Strawberry cream cheese kolaches
Last week I began the writing phase of my book, which means every morning I get up early and begin working. Because I like to write without any distractions, I…
Bread recipes
Blueberry lime oatmeal muffins
The other day my grandma asked me, “What have you been doing with yourself lately?” She had noticed it’s been quiet on the blog this summer and I told her…
Strawberry spoon bread
Every spring when the wildflowers bloom, Texans will say thank you to Mrs. Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson, the former first lady and native Texan who made it her life’s work…
Irish cheddar and bacon soda bread
When we first moved to Houston from Dallas, one of our new neighbors greeted us with a homemade gift. “Welcome to the neighborhood!” she said. “I made you some Irish…
Chocolate-cherry scones with cinnamon-orange butter
Sometimes you get a craving. For me, it was a slice of chocolate-cherry bread, that sweet yeasty loaf from Central Market riddled with chunks of bittersweet chocolate and tart, juicy…
Sweet potato biscuits with chorizo cream gravy
On Wednesday mornings, I take a tour of Texas’s foodways via its newspapers. I may learn about Mexican cookies being baked in San Antonio; a chile pepper rivalry between El…
Jalapeno cheese bun recipe for a proper Texas burger
When I first moved to New York, I was struck by the presence of what was called a Texas burger. At first I was thrilled, curious as to what it…
Molletes with homemade bolillos
Do you love refried beans and cheese? Do you love a crusty yet soft roll? Then allow me to introduce you to a superb Mexican dish: molletes. Earlier this summer,…
Cemita sandwiches with homemade rolls
Have you ever had a cemita? It’s a sandwich found in the Mexican state of Puebla. At first glance, you may think it looks like a hamburger as it’s housed…
Honey-soaked hot cross buns
The first time I heard of hot cross buns was during a piano lesson. It was early in my (very short) musical career, so I could only play songs that…