Chili parlor queso
Texas red chili and chile con queso make fine companions in this addictive Tex-Mex dip. Top with onions and pickled jalapeños and serve with tortilla chips. A welcome appetizer for any gathering.

Texas red chili and chile con queso make fine companions in this addictive Tex-Mex dip. Top with onions and pickled jalapeños and serve with tortilla chips. A welcome appetizer for any gathering.

Lisa Fain’s latest cookbook, QUESO! Regional Recipe for the World’s Favorite Chile-Cheese Dip is now published!

Roasted long green chiles, such as Hatch or Anaheim, make for a spicy topping for juicy smashed cheeseburgers. A Southwestern favorite!

Ripe juicy peaches are nestled in a sweet and tender batter in this classic Texas peach cobbler recipe that came from my great-grandmother. Good all year but especially good in the summer, when peaches are in season.

This avocado-based green salsa is found on many Houston Tex-Mex tables. Cool and bright with just a hint of heat, it goes well with tortilla chips but can be spooned onto tacos or grilled meats, too.

Gulf shrimp along with tomatoes, garlic, onions, jalapeños, avocado, and a generous splash of lime juice are the foundations of this classic South Texas ceviche.

A mustard-based Texas mashed potato salad recipe from the 1800s. The interesting addition of peppery nasturtium flowers, while optional, adds both color and kick.

A rub of ground ancho chile and cocoa powder brings an earthy, fiery flavor to flank steak tacos, best served in flour tortillas with guacamole and pico de gallo.

Quick and easy cinnamon rolls can be made with biscuit dough. A bit of bacon and pecan are folded into the filling for additional smoky sweetness. Make them for loved ones as these are oh, so good!

This classic scalloped dish involves baked sliced onions nestled in a creamy sauce that’s topped with cheese and/or crumbs. To liven it up, green chiles have been added to the mix.