "standard" uses for turnips.

Any ideas, suggestions, resources from your own families? I know this is a weird one, but I figure if anyone can give me information about this, it will be someone here.

This thread might fit better under "Food and Restaurants," so to the mods, feel free to move it, and re-title if needed.

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this is "cool" request...I have a friend in the Moore area that his Great Grandparents were in the run of '89 and this guys and his family and his parents still live on the same land that was granted to his Great Grandparents. I'll ask his mother if she remembers anything . But, to find some extra types of uses of Turnips, try Ree Drummond (the pioneer Woman on the internet). Her husband is a drummond from the past and they still live on the ranch that was a drummond land grant or whatever. She has a tremendous cook book and has an extremely large Fan base on the internet....

[old okie]

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this is "cool" request...I have a friend in the Moore area that his Great Grandparents were in the run of '89 and this guys and his family and his parents still live on the same land that was granted to his Great Grandparents. I'll ask his mother if she remembers anything . But, to find some extra types of uses of Turnips, try Ree Drummond (the pioneer Woman on the internet). Her husband is a drummond from the past and they still live on the ranch that was a drummond land grant or whatever. She has a tremendous cook book and has an extremely large Fan base on the internet....

Thank you for the excellent suggestion! I will look for Ree Drummond on the Net, but it would be really neat to have some of the 'authentic' recipes from the era. Please do ask your friend's mom. She may say that they aren't "up-dated for modern measurements," but I know how to do that as I had to do that for several of my own great-grandma's recipes.

[MsDarkstar]

You might check the gift shop at either the Oklahoma History Center or the Cowboy Hall of Fame (or whatever they're calling it nowadays). They usually have cookbooks.

[old okie]

You might check the gift shop at either the Oklahoma History Center or the Cowboy Hall of Fame (or whatever they're calling it nowadays). They usually have cookbooks.

Thank you for the suggestion. Last I checked, the cookbooks were really good, but none had the turnip recipes I'm seeking, but there may be something new out since I last looked at them.

[papaOU]

Thank you for the suggestion. Last I checked, the cookbooks were really good, but none had the turnip recipes I'm seeking, but there may be something new out since I last looked at them.

Have you asked a person at the historical society about the recipes? Maybe a researcher?

[old okie]

Have you asked a person at the historical society about the recipes? Maybe a researcher?

Yes, I did, but it has been a number of years ago. But it may just be something that was lost over the years. Perhaps someone will see this post and mention it to an older friend or relative who might have an "old" recipe box or collection. I'm just hoping.