On Food & Culture
Spanish Gazpacho is a “must have” summer dish. It’s Spanish, not Mexican, although it is based on Mexican ingredients like bell pepper (chile dulce) and tomatoes. Really good gazpacho depends on great tasting tomatoes, so I either grow tomatoes or buy them from local gardeners/growers. […]
Growing up in the Westside of San Antonio, I enjoyed eggplant and all seasonal vegetables. They were a big part of my family’s diet because my dad made a living going to market with truckloads of vegetables he would buy from farms just outside of […]
In the 1950’s the Iceberg lettuce wedge with blue cheese dressing was ubiquitous in the US. It remains a cool retro food on many menus and when I see it, I can’t resist ordering it. Fresh, lush, delicious, especially when the iceberg lettuce wedge is […]
Achiote green beans, Ejotes Con Achiote, is a unique way to prepare green beans when you want to add brightness to your plate. The achiote brings out the sweetness and astringency of the orange juice and Jalapeño infused into the green beans. This is an […]
This stuffed squash blossoms recipe is a sure “wow” factor at parties. Guests swear that the rich texture comes from cream or cheese, but it doesn’t. The sumptuous texture derives from the beans, slowly and properly cooked. Another reason these are a party hit is […]
You can feature this jicama salad as a buffet dish, or you can plate the vegetables as a first course for dinner. The Serrano chiles perk up the lime dressing. I grew up in a Mexican American family that, like many others, ate lots of […]
Serve nopalitos con huevo with freshly made corn tortillas. The tang and crispness of the nopalitos are wonderful for breakfast. It’s a classic Mexican dish that’s enjoyed all over the US and Mexico, and certainly everywhere in the Texas Mexican region. Moreover, nopalitos are a […]
Vegetarian Paella is not just a substitute for paella made with seafood and chicken or rabbit. It’s a dish all its own. I love the Paella Valenciana, of course, and for big parties, it’s perfect. If you have to make big amounts, you can put […]
I’m going French today, making a traditional French vinaigrette salad dressing. It’ great on sturdy greens like Romaine lettuce, and it’s straightforward enough that famous Chef Jacques Pepin makes it in a jar, shaking it to emulsify the oil with the vinegar. In this recipe […]
Someone always brings cactus salad to my potluck parties. Robust and earthy is how I would describe the flavor of cactus, and in this salad the bright colors make it an inviting buffet dish. Did you know that the cactus is also an enduring, elemental […]