Charro beans, South Texas style
My friend Rick was telling me about his mother’s charro beans, which were a dinnertime staple at his home when he was young. The pot began with cooked pinto beans…
Pinto beans
Sopa Tarasca
When reading an old issue of Texas Highways, I came across a recipe for a dish called sopa Tarasca. It was a pureed bean soup that was topped with fried…
Seven-layer dip
Seven-layer dip is a Tex-Mex party classic that is composed of a stack of ingredients including beans, guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.
Frijoles especiales
If you are heading to South Padre Island, you will drive through Brownsville. This Valley town, which sits on both the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican-American border forged by…
Frijoles de puerco
When it comes to comfort food, refried beans are at the top of my list. Ever since I could remember, they were my go-to, both when times were uncertain and…
Fritoque, bean and corn chip casserole
My first encounter with fritoque was in Robb Walsh’s “The Tex-Mex Cookbook.” He described it as a bean and corn chip casserole that was popular in San Antonio in the…
Ranch style beans recipe
Fifteen years ago, I was on my way to the Austin airport to catch a flight to New York City when the friend I’d be staying with called and said…
Pinto bean pie: sweet, not savory!
Vinegar pie, buttermilk pie, and corn meal pie—these are all desserts that were in vogue when my grandmothers were growing up in the Great Depression. Made with just a few…
Beanie wienies for grown-ups
I was talking to a friend of mine from Delaware the other day, and mentioned beanie wienies. “Beanie wienies?” she said. “What’s that?” I was shocked. I thought everyone grow…