Mushroom stroganoff
A few years ago, my publisher approached me about doing a one-pot cookbook. After writing the proposal, they decided that they didn’t like it and passed on the project. My…
Chipotle chile recipes
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…
Mashed sweet potatoes with chipotle chiles
Growing up, not a holiday dinner or church potluck supper was complete without a casserole dish filled with baked sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows. If you’ve never seen this dish,…
South Texas potato flautas
South Texas potato flautas are crispy rolled corn tortillas stuffed with mashed potatoes and cheese.
Coffee-chipotle ribs
The story goes that one early morning in the mid-1990s, Houston chef Robert Del Grande spilled some of his coffee grounds onto his workstation where he was prepping a filet…
Pumpkin chipotle cornbread
One fall day, I had my cousins over for Sunday dinner. They plan was for them to arrive after the Cowboys game and as it was crisp outside, I made…
Fancy green bean casserole
Earlier this year, I went to a Mexican restaurant that had fried green beans on the menu. The crisp coating was sprinkled with smoky red chiles, and the combination of…
Apricot glazed ribs
The other day, my friends and I dined at Mattie’s in Austin. The restaurant is in a grand old house built in 1893, and sits on a few acres in…
Smoky chili beans
A few months ago, I was looking at grocer ads from the late 1800s and early 1900s. As expected, the offerings were provisions such as bacon, flour, butter, and coffee….
Shepherd’s pie with chipotle-Cheddar mashed potatoes
Recently I heard one woman’s cooking described as “mom food.” When asked to explain, it was said that her food was simple and comforting. What she served wasn’t complex, but…