Abilene’s Famous Food Secret Is No Secret Anymore and Here’s Why

Not too long ago, I asked my sweet, incredible wife if she ever craved dessert after dinner, to which she answered, "Yes, I wish I could go through Mack Eplen's Drivateria and order their Lemon Ice Box Pie."

To which I replied, "I would love to have those Pink Thumbprint Cookies." The debate was on. My wife said, "James Mack Eplen made himself famous for two things: the Mack's Square Burger and his Lemon Ice Box Pie."

To settle the argument about Eplen's most famous recipes, I reached out to Mack's great-niece, Terri Eplen-Kleen. Terri confirmed that her uncle Mack's Lemon Ice Box Pie and Square Burger are the top most requested recipes. She then added that the Pink Thumbprint Cookies are in the top five. So at least my favorite made the list.

Get our free mobile app

With that argument settled, I asked Terri if there was any way she would ever share the secret family recipes with me, and I promised to never share them with anyone else. I then learned that the secret recipes are no longer a secret (as you'll see in the video below).

Terri has gathered all of the Eplen family's "secret recipes" and published them in two cookbooks, "Mack Eplen's Best Kept Secret Volume 1" and "Volume 2" (published by Create My Cookbook). My wife then informed me she already owned the two autographed cookbooks and had ordered them years ago.

While Mack Eplen's Drivateria was a West Texas favorite from the 1930s until the late 1970s and is dearly missed today, one can now create these cherished recipes at home. Terri can also be found on Mack Eplen's Facebook page where she shares what she cooks from time to time.

Terri revealed that Mack's "Square Burger" was an Eplen family original until Wendy's restaurants decided to copy it. However, Wendy's could never figure out the spices that give them that unique flavor. Terri shared with me that it was Uncle Mack's secret ingredient known as Carne Guisada seasonings.

So if you're craving some Abilene history, try the not-so-secret recipes from Terri Eplen's cookbooks (order Vol. 1 or order Vol. 2). If you are cooking, give me a call, and I'll be right over.