Cheese grits, Goldee’s style
When working on the Goldee’s Bar-B-Q cookbook, my leftovers situation was out of hand. Barbecue, by design, is a cuisine made for groups. The portions are ample and the ingredients…
Side dish recipes
Broccoli grape salad, North Texas style
“Is broccoli salad on the menu?” a woman asked me as we waited in line for barbecue at Goldee’s Bar-B-Q in Kennedale, Texas. There was not, I replied. She shook…
Cherry lime slushy
Iced beverages are a summertime staple in Texas, a tradition that goes back many years. Before at-home refrigeration was widespread, people would shop at neighborhood ice houses to purchase the…
Ramen noodle salad, North Texas style
At a group dinner, across the table a friend was gushing about a coleslaw she brings to potlucks. She said it had cabbage, green onions, and noodles. Curious, I asked…
Blue cheese and bacon potato salad
Back in my queso era, I came across a recipe for queso potato salad. It was a blend of Jack cheese and peppers with potatoes that appealed to me in…
Indian-spiced potato gratin
One of the ways I learned to cook was by preparing the recipes presented to me in my daily media consumption. Thirty years ago, this included reading a paper version…
New Year’s Day grits and greens
A few years ago, I woke up on New Year’s Day with a craving for collard greens. While I ordinarily prefer coffee and banana smoothies for breakfast, I went with my urge and prepared a pot….
Chorizo cheese grits casserole
A few years ago, a Brooklyn friend announced she was going to smoke a pork shoulder for pulled pork. She’d provide the meat and the rest of us could bring…
Mexican bean salad, 1914 style
When you look at cookbooks from the early part of the nineteenth century, you’ll find extensive chapters on salads. Even though the books have been in print for over one hundred years, …
Cracker macaroni and cheese, North Texas style
The last dinner my grandma made for me was in November 2017. I was in town for a book signing, and while she hadn’t felt energetic enough to attend the…
