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…
Side dish recipes
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…
Sunday pinto beans
Every Sunday afternoon, I make a pot of pinto beans. They’re nothing special, I just like to keep beans on hand for when I get a craving during the week….
King Ranch hominy casserole
There are several ways to make a cheesy, creamy hominy casserole, and my grandma’s is the simplest method of all. While some recipes have you make a roux and others…
Hatch chile creamy rice casserole
In the mid-1990s, some Texan friends and I made the trek to the Upper East Side of New York City to eat at Zarela Martinez’s namesake Mexican restaurant. Zarela is…
Frito squash casserole
Whenever I post a summer squash recipe, inevitably someone will ask if I have a recipe for squash casserole with Fritos. In the past, I would shake my head and…
Chipotle cream corn
During a summer outdoor gathering, a friend offered whole ears of corn he had slathered with butter and red chiles. The creaminess, sweetness, and earthiness of the three ingredients were…