Tex-Mex sloppy Joe sandwich
The other day, I was in a taqueria eating a sandwich stuffed with a spicy, saucy picadillo that was rich with tomatoes and…
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Churro brownies
Often I’ll hear about new restaurants in Texas to try and because I’m thousands of miles away, I can only look at the…
Brown sugar and coffee glazed ham
Ham has long been a favorite celebration dish in my family. We usually serve it on big feast days such as Easter, Thanksgiving,…
Shepherd’s pie with chipotle-Cheddar mashed potatoes
Recently I heard one woman’s cooking described as “mom food.” When asked to explain, it was said that her food was simple and…
Chicken-fried steak with red chile gravy
One summer day, while driving along the Rio Grande from Laredo to McAllen I began to get hungry. As I passed through the…
Roast chicken with bacon, tomatoes, and green chiles
My friends keep telling me I should get an Instant Pot. They sing its praised though I’m still not convinced. This is mainly…
Crazy nachos
Whenever I fly into Dallas, my first stop is Herrera’s on Sylvan. It’s a family-owned Tex-Mex restaurant that I’ve been eating at almost…
Spicy applesauce cake
My great-grandma Blanche loved applesauce cake. In fact, her recipe collection has no less than five versions of this classic snack cake, all…
Fifteen great bites across Texas
Last November, I spent almost the entire month in Texas. Over the course of several weeks, I drove around the state doing book…
Pickled black-eyed peas
When Helen Corbitt, the famed Texan chef, arrived in Texas from New York in 1931, she was presented with the state’s love for…
Have a cookie! All posts
Hatch chile chocolate chip cookies
These chewy chocolate chip cookies have a lively kick from roasted green chiles. A handful of sweet pecans adds a bit of crunch.
Comforting casserolesAll posts
Black-eyed pea and hominy casserole
A comforting, cheesy Tex-Mex casserole made with black-eyed peas, hominy, and bacon. Terrific for cooler days and New Year’s Day!
Ham and cheese croissant casserole
Croissants, eggs, ham, and cheese are baked together to make a tender, savory casserole. It’s perfect for breakfast, but with a side salad it works well as a lunch or supper, too.
Pork enchilada verde casserole
Layers of shredded pork, Poblano salsa verde, corn tortillas, and cheese are baked together in this casserole that has all of the pleasures of enchiladas without any of the fuss.
Squash and green chile casserole
If you’re a Texan of a certain age, then you probably remember Liz Carpenter. Mrs. Carpenter was most famously Lady Bird Johnson’s press…