COWGIRL PROVISIONS

PHOTOGRAPHED BY EMILY HENDERSON

SOOTHE THE SOUL A Journey of Food

COWGIRL PROVISIONS’ OWNER ANNIE PRYOR SHARES HER ARTISTIC TALENT THROUGH HER LOVE OF FOOD

WRITTEN BY MICHELLE BANSE STOKES

With inspired dishes like Marry Me Meatloaf and Aunt Sally’s Corn Soup, Cowgirl Provisions entrepreneur chef Annie Pryor has become renowned in the area for her culinary skills. Her high standards have set a new paradigm in Flatonia with Cowgirl Provisions. Pryor’s story is an inspiring one of someone who worked her way up through the trenches to follow her passion for food.

Annie, which is her father’s nickname for her, said that she learned life, food, and love of people from him growing up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. After college, Pryor began in hospitality in New Orleans and then went on to Washington D.C.

“I started with humble beginnings,” said Pryor. “I worked for a law firm in Washington, and I started selling sticky buns, apple pies and chocolate cake on the side. That side job quickly turned into a thriving catering business, retail storefront, and over 75 on-call employees. When I first began, I worked in an industrial kitchen commissary. Every Christmas, the facility had a contract for two tons of Chex Party Mix, and they made it in small batches. I’ve never seen so much of the stuff in my whole life. Recently one of my customers asked if I could make him a batch. I made it for him and now people call me all the time now for party mix. I find it hilarious!”

One might begin to wonder how this big city chef ended up settling in a small, Texas town like Flatonia. Although she had spent a lot of time building her career in metropolitan areas, all it took FLATONIA, TEXAS | 14

PHOTOGRAPHED BY EMILY HENDERSON

was one wrong turn for Pryor to decide Flatonia was home.

“I was on the way to look at property in Shiner because I have friends that live there,” shared Pryor. “My realtor took a wrong turn and I fell in love with this building. It was the perfect location for Cowgirl Provisions. Here I can do what I love, creating beauty through food and making people happy. I always know I’ve done a good job when the room goes silent, and people quit talking because they are eating. When there is silence, I know they are enjoying their food.”

Popular dishes from Cowgirl Provisions include smoked chicken and spinach white lasagna, vegetable casseroles, Greek salads, sesame noodles and Signature Chocolate Chip Cookies dusted with sea salt. Her soups which are also a hit with her customers, year-round.

“I do a pulled pork tortilla soup that is wonderful and a lot of Stryk Jersey Farm milk-based soups,” added Pryor. “My aunt used to make the best creamed corn, so I created a soup called Aunt Sally’s Corn Soup, as a tribute to her. I season my Hot Tamale Chips for the tortilla soup with my original Cowgirl Crack Seasoning. My latest creation, Warm Feta, is a recipe from the past which has renewed popularity with my grazing tables.”

Cowgirl Provisions is located at 116 East South Main Street in Flatonia. The menu, information on catering to-go, and her cooking classes are available on social media and through the Flatonia Chamber of Commerce.