My Texas Foodie Blog Posts Round Up

Hi!  Thank you for visiting my foodie blog.  Stay here as long as you like.  Feel free to come back as often as you like.  I am originally from Florida but currently reside in Texas.  When I got here I mentally donned my cowboy hats and boots and dived into the food!  LOL. ☺  Here is a collection of my blog posts and various articles I have published around the web. 

Image credit:  In Texas, Chili is a Huge Deal

YACR ( Yet Another Chili Recipe )

• Texans love their chili and everyone will tell you they have the best chili recipe.  Everybody but me.  I won't say mine is te best.  But I will tell you that after years of experimenting with various recipes, I finally cme up with one that everybody in my family liked.  

Chili Cornbread Salad (Guest Post)

• Wait!  What??  You can make chili and cornbread into a salad???  

Candied Jalapeño Peppers

• Some Texans will argue over whether fresh jalapeños are better than pickled jalapeños.  But just so the argument won't get boring, throw in candied jalapeños.

Who Loves Nachos?

• I loved going to office parties in Texas.  Somebody always brought nachos!  ♦ Fun Food Fact: In America, National Nachos Day is celebrated on November 6.

Image credit:  Foodie Fun!  Love me Some Nachos!

Cinco de Mayo Holiday Recipes

• Cinco de Mayo is a holiday in Texas mainly celebrated by people of Mexican heritage.  If you want to taste a sampling of Tex-Mex cuisine, get yourself invited to Cinco de Mayo festivities.

A Question About Salsa: Is There an Alternative?

• In Texas salsa is a very common condiment. Nobody looks for alternatives. Just different salsa recipes.

Texas and Tacos are a Match Made in Texas!

• One of the best things about moving to Texas was that my family got introduced to a fun food called tacos. Not only was it fun but it was very inexpensive.  Guess what?  You can make a taco salad or soup.  YUM!

World Cuisine: Great Recipes from Around the World (and Texas)  There's Texas and then there's the rest of the world.  LOL.

Foodie Friday : YACR ( Yet Another Chili Recipe )

Whether or not it's the holiday season, any time is the time of the year folks in Texas love to eat chili.  But for some reason, they really like chili during the Christmas season.  At any rate, it took me years of experimenting to come up with this recipe and,  IMHO, it isn't half-bad.

Chili is Hearty Food. Love a good bowl of chili ?

So many variations on the #recipes for this wonderful comfort food !

In Austin, Texas, Tex-Mex cuisine is everywhere. This may or may not be Tex-Mex tradition but chili is a big deal! Everybody claims to know how to make thee best chili ever!!

After trying out different recipes, finally came up with one of my own that my family enjoyed. In fact, one Christmas holiday (because I know how much Texas folk love their chili), made Christmas cards with my chili recipe and let my daughter give them to her teachers.

So here is the recipe. Sorry. Don't have my own pictures. Took an image from Pixabay that looks similar to mine (only my chili is a little bit thicker and meatier).

* * * Fox's Chili Recipe * * *

 

1 to 2 lbs lean ground beef(or turkey)
One large yellow onion, coarsely chopped
Chopped red bell pepper (optional)


2 Seasoning (Low Sodium) Envelopes:
- McCormick Taco Seasoning
- McCormick Chili Seasoning
(Adjust to your taste. Don't use the entire packet if you don't want to.)


1 can (15.5 oz) Manwich Original Sloppy Joe Sauce
1 jar (16 oz) of Old El Paso Salsa (Medium heat)
1 small can (8 oz) Hunt's tomato sauce (roasted garlic flavor)
1 large can (32 oz) Bush's dark red kidney beans, drain liquid
1 large can (32 oz) Bush's black beans, drain liquid


High heat, large sauce pan or a dutch oven pot, brown ground meat and drain off any excess fat.


On medium heat add in onions (and bell pepper); and season the meat/onion/bellpepper mixture with the seasoning packets. Mix thoroughly.


Throw in the all the remaining ingredients, lower heat, let cook (about 15 - 20 minutes), stirring occasionally - until all the flavors come together.


Make a huge bowl of salad with: one head of iceberg lettuce, halved grape or cherry tomatoes, and large cucumber, thinly sliced. Avocado (if you can afford it.) Salad dressing? Your choice.


Serve chili in a bowl with the salad as a side.


Lay out the sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, more chopped onions, green onions, red onions, cornbread, tortilla chips, taco shells, whatever you like!


You don't have to use name brand products. I do because the quality of the product is usually consistent, so the recipe should taste the same every time! That's just me. Enjoy!!

Content first published at PersonaPaper, Aug 2015.

Related articles

• Christmas meals around the world(telegraph.co.uk)

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Yet Another #ChiliRecipe ~ I know! I know! Your chili recipe is the best! But! So is mine! LOL. ~ Do you have a favorite bowl that you eat your chili in? Rae Dunn CHILI Soup bowls w/ Handle, Set of 2. https://t.co/fUUkn6Hv1N #gifts for #chililovers #chilislove #recipe pic.twitter.com/giHn0cNloT

— EverydayExoticSpices (@EverydaySpices) February 28, 2020

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Previous #FoodieFriday posts? Purple is the Color of Royalty and of Glorious Vegetables  Sampling Fast Food World Cuisine is a Fun Do!  Name Your Favorite Instant Noodle  YAPAS (Yet Another Post About Spinach)  Immune-boosting Smoothie ~ Order at Starbucks  Recipes | Desserts | Pineapple Stuffing and More!  Japan’s 10 weirdest ice cream flavors  The Right Blend of Spices for Cajun Food Lovers  Indian Food: Hot n Spicy Samosas (Reblog)  Candied Jalapeño Peppers  Chinese New Year Recipes and Dishes  Pesto Around the World  Experiencing the Joy of Salsa   Spice Spotlight: Cinnamon  It's Flipping Foodie Friday!  Raw Coconut Fig Slice (Reblog)  Winter Salad Binging  Banana Brownies - Back for Seconds  Cool Foodies and Food Lovers Celebrating Their “Firsts” on Twitter

Recipe Sharing: Chili Cornbread Salad (Guest Post)

In Texas, chili is a big deal! In the South (Southern states of the USA) folks love cornbread. I am from the South and currently live in Texas and I found a recipe that is a winner! I have no doubt that this dish will show up a church fellowships and other happy gatherings.

Chili Cornbread Salad ~ Recipe found here.

INGREDIENTS:
1 package (8-1/2 ounces) cornbread/muffin mix
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies, undrained
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
Pinch rubbed sage
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix
2 cans (15 ounces each) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans (15-1/4 ounces each) whole kernel corn, drained
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup chopped green pepper
1 cup chopped green onions
10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

METHOD:
Prepare cornbread batter according to package directions. Stir in chilies, cumin, oregano and sage. Spread in a greased 8-in. square baking pan. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool.

In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream and dressing mix; set aside. Crumble half of the cornbread into a 13x9-in. dish. Layer with half of the beans, mayonnaise mixture, corn, tomatoes, green pepper, onions, bacon and cheese. Repeat layers (dish will be very full). Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

How Bread Dipping Oil Can Save Your Next Impromptu Gathering (Guest Post)

No one would argue with you if you claimed to have never thought about bread dipping oil outside of certain Italian restaurants. Then again, why would you? We’ve come to know this little tasty treat as something to help tide us over while we wait for our main course, and in some cases, the dipping oil was much more satisfying. The thing is that bread dipping oil is starting to make a name for itself in home entertainment as a way of jazzing up the snack game. No longer are big bowls of chips and dip acceptable as snacks for guests (actually, who are we kidding — they are). Even if you have surprise guests, the expectation of having a nice snack on-hand is enough to start making bread dipping oil very chic nowadays.

The fact is we are also a very social species that hates to disappoint. If you have family or friends come by your place without prior notice, it can be a little unnerving, but you still want to be a good host. Then again, maybe it’s more than just someone dropping by. Maybe you’re out with the gang and someone calls your place for the after-party. Everyone is stoked, and even though you’re “high-fiving” everyone, deep down, you’re terrified because you may not have enough Vienna sausages for a group.

So, how big a deal is bread dipping oil? Here are a few ways it can really save the day:

Simplicity to the Core — Good extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. That’s it. Have some nice bread available, and you’ve got all you need.

Keep Ingredients in the Pantry — Seasonings like salt and pepper are always a part of any kitchen, and along with these staples, you may already cook with olive oil. With such a perfect combination ready to go, it makes you wonder why you have some much other stuff in your pantry.

Save Money — There’s no need to order food or pilfer your fridge and freezer for snacks. And chances are that once you buy the ingredients you’d need for your dip, you probably won’t have to buy them again for a bit.

Can Set the Scene — Impromptu gatherings can sometimes come at the worst time because you’re just not up for it. Still, these are also the type of get-togethers that really turn into some happening parties. Your dip can play to each possibility.

Though the biggest selling point about bread dipping oil is its simplicity, you can really amp up the flavor in very unique ways. You can get a little crazy with the type of salt and pepper you use. Probably the biggest flavor bomb you can drop on your guests is using locally-sourced quality olive oil for the dip. Find the right bottle, and you can literally forget adding a single thing to the oil.

Texas Hill Country Olive Company in Dripping Springs, Texas has bread dipping oil that will make your next get-together the stuff of legends.

* * Article Writer: ALFRED MEARS

Image credit: Tuscan Herbs,Garlic, Basil, Truffle Flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 8.5-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 4) by Grand'aroma

Foodie Friday : Candied Jalapeño Peppers

I currently reside in Texas.  The folks here were "born" with a jalapeño in their mouth.  LOL.  It's an obvious exaggeration but people really love jalapeño peppers.  So that's the focus of this Foodie Friday post.  Although Texans might accuse of committing blasphemy or something like that because the specific topic is:

Candied Jalapeño Peppers

Or not!  If you're from Texas, maybe you probably already know about them.  But I'm what they call a "Texas import".  That means I wasn't born in Texas but I got here as fast as I could! 😜

I love jalapeños.  I love them with the seeds!  The hotter the better!  

I knew they came fresh or pickled.  But I never knew they came sweet too!  When I first found out about them, I thought:  "Isn't this against the Texas jalapeño rules?"

Evidently not!  You can buy them in the local grocery stores (here in Austin, Texas) or you can make them.  The recipe is easy.  Sharing some links below.

Here's a fun food fact.  Whether fresh, pickled, or sweet:

Candied Jalapeño Peppers are also called "cowboy candy".

Candied Jalapenos

There aren't words that exist to describe how addictive these little savoury, sweet, spicy, crunchy, garlicky pickled jalapeno rounds are. Put them on sandwiches, tacos, rice or bake them into cornbread. You'll need more and more!

Sriracha Deviled Eggs with Candied Jalapeno Peppers

Serve something a little different for your Easter spread this year: Sriracha Deviled Eggs with Candied Jalapeno Peppers. Sriracha spices up these deviled eggs and the candied jalapeno peppers give it a sweet/spicy note transforming the ordinary into extraordinary! Make it even more special and serve them on this gorgeous Wilton Armetale Egg Tray from their Flutes & Pearls Collection.

Cowboy Candy {Candied Jalapenos}

If you like pepper jelly served over cream cheese on crackers, you will love Cowboy Candy. The sugary sweet syrup/brine is the perfect compliment to the heat of the jalapenos. When my friend, Diane, at Canning and Cooking at Home made these, I knew I wanted to try it for myself. 

Previous #FoodieFriday posts? Chinese New Year Recipes and Dishes  Pesto Around the World  Experiencing the Joy of Salsa   Spice Spotlight: Cinnamon  It's Flipping Foodie Friday!  Raw Coconut Fig Slice (Reblog)  Winter Salad Binging  Banana Brownies - Back for Seconds  Cool Foodies and Food Lovers Celebrating Their “Firsts” on Twitter

Not into sweet and spicy?  You prefer salty?  Try this!

Fresh Gourmet - Crispy Jalapeños, Lightly Salted

World Cuisine: Great Recipes from Around the World (and Texas)

In addition to this foodie blog, I have an affiliate marketing grocery and gourmet website specializes in herb and spices.  Though I am a contributor, my articles for HUBPages.com are not food-related but the Food and Cooking section of this website is loaded!!  So I shared some links here too.  Enjoy!

• List of Filipino Dishes

A handy reference list. Descriptive list of the different and popular dishes from the Philippines that every Filipino family has enjoyed cooking and serving on their dinner table.

• Best Jamaican Patties Recipe

A Taste of the Caribbean: Make Jamaican Patties for Supper!  This is a great recipe for authentic tasting Jamaican Patties; delicious golden pastry filled with curried beef and spices.

• Pacific Island Recipes – French Polynesia

Recipes from the indigenous peoples of French Polynesia and their Marquesas Islands.

• Top 10 Dishes in Australia

Brawn Loaf, Christmas Cake, Wattelseed Pavlova …

• Making Biltong – Make biltong the South African way

Biltong – A cured meat that originated from South Africa and often compared to the American jerky.

• Spice mixtures in East African Cuisine

East African cuisine is the food of countries such as Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda.

• Easy homemade tzatziki. A delicious yoghurt based dip

Greek Tzatziki is a great way to use cucumbers!

• Easy Korean Recipes

People often mix up oriental cuisines – they mix up Korean food with Chinese and Japanese. In reality, even though the Korean cuisine is partly influenced by Chinese and Japanese cooking, Korean food also has its very own unique taste and cooking techniques.

Quick and Easy Beef Kimbap Recipe

Quick and Easy Beef Kimbap Recipe

In my hub titled 5 Asian Dishes You Can Make at Home (link below), I mentioned my love for the beef kimbap (sometimes also called kimbob). A kimbap is basically the Korean version of the Sushi. It is a rice roll with some fillings wrapped in nori or dried seaweed wrap.

• Top Ten Best Texas Food Recipes and How to Cook Like a Texan

When in Texas, eat like a Texan. Especially enjoy some of the fusion cuisine, like Tex-Mex. (Fusion cuisine refers to a style of food that combines elements of different cuisines.)

Top Ten Best Texas Food Recipes and How to Cook Like a Texan

Top Ten Best Texas Food Recipes and How to Cook Like a Texan

Cooking like a Texas? This means you must at least know how to cook barbecue brisket and big bowls of thick, hot, hearty steamy chili con carne!

Related articles

• Exploring the evolution of Filipino cuisine in Japan
• A History Of Fusions

Matcha Tea is Body Fuel: Nutrition Trends: 2015 and Beyond!

Taking a quick look at the Nutrition Trends that started in 2015.  Health, fitness, and wellness experts identified food and drink they call "body fuel".  A car needs fuel to run properly and so does your body.  Matcha tea is body fuel.  Find out what other food and drink can power you up.

Many Americans strive daily to take extra steps to ensure their health and well-being. If Austin, Texas, “America's Fittest City”, is a representative sample of fitness habits around the USA, then nutrition trends show a shift in eating habits that will focus on partaking of food that can fuel the body.

In 2012, McCormick and Schwartz (well-known sellers of herbs and spices in the U.S. and the U.K.) released an 8-page report which stated that people would be moving towards honoring their roots; and their eating or dining habits would reflect a celebration of the origins of one’s own ethnic cuisine.

That was the forecast in 2012. Per Tori Jarzabkowski, who writes for Austin Fit Magazine, the nutrition trends for 2015 are in a direction just a tad bit different from eating the meals prepared by momma and grandma. This year (2015) there are five specific foods (listed below) that are “what's hot in the food and nutrition world”. Austin, Texas USA, boasts a very health-conscious community of citizens. Gyms are everywhere. People are into running, jogging, walking, biking, eating organic or whole foods, shopping at stores that specialize in homeopathic products, visiting the local alternative medicine practitioners for health check-ups, etc.

(1) Matcha Tea

Are you of Japanese heritage? The people of Japan have been enjoying this green tea since the 12 century. It was served as part of the traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. Not sure if they knew it was a super-food. If they did, they were way ahead of us.


(2) Bone Broth

Broth made from animal bones is loaded with nutrients. Bone broth improves immunity and has a host of other health benefits. Guess what? That's old news. My parents and my husband's parents always ate all the food on their plate, usually saved the meat serving for last, and when the meat was gone, they went after the bones. Sucked those bones dry! Like it was a religion. My dad and my husband's parents are from The Bahamas. My mother's roots are part African-American, part Native American, Cherokee.


(3) Fermented Foods

Everybody watches or has heard of that popular food show “Kimchi Chronicles”. Right? Well if you didn't know, you know now. Kimchi is a fermented food of Korean origin. Sauerkraut or “sour cabbage” is also a fermented food: German origin. Kombucha is a fermented drink, believed to have originated in China. They are good for healthy intestines and more.

SPOTLIGHT:  Clara Myers publishes Health and Wellness articles here at Writedge.com. In two of her posts she presents a thorough discussion on why we should eat fermented foods, and whether we should ferment our own food. Ms. Myers' expertise in the area of holistic health.

(4) Coconut Sugar

It must be coconut harvesting time. The coconut is being praised for everything! Coconut water. Coconut oil. Coconut jelly. Coconut fruit. Now there's coconut sugar. There is no need to sell me on coconut. Grew up in South Florida and we had a tree in our backyard. My brother used the climb the tree and throw down two or three coconuts. We'd whack them open and eat our fill. One year a hurricane knocked down the tree and my life has never been the same. Didn't realize there were so many good reasons why we were supposed to be eating coconuts.


(5) Seaweed Snacks

Last on the list for foods that fuel the body is seaweed. Seaweed is being touted as the “kale of the sea”. It's the new quinoa. It's green!! The rule is: the darker the green, the better! This particular food is not exactly the tastiest (my opinion) but after experimenting with flavors ranging from wasabi to coconut, check your grocery shelves for seaweed chips. It will be a healthy alternative snack to potato chips.


Gleaned a lot from reviewing the #AFMbestof article. Hope you liked my rehash. :)  

• REFERENCE: Jarzabkowski, Tori. "Nutrition Trends for 2015." Austin Fit Magazine: Best of 2014 Issue Jan. 2015: 22-23. Print. AFM Issue #207. Est. 1997. Official website: http://www.austinfitmagazine.com/

 ♦ ♦ ♦ Original content published January 10, 2015 at Writedge. ♦ ♦ ♦