BLT wedge salad with chipotle blue cheese dressing
This time of year, when most days it’s too darn hot to stand in front of the stove, let alone turn on the oven, I start eating a lot of…
Main dish recipes
Jalapeño and beer brined pork chops
“Are you familiar with the pork chop theory?” asked food writer Virginia Willis. I admitted that I was not. “Let me explain,” she said. And then she did. Before I…
Beef enchiladas with chipotle-pasilla chili gravy
For Lent, I gave up beef. Now, I wouldn’t say that I necessarily have a beef-eating problem, but there was a period right before Ash Wednesday when I found myself…
Jalapeño egg salad recipe
This week, I’ve been plowing through my book’s page proofs, making corrections and cuts where needed. Unfortunately, I’m a bit of a perfectionist and when I turn in the proofs…
Pastoral tacos
A friend was in town visiting from Mexico City last week, and we’d planned to get together and cook. Unfortunately, circumstances prevented us from hanging out, and so she said…
Jalapeño and cheese breakfast casserole recipe
“Will you be here for breakfast?” asked my mom. I replied that I would. “Great!” she said. “I’ll make Sue’s eggs.” Sue is a friend of my mom’s, and she…
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…
Ribs with Sam Houston’s barbecue sauce
“Grand Barbecue!” read the headline announcing a large gathering for Senator Sam Houston in the Texas Banner. This was back in 1847, so it’s apparent that Texans have been eating…
Fried oysters with a chipotle-lime dipping sauce
I have to admit that I’m not in love with raw oysters. Nope, if I’m going to eat an oyster, I prefer that it be fried. It all began when…
Brisket tacos, Dallas style
When it comes to Super Bowl food, people usually make culinary specialties from the hometowns of the opposing teams. With no disrespect to this year’s contenders, Green Bay and Pittsburgh,…
