Recipes and Essays

Mexican Candy Made by White People Only

Mexican Candy Made by White People Only

WHAT? The Mexican candy advertisement above is from around 1915’s -20’s. The candy shop was owned by Clyde Corrigan, according to Sarah Gould archivist and researcher at Institute Of Texan Cultures in San Antonio, Texas.  It is discussed in the book chronicling segregation of Mexican-Americans, 

Green Salsa Serrano en Molcajete

Green Salsa Serrano en Molcajete

Green Salsa, Serrano chile,  is a  classic Texas Mexican table salsa.  If you’re from this region, send me an email or comment about how you’ve savored this in your home. Amá (we did not use the Spanish word, mamá) always had this salsa on the 

Rajas Poblanas Con Queso

Rajas Poblanas Con Queso

Rajas Poblanas with cream are most often served as a side dish with your meal.  In this recipe some cheese is added at the end.  The dish makes a great appetizer for company.  With rajas Poblanas you mix the earthy flavor of Poblano chiles with 

Traditional Mexican Salsa:Serrano And Tomato

Traditional Mexican Salsa:Serrano And Tomato

Three native ingredients make this traditional Mexican salsa a delectable culinary heritage:  tomato, chile and salt.  Each provides important nutritional elements, and the combination is, well, fresh and delicious.  There is much to be said for simplicity. My mom, amá, made this salsa everyday, using 

Serrano Shrimp Cocktail

Serrano Shrimp Cocktail

Depart from the usual shrimp cocktail sauce and go Texas Mexican.  Use Serrano chile, cilantro and fresh lime juice. This delicious Serrano shrimp cocktail is reminiscent of the famous Mexican Campechana cocktails in Veracruz, Yucatán and along the Pacific coast, especially in Sonora.  Usually, it’s 

“Chicano 40”- Watermelon Cocktail With History!

“Chicano 40”- Watermelon Cocktail With History!

“Chicano 40” is a refreshing watermelon cocktail, the official signature cocktail celebrating the 40th anniversary of the San Antonio CineFestival the nation’s original and longest-running Chicano/Latino film festival.  Not your ordinary watermelon cocktail, “Chicano 40” is complex and bright, created by Jeret Peña, acclaimed mixologist 

BBQ Adobo — Chile Ancho Adobo

BBQ Adobo — Chile Ancho Adobo

A BBQ Adobo?  Here’s a unique Texas Mexican twist for your smoked ham, bbq ribs or brisket: Chile Ancho Adobo. An adobo is a specific type of puréed chile that is blended with herbs and spices.  An acidic ingredient lifts the flavors.  All adobos depend 

Basil Cookies With Lemon-Lime

Basil Cookies With Lemon-Lime

My garden is sunny and glorious with basil, aromatic and colorful.  Besides making bruscheta, try these delicious basil cookies, with a zesty lemon-lime spark. Your morning coffee will thank you. Fair Warning:  I shared these with a friend this afternoon. He bit into the cookie 

Tomato Basil Bruscheta

Tomato Basil Bruscheta

Bruscheta is a crisp and refreshing appetizer for these hot summers.  This morning I pinched off some beautiful plump Basil leaves for some Tomato and Basil Bruscheta I’m serving at lunch.  I find that in Houston the basil plant has to be in the shade 

Tacos de Pescado, Fish Tacos

Tacos de Pescado, Fish Tacos

These fish tacos are a variation of the famous Baja California fish taco. I omit the wheat flour batter, thereby focusing exclusively on the flavor and texture of the freshly-made corn tortilla. It also foregrounds the sweet fresh fish.  I use tomatillo salsa to continue