Ancho chile shrimp quesadillas
For me, driving through Texas is therapeutic. Seeing the big sky, the wide-open spaces, the cattle, the trees, and the cacti out my window is always a pleasure—coming from New…
Appetizer recipes
Armadillo eggs recipe
Once a year, a reader shoots me an email asking when I’ll be writing an armadillo eggs recipe. At first I said, “Uh, armadillos are mammals—they don’t lay eggs!” But…
Boudin (boudain) recipe, a pork and rice Cajun sausage
A few years ago, a friend was visiting Toronto and found a Cajun store. He had grown up in Louisiana, so he called me, thrilled that he had discovered a…
Ensalada de Noche Buena (Christmas Eve salad)
A few days ago, I admitted that I hate beets. Now, you’d think I’d announced I hate sunshine or bluebonnets the way people reacted. “How did this happen?” said one….
Pickled green tomatoes
There was a day back in June when I was driving my mom’s car around the Brazos Valley. I didn’t have a destination, I was simply enjoying the quiet country…
Fried pickles
Last week, everyone was talking about fried pickles. Sure, fried pickles are good but why all the sudden interest? Well, apparently a popular TV show about New Jersey beaches (or…
Purple hull pea salad
I’ve been working on the pickle section of my book, and I’ve concluded that just about anything can be brined and preserved. Fruit, vegetables, meat, and eggs—it’s a rare food…
Deviled ham salad
After a full day in the kitchen, I like to take a walk to clear my head. On a recent stroll, I spotted a friend holding court in a neighborhood…
Horchata, a refreshing rice and almond beverage
I have to admit that the first time I had horchata was not in Texas. Nope, I had it at here in my New York City neighborhood, at a local…
Queso flameado
I know that somewhere in my head there are eloquent words to describe my love of queso flameado, but right now I’m just too tuckered out from work to find…
