Look out Pumpkin Spice! Sweet Potatoes are here to steal the show this holiday season. Know it: Sweet potatoes are a native of South America, where they’ve been cultivated for around 3000 years, maybe even longer. But this plant was destined to make its way across the globe, with some help from its human allies. …
“Souffle.” Did you get a little scared? The very word is enough to make most home cooks start shaking in their oven mitts. People dread the idea of making a souffle — it seems so fancy, so finicky, so… French. In fact, most Texans (and probably most Americans in general) have never made a souffle! …
Ah, good ole’ tomato sauce. Undeniably delicious. But also a little basic and after a while, ehhh, you need something more exciting. If you’ve been stuck in a rut when it comes to sauce, red bell pepper, tomato’s relative, makes a delicious alternative! My local market was having a special on red peppers, so this …
It’s a good thing Popeye didn’t live in Texas. Spinach was brought over from cool European climates, so it’s not a fan of Texas summer’s blistering heat and parching drought. Our soaring temperatures do a good job of incinerating any hopes of a summertime spanikopita. But wait… a hero emerges! Who is this surprisingly ornamental, …
What food isn’t better when it’s fried? Why, none of course! Naturally, this goes for nopalitos as well. Let’s talk history for a minute. Deep fried fritters were introduced to Japan in the 1500’s by Europeans, namely the Portuguese. The Japanese added their own influences to this battering and frying technique thus creating…. (drumroll, please) …
Alright! So maybe you’ve read my article about nopales, and you want to broaden your culinary horizons and give those those prickly paddles a chance. And why wouldn’t you? They’re full of fiber, low in calories, and contain many vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A and C and smaller amounts of the B complex vitamins. …
Have you ever tried eating a cactus? Sounds like you might end up with a mouthful of spines, doesn’t it? But people from cultures all around the world eat cacti, and you should give this drought tolerant edible a chance too! Know it: Cacti are a source of food all over the globe, especially arid …
Ah, pizza. Arguably the most beloved food of the 21st century thus far. What’s not to love? Crust, cheese, and of course toppings offer practically unlimited creative expression. But there is one great pizza debate that threatens to create a schism among pizza lovers everywhere. Does pineapple belong on pizza? Hawaiian pizza (although actually invented …
I’m a big fan of chile peppers in general, but habaneros have a special place in my heart (or… stomach?) Anyway, they’re probably my favorite chile, and I especially love them when used in a spicy/sweet combination. Habaneros have a distinctly fruity, floral taste that makes them the perfect pepper for sweet applications, like pairing …
Okay, so maybe you’ve read my article about loquats, and you went out and picked yourself a big basket of them. Maybe you’re lucky enough to have a tree with sweet fruit that you can eat fresh. Maybe you aren’t, and you’ve got a lot of sour fruit on your hands. Either way, you can …