When a cake recipe becomes the centerpiece of milestone birthdays and a sweet expression of love from the hands that bake it, you know it’s something special. That’s exactly the story behind Wacky Cake for Susan and Don Frazier, both deeply involved with The Texas Center at Schreiner University. Over time, this humble, homespun dessert has done far more than satisfy a sweet tooth—it has marked celebrations, carried affection from kitchen to table, and quietly woven itself into the fabric of their shared story.
Wacky Cake carries a bit of frontier wisdom in its story, too. Long before it earned a place at modern celebrations, this humble recipe proved its worth out on the open range. Eggs weren’t always easy to come by on the trail, and cooks had to be resourceful with what they had on hand. Because this cake comes together beautifully without a single egg, it was perfectly suited for life on the frontier.
And here’s the real magic: nothing about the flavor feels like a compromise. Rich, tender, and deeply satisfying, Wacky Cake delivers every time—earning its place as a dessert hearty enough to please even the most deserving cowboy.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, salt, cocoa, baking soda, and sugar. Make 3 holes in the mixture; place vinegar, vanilla, and vegetable oil in each hole.
Pour water over the mixture and mix well.
Pour mixture into a greased pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Icing
Heat the chocolate and shortening in the microwave until melted. Add salt, powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Mix until combined.
Sometimes the very best gifts are the ones that quietly reveal the generous heart behind them. Belle Ladyman, a parishioner at Don Frazier’s (Director of The Texas Center at Schreiner University) home church, was known for arriving at gatherings with her famous creamed corn in tow—a dish that quickly became part of the church’s shared table and story. Don was especially fond of it, never missing a chance for a helping. So when he became betrothed to Susan, Belle chose a gift that was both personal and lasting: she handed over her treasured recipe, a simple but meaningful gesture that would carry her warmth into their new life together.
Susan and I prepared it together in her kitchen and she shared the treasured recipe card with me – showing the wear of a very used recipe. If you’ve never tasted homemade creamed corn (only the canned kind) you will fall in love with this recipe!
BELLE LADYMAN’S CREAM CORN
A Recipe sweet enough for a cherished wedding gift
In a saucepan, bring corn and butter to a boil. In a bowl, whisk together sugar, salt, flour, and milk. Add the bowl mixture to the saucepan and cook for 2 - 3 minutes until thick.
The Texas Story, Centered: A Conversation with Dr. Don Frazier
In the heart of the Hill Country, The Texas Center at Schreiner University is quietly doing something extraordinary: keeping the story of Texas alive, honest, and inclusive. At the helm is Dr. Don Frazier, historian and Director of The Texas Center, whose passion for storytelling and cultural sustainability is helping shape how Texans — both new and native — understand where they came from and where they’re headed.
I had the privilege of joining Don and his wife, Susan Frazier — Director of State House Press at the Texas Center — in their warm, sunlit Hill Country kitchen, where our conversation unfolded over the sights and smells of home. Together, we talked about their shared love of Texas while preparing a meal that beautifully reflected the state’s spirit: Smoked Pork Loin sizzling right on the stovetop, Creamed Corn made from a cherished wedding recipe, and Wacky Cake, a Depression-era dessert that pioneers once baked without eggs — a nod to resilience and resourcefulness that feels distinctly Texan.
As the scent of applewood and butter filled the air, the conversation turned naturally to the thing Don and Susan have dedicated their lives to sustaining: the Texas story itself. Over the rhythmic clatter of pots and laughter from across the counter, Don began explaining why understanding our past — in all its grit, grace, and complexity — is more vital now than ever.
Keeping the Story Honest
“At its core, The Texas Center is in the cultural sustainability business,” Don told me, leaning back slightly as if considering the long arc of history itself. “We’re honest brokers in telling the Texas story. We help natives and newcomers alike see how the past informs the present — and prepares us for the future.” He smiled, a hint of pride in his voice. “If we don’t tell our own story, who will?”
That sense of ownership and balance defines the Center’s mission. “We live in a very polarized world,” he continued. “That’s why we emphasize center in our name — we strive to be honest brokers amidst all the rancor.” In a time when history is often used to divide, The Texas Center aims to bring people together through an authentic, nuanced understanding of Texas itself.
More Than a Museum
While many might assume The Texas Center is a museum, Frazier is quick to clarify that it’s something much more alive. “We’re more of a think tank than a museum,” he said. “Our Texas art and artifacts help create an atmosphere where history and culture marinate our messaging.” The physical items may be few, but the ideas that circulate within those walls — discussions, research, and shared stories — are what truly animate the space.
Telling the Whole Story
For Frazier, part of honest storytelling means facing the parts of Texas history that have long been overlooked. “Historians have made huge strides in recent decades to include underrepresented voices,” he explained. “What needs to happen now is showing how all these stories connect — breaking down the silos.” His goal isn’t to rewrite history, but to expand it — to make sure every person who calls Texas home can see themselves reflected in its larger story.
And that kind of deeper understanding can change lives. “Folks who arrive with a narrow view of the Civil War, for instance, often leave realizing how nuanced and complicated it really was,” he said. “The same goes for people of Mexican heritage. The real story doesn’t fit on a bumper sticker or a meme.” It’s in these moments — where a visitor’s perspective widens — that Don feels the Center’s impact most clearly.
Why Stories Matter
So why, in a state built on legend and myth, does storytelling still matter? Frazier didn’t hesitate. “Because storytelling is how humans learn. It’s basic communication,” he said. “We are a place of great diversity — human, geographic, geologic, you name it. History shows how different elements came together to create, in essence, a new ethnic identity: the Texan.”
Storytelling, for him, isn’t about nostalgia — it’s a bridge between people, generations, and cultures. It’s how Texans, in all their complexity, find common ground.
When History Becomes Personal
That connection to the past runs deep for Frazier. “Between fifth and sixth grade,” he recalled, “I came across the graves of a dozen Texas Confederates in a cemetery in Macon, Georgia. These young men were a long way from home, and it made me ask my first real historical questions: Who were they? Why are they here? What happened to them?”
It was a formative moment — the spark that turned history from a school subject into a lifelong pursuit. “History was about real lives, real choices, real people,” he said. “Just like me.”
A Broader View
Since becoming Director of The Texas Center, Frazier’s appreciation for the state has only deepened. “This role has given me the chance to travel the width and breadth of Texas and meet its people,” he reflected. “It’s given me time to consider the whole sweep of the Texas story — and to develop a sort of thesis about what it all means.”
He’s come to see that Texas isn’t defined by a single story, but by the sum of thousands — stories of perseverance, creativity, and community.
The Texan Spirit
When asked what single story he would tell every Texan, Frazier smiled knowingly. “That’s tough,” he admitted. “There are so many. But I’d probably use several examples that show grit, determination, and endurance. Texans usually aren’t ones for quitting — in fact, we often do our best work when the odds are long.”
That theme of resilience weaves through every part of the Frazier household — from the stovetop Smoked Pork Loin to the Wacky Cake cooling on the counter, each bite telling a story of survival, resourcefulness, and pride.
The Takeaway
For Dr. Don Frazier, the story of Texas isn’t about glorifying the past — it’s about understanding ourselves. The Texas Center is more than a campus initiative; it’s a living conversation about who we are and who we still have the power to become. In a state known for its big skies and bigger personalities, Frazier’s work is a gentle reminder that our greatest strength lies not just in our independence, but in the shared story that binds us all together — one told honestly, with heart, and always from the center.
As our conversation wound down and the last slice of Wacky Cake was served, it was clear that in the Frazier home, storytelling doesn’t end at the written word — it continues at the table. Each dish we prepared told its own small piece of the Texas story: resourceful, rooted in tradition, and shared with a generous spirit. Just as The Texas Center keeps the state’s heritage alive through conversation and scholarship, Don and Susan keep it alive through flavor, memory, and the comfort of a home-cooked meal.
Follow The Texas Center at Schreiner University on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and X. Head over to thetexascenter.org and sign up for our week dose of Texas history delivered straight to your inbox. (Facebook https;//wwwfacebook.com/TexasEmpresario/)
If Fat Tuesday snuck up on you this year (it happens to the best of us), but you still want something iconic and soulful on the table, this Red Beans and Rice with Andouille has your back. It’s a streamlined, better-for-you spin on a classic that doesn’t sacrifice one ounce of flavor. In fact, it might surprise you with just how bold and layered it tastes.
Using canned kidney beans—especially the organic ones from H-E-B—saves serious time without compromising texture. They’re hearty, reliable, and the perfect base for soaking up all those smoky, savory flavors. Add in plenty of vegetables and sliced andouille, and you’ve got a dish that feels celebratory but still balanced.
For the rice, try mixing Texmati with a scoop of black rice. The contrast in color makes the whole dish pop, and the slightly nutty flavor adds depth. It turns a humble bowl into something dinner-party worthy.
Round it out with braised collards or kale on the side, and suddenly you’ve got a complete, vibrant Fat Tuesday meal—no soaking beans overnight required. Quick, colorful, and packed with flavor? That’s a Mardi Gras win.
Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to celebrate the people we love—family, friends, and anyone who makes life sweeter. And sometimes, the most romantic plan of all is staying in: a cozy dinner at home, finished with a classic, elegant dessert.
My high school band director used to say that people remember the first song and the last one—so think of this dessert as the grand finale. Even if dinner is as casual as hamburgers, this is the ending everyone will remember.
Bright, in-season citrus lightens the ricotta just enough, while the raspberry reduction brings that unmistakable Valentine’s pop of red. Best of all, it can be made ahead of time, so you’re free to enjoy the day right alongside your guests—no last-minute stress required.
2 1/2cupsfinely ground graham cracker crumbs about 18 crackers
1 1/4cupsgranulated sugar
1/4tspfine salt
2tspvanilla extract
1/2tspalmond extract
Zest of one lemon
Zest of 1 lime
Zest of 2 oranges
6largeeggslightly beaten
Raspberry Sauce
2cupsfresh raspberries
1/4cup sugar
1-2 tspfresh lemon juiceOrange can also be used in lieu of lemon
pinch of salt
opt: 1/2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Wrap foil around the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan
Spoon the ricotta into a fine mesh strainer set over a large bowl and set aside until well drained.
Meanwhile, brush the inside of the 9-inch springform pan with a little of the melted butter. Mix the graham cracker crumbs, remaining melted butter, 1/4 cup granulated sugar and salt together in a medium bowl until well moistened. Firmly press the mixture into the bottom and all the way up the sides of the pan. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
Raise the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bring a large pot of water to a boil and keep hot.
Beat the drained ricotta, remaining 1 cup granulated sugar, vanilla and almond extracts, lime, lemon and orange zests in a bowl and combine on medium speed using an electric mixer. Pour into the cooled crust.
Place springform pan in a deep roasting pan . Pour the hot water into the roasting pan until it reaches about 1/2 way up the sides of the pan. Place in oven and back about 1 hour and 40 minutes. (Until cake is slightly jiggly in the middle). Remove from the oven and cool. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. About 30 minutes before serving, run a knife along the edge of the pan to loosen the cheesecake, release the pan and carefully lift the ring off.
Serve, topped with a dusting of powder sugar ,fresh fruit, or whipped cream.
Raspberry Sauce
Add raspberries, sugar, lemon juice, and salt to a small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally until the berries break down and release their juices,
Removes from heat and blend until smooth (immersion blender works great).
Stir in vanilla if using. Let cool to room temp, then refrigerate. Keeps 5 - 7 days in fridge. Spoon on top of individual slices of ricotta cake.
Need a last-minute, crowd-pleasing option for Super Bowl Sunday? This easy, hearty sandwich has you covered. It’s simple to throw together, endlessly adaptable, and perfect for feeding a hungry group—just double or triple the recipe based on your lineup. With a little prep, it comes together quickly and slices easily to fit the size (and appetite) of your crowd.
H-E-B’s scratch-made French baguettes make this recipe especially convenient—two loaves per package for just under $3. Swap in your favorite ground meat, or keep it vegetarian by using a can of lentils mixed with an 8-ounce package of sautéed mushrooms. Either way, it’s a flavorful, no-stress win for game day.
1cupshredded mozzarella or provolonecan also use slices
Instructions
Heat evoo in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the ground meat and break up with a spatula. Cook until browned.
Season with Italian season, garlic, salt and pepper. Stir well. Remove to a bowl.
In same skillet, add a bit more oil if needed, Toss in the sliced peppers and onions. Saute until soft and slightly caramelized - about 7 - 8 minutes.
Slice each baguette lengthwise, like a giant sub, but don’t cut all the way through so it will open like a book. Lightly toast the baguette halves in the oven at 350degrees F for 5 minutes.
Remove from oven, layer in the cooked ground meat, pile on the peppers and onions. Sprinkle with shredded cheese.
Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Slice into individual servings. Serve with pickles and/or hot peppers. A side of crunchy chips and pickled veggies makes excellent pairings.
