Our next stop is in Perryville, Arkansas. Home of the Mustangs. Where folks bleed maroon and gray. And if you’re around in October, the whole town explodes with goats dressed as people and people dressed as goats for the Arkansas Goat Festival. It’s really a site to see.

Perryville began to see a larger population of settlers around 1830, but the first settlers arrived in 1808. In December of 1840, Perry County was named the 44th county of Arkansas and was named in honor of Commodore Oliver H. Perry of the US Navy.

One of the most interesting facts about Perryville, is that the courthouse has burned FIVE TIMES. For this reason, records only go back to 1881. The last time the courthouse was built, it was made from locally fired bricks. The courthouse still stands today and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

It wasn’t until 1901 that the first bridge was built to cross the Fourche River. In 1939 the bridge was replaced and over 3,000 people came to the dedication.

Today, Perryville still doesn’t have a stop light and folks like it that way. The sidewalks roll up at dark unless there’s a ballgame happening. Everybody still knows everybody and if you’re from out of town, get ready to be asked who you’re kin to❤️

I’m ending the year with a brand new cookbook. ”Favorite Recipes From Perryville, Arkansas: Compiled By The Perryville Rotary Club” is hot off the presses and packed full of awesome recipes.

Mexicali Rice is something my own Mama used to make when I was growing up. I thought I’d share it in the cookbook so others could love it as much as I do.

Couple of things:

1. My mom didn’t add beans to hers. She used 2lbs of hamburger instead.
2. She also put a tiny can of tomato sauce in with the meat. I like it without it.
3. Add salt. I forgot to put that in the recipe. Oops.

Hope y’all enjoy!