Classic Banana Pudding isn’t limited to the state of Texas. Just about every kid in the U.S. grew up on creamy rich servings of this delicious dessert. But as an adult, we can choose to make something just a little better. Better Vanilla Wafers for Better Banana Pudding Give my recipe for homemade Vanilla Wafers a try for the most amazing Classic Banana Pudding ever. You won’t need the entire recipe of Vanilla Wafers to make banana pudding…only half. The other Vanilla Wafers are good with ...
Vanilla Wafers are one of those cookies that consumers take for granted. They are sold in cardboard boxes (we know the color,) they have the texture of the cardboard box (kinda tough,) and they have the flavor…well, you know. Vanilla Wafers from a box are probably the least exciting cookie ever eaten. A Recipe from 1985 I decided to sleuth out an old-fashioned recipe for Vanilla Wafers. Finding the right recipe wasn’t that easy. The recipes I found on Pinterest were bad. But then I ...
Tangy Chamoy Fruit Spread is served on top of fruit cups and shaved ice treats at our local fruit snack stands in South Texas. Tiny, colorfully decorated huts are found on city streets and country roads. Summertime means tracking down your favorite fruit stand and visiting often. One of the local favorite flavors is chamoy – a wildly tangy, salty sweet and spicy fruit spread incorporated into smoothies, shaved ices and poured liberally over fresh fruit. Non-locals might find the flavor ...
Tamarind Agua Fresca is one of the most popular agua frescas served at Mexican food restaurants and taco stands. Madde of only 3 ingredients, the trick is to find whole tamarind pods at the super market. Even here on the Mexican border, whole tamaraind pods can be difficult to track down. Use Whole Tamarind Pods for Best Flavor You can order tamarind pods online, but you still need to check for freshness when making your Tamarind Agua Fresca. The thin outer shell on the whole tamarind ...
Strawberry Shortcake is the quintessential Easter treat with my family. Fresh and sweet, it has the flavors of Springtime mixed in. The Perfect Springtime Treat! This cake for this Strawberry Shortcake recipe is an old-fashioned hot-milk sponge cake from one of my grandmother’s reliable cookbooks. Traditional shortcake recipes produce a cake that is more like…
Caldo de Mariscos is a spicy seafood soup offered in restaurants during the meatless Fridays of Lent. Really, we enjoy this flavorful rich soup any time we have fresh seafood. The broth is especially good when made a day in advance…my favorite trick for a fully flavored robust soup. An Excellent Seafood Soup Fresh seafood…
Adam’s Extract claims the Red Velvet Cake as their own invention, and I have no doubt. Other’s claim the recipe as their creation, but those institutions are non-Texan, so in my Texas-centric book, they don’t count. A Texas Classic If you know anything about Texas food, you know about Adam’s Extract. Since 1888, Adam’s Extract…
Walnut Pesto may not seem like a Texas dish, but I usually have it on hand as a flavor enhancement for the meals I prepare daily. Steak and salad seem to rotate through our dinner table quite often, and Walnut Pesto gives these stand-by meals a sophisticated upgrade. A Good Sauce to Have On Hand…
Melissa Guerra is an 8th generation Texan, born and raised on a working cattle ranch in South Texas. She is a self taught culinary expert and food historian, specializing in the food ways of the American continent, especially Texas regional, Mexican, and Latin American cuisine. Read More…
