A namesake of her native state, Oklahoma Unruh proudly wore her name for more than ninety years, expressing the same spirit of adventure and courage that pervades the Sooner State. Trained in the kitchen from an early age, Oklahoma's passion for cooking from scratch inspired one of Oklahoma City's most popular and respected restaurants for nearly 20 years. This cookbook is not only filled with the real-butter and pure-cream recipes that were the hallmark of Cathy's Cupboard, it also chronicles the strength, virtues and good humor of an Oklahoma native daughter and her family. Through the eyes of one of her daughters, tribute is paid to the spirit-nourishing goodness of a woman named Oklahoma and her unique approach to life and the palate. A true celebration oflife, family, friendship and love of culinary indulgence, Oklahoma Was Her Name is a treasure to be passed on from Oklahoma's family to yours.



Elinor "Ellie" Unruh White owned and operated Cathy's Cupboard in Oklahoma City after purchasing it from her niece in 1995. One of five children born to Oklahoma Unruh and husband Robert, Ellie worked alongside her mother andsister at the restaurant. She graduated from Classen High School in Oklahoma City, attended Principia College in Illinois and later graduated from the University of Oklahoma. Ellie raised a family in Chandler, Oklahoma, where she also owned an interior design business and wrote weekly newspaper columns for the Lincoln County News. She was a member of Chandler's City Planning Commission, chairman of Chandler's Historic Preservation Commission and active in the Lincoln County Historical Society. Ellie was a founder and past president of the Lincoln County Arts and Humanities Council, served as chairman of the Lincoln County Republican Party and was appointed by Governor Henry Bellmon to the Oklahoma Housing Finance Authority.