Pumpkin snickerdoodle bars
My pantry system insures I have on hand the basic tools needed to prepare a simple meal. Common staples such as beans, rice, flour, peppers, eggs, and sugar are included…
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Jalapeño cornbread biscuit dogs
The Texas State Fair is now in season, and one of the hallmarks of this annual celebration of Texas culture is the food. While there are a host of vendors…
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Jalapeño peanut butter quesadilla
On a trip to Florida a few years ago, while my friends and I were shopping at the local grocery store, a man offered us a recipe idea in the…
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Cinnamon coffee frozen yogurt
In June, I bought myself an electric bike, and even though it’s only pedal assist, it’s transformed how I interact with my new Texas home. My Dallas neighborhood is surrounded…
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Garlic herb salmon
When my friends and I were in our early twenties in Austin, and we were learning to cook, one friend had a recipe for salmon cooked with fresh dill and…
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Peach fruit spread
This year’s Texas peach crop was predicted to be sparse due to a lack of rain and freezing temperatures the past winter. The Texas peaches I’ve eaten this season have…
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Blueberry bran muffins
My usual morning routine involves a blended fruit, yogurt, and nut smoothie. That said, when researching Dallas recipes from 50 years ago (which led to these pork chops), I came…
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Chipotle raspberry-glazed pork chops
Curious what Texans were eating fifty years ago to mark the 200th birthday celebration of the United States, I turned to the Dallas Morning News. The week before the big…
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West Texas posole slaw
In far West Texas and Northern New Mexico, cabbage and radish slaws are a common accompaniment to meals. In my first cookbook, I featured a recipe that combined green cabbage…
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Green chile crawfish enchiladas
A friend asked if I was familiar with the crawfish enchiladas offered at Ninfa’s in Waco. While I had never had them, I looked at the restaurant’s online menu, and…
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Strawberry blue cornbread cobbler
In college, my study group would meet at a local diner. There was a salad bar at this 24-hour establishment, and we’d purchase a salad plate and a cup of…
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Dr Pepper-glazed ham
While reading a list of dishes for an Easter potluck, I noticed one guest was bringing a 7-Up cake. “Perhaps I could contribute a Dr Pepper-glazed ham,” I thought to…
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Sunday salmon, Austin style
On a recent trip to Austin, I stayed overnight with old friends. They asked if I wanted to go out for dinner or stay at home. It was a Sunday,…
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Chocolate smoothie
When I was growing up, there was a chocolate powdered drink known as an instant breakfast. You poured a packet into a glass, added milk or water, stirred, and then…
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Turkey chili Frito pie
When a friend threw a late-fall party, she served turkey Frito pies. Her husband is unable to eat red meat, so the family has become quite adept at replacing beef…
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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…
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Salsa verde turkey meatballs
Meatballs have been on my mind. A few weeks ago, a friend mentioned he had a new Italian meatball recipe that he wanted to cook with me. He was curious…
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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…
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Green chile blue cornbread
As my kitchen filled with the scent of roasted green chiles and blue corn, I was looking forward to the skillet of cornbread taking shape in the oven. After baking…
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Hot Hatch honey mustard chicken
Whenever I have a serious deadline, I create a new diversion to avoid completing my task. For instance, when I was writing my Queso book, I decided it was an…
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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…
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Sour cherry pudding cake
Recently I’ve begun looking into my ancestors’ roots. This isn’t a new project, but it’s the first time I’ve researched my family’s history outside of Texas. Curiously, I’d never thought…
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Ranchero refried beans
A friend of mine who recently gave up red meat was lamenting she wouldn’t be able to enjoy beans anymore. She said, “How can beans taste good without beef or…
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Ramen noodle salad, North Texas style
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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…
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