Recipes and Essays

Papas A La Mexicana

Papas A La Mexicana

The traditional “A La Mexicana” style is the tricolored combination of tomatoes, onions, and chiles—the colors of the Mexican flag.  Straightforward and nutritious. Papas A La Mexicana is a staple in south Texas and northeastern Mexico, the Texas Mexican region. I adapted this recipe from […]

Jicama and Strawberry, A Delicious Duet For These Almohadas (Pillows)

Jicama and Strawberry, A Delicious Duet For These Almohadas (Pillows)

Jicama and strawberry?  Qué?  I get skeptical looks about that combination whenever I suggest it, but the crunch of jicama melds beautifully with softened strawberries. Jicama is native to Mexico and Central America and tastes a little like a water chestnut and maybe also a […]

Pepinos Del Monte – These Mini-Watermelons Are Staples in South Texas Cooking

Pepinos Del Monte – These Mini-Watermelons Are Staples in South Texas Cooking

I learned about pepinos del monte (wild cucumbers) from Homero Vera, a historian who is also a rancher in South Texas who showed me that they grow in his ranch and all over south Texas and northeastern Mexico.  They look like lilliputian watermelons. Known also […]

Texas Pecan, “Pacane,” Stuffed Mushrooms

Texas Pecan, “Pacane,” Stuffed Mushrooms

Texas pecan transforms these mushrooms into a tasty, crunchy treat.  Try making them for a virtual meet-up.  Stuff the mushrooms and hold them, then pop them in the oven so they’re ready for you to munch on and make your friends drool during  your next […]

Black Lives Matter Statement from Latinx Arts

Black Lives Matter Statement from Latinx Arts

NALAC Statement: Black Lives Matter 06/04/2020 We bear witness and mourn for the continued violence against yet another Black life at the hands of police, and we speak from the deepest impulses of our hearts to uplift Black Lives. We are enraged by the blatant […]

Verdolaga isn’t a weed at all but a delicious, nutritous Mexican tradition

Verdolaga isn’t a weed at all but a delicious, nutritous Mexican tradition

Verdolaga, purslane in English, is the indigenous Texas Mexican herb that I love to serve for company.  It is my “go to” recipe for a delicious green side dish that goes with absolutely anything.  Verdolaga grows wild and is plentiful for most of the year […]

Tortilla Soup

Tortilla Soup

Tortilla soup is nutritious, and allows a family to stretch a chicken over several meals.  With 6 grams of protein per cup, the chicken stock in this recipe can be used to make three meals for a family of four. Covid-19 means we have to […]

6 Cocktails To Be Drunk at Home

6 Cocktails To Be Drunk at Home

These six cocktails are intended to be drunk, (consumed), at home  while we are in this stay-at-home Covid-19 crisis. I selected them because they are linked historically to the Texas Mexican culinary region. Select one that you can mix to enjoy during a solitary moment […]

Dulce De Leche Quemada – Burnt Milk Candy

Dulce De Leche Quemada – Burnt Milk Candy

Dulce De Leche Quemada means burnt milk candy. I dug up this recipe from my archives because it makes for a good stay-at-home project.  It’ll take several hours to cook and kids and adults will love them, extra yummy with roasted pecans.  As far as […]

Quinoa Pancakes: From The Andes To My Griddle

Quinoa Pancakes: From The Andes To My Griddle

Quinoa pancakes, with whole quinoa seeds, perk up any stay-at-home morning.  With a delicious creamy texture, they have no eggs nor milk and they’re pretty quick and easy to make. Quinoa is a wake-up food, in the sense that it can raise awareness of how […]