Red lentils with jalapeños and lime
One of my dearest friends recently gave up eating meat. As we were talking about her new lifestyle, I asked if she was enjoying lots of beans. She replied that…
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Chili Queens chili
The first time I heard about the San Antonio Chili Queens, I was on a plane. A friend wanted to make a documentary about Tex-Mex, and she showed me her…
Rice pudding with grapefruit and pecans
In Mary Koock Faulk’s The Texas Cookbook, I came across a side dish that cooked rice with the juice and zest from an orange. Since both are key Texan crops,…
Green chile pork posole
Last week, I lost my sense of smell. Thankfully, my sense of taste was still functioning, so eating wasn’t completely strange. But everything had only the basic essence of salt,…
Tamale breakfast casserole
The other day, a friend and I were discussing Texan holiday traditions. We agreed that fruit cake, cookies, party mix, and homemade candies were always around. And for the main…
Spicy sweet potato sausage balls
From Thanksgiving to Christmas, it’s officially sausage ball season at my house. These savory snacks made from a blend of breakfast sausage, cheese, and biscuit mix are what would happen…
South Texas mole
One fall day, I was making enchiladas at my uncle’s house. As I prepared a tomato-based chile gravy, he suggested that I stir in some cocoa powder. “If you do…
Jalapeño bacon pull-apart cheese bread
When it comes to comfort, there’s nothing more soothing than the combination of carbs and dairy. Macaroni and cheese, cheese enchiladas, chips and queso—all are dishes I’ll turn to when…
Country-style pork ribs and sauerkraut
My family loves sauerkraut. My father has a stone crock so he can ferment it at home, and my mom has also canned batches when her garden was overflowing with…
Cheesy baked pasta with chorizo
Back when I was learning to cook, one of my favorite combinations was pasta, sauce, cheese, and ricotta. That summer, I waited tables at an Italian restaurant and on the…
