Beef Empanadas are classic fare in Argentina, and are becoming more popular in the United States. But the question on everyone’s mind is: How do you make the crust? Usually, I recommend that people buy empanada crust (this is a link to my favorite brand) at the grocery store, as occasionally they are available in…
beef
Classic Texas Chile con Carne
Texans are known for many things – we are big, bold, and our legends are as large as the state itself. And, as an expert on Texas food, I can tell you there is no dish more iconic than Classic Texas Chile con Carne. Because chile con carne is so popular, there are loads of…
Carne Guisada with Beer and Roasted Chiles
People ask me what’s my favorite dish, and of course I always tell them carne guisada. I love the easy prep, the slow simmering, and the delicious first bite. No matter where I am in the world, when I come home, the first thing I will make is carne guisada. Carne Guisada with Mashed Potatoes is Authentic…
Albondigas de Cilantro – Stewed Coriander Meatballs
As a kid on the ranch, albondigas was my absolute all time favorite dinner. The savory tomato and garlic sauce soaked every delicious meatball, and I always served myself too many. They make the most wonderful tacos. Even though we might think this is an old-timey Latin American dish, albondigas originated in the Middle East….
Pan Seared Filet with Roasted Tomatillo Guacamole
One Skillet Meals are Easy One skillet meals are really a help on weekdays when you are exhausted, but want to refuel with something hearty. Searing a filet doesn’t take too long, and you can make a quick Roasted Tomatillo Guacamole that will help you forget the troubles of the day. The pan you select…
Picadillo con Verdura (Ground Beef Stew with Vegetables)
This Recipe is a Test When selecting a subject for a blog post, usually I try to use my imagination. What fruits are in season? What is trendy? What would pique the reader’s interest, and whet their appetite? Panicked because I didn’t have a recipe prepared for my Wednesday post, I snapped a quick pic of…
Genuine Ranch Style Beef Carne Guisada
We Eat Like This Every Day Sometimes writing about the most obvious recipe just slips my mind. Sure, there are loads of sexier recipes out there, using superfoods like quinoa, chia or matcha powder (which is hot right now), and I forget the one recipe that we make at the ranch at least twice a…
The Best Meat Counters
I Had a Moment There are different meat markets around my home town of Edinburg. I stopped by one of the larger ones, Junior’s Super Market, just on a regular shopping errand, and had this moment. After the first 10 paces, it dawned on me that this was the longest fresh meat counter I…
Barbacoa Tacos (Roasted Beef Cheeks for Tacos)
A Very Old Cooking Technique Here at the ranch, and on all the ranchitos throughout Central and South America, people traditionally make barbacoa. In fact, this is one of the main recipes that made me take a second look at what we consider our “unique” traditional Texas ranch way of cooking, and connect it to the rest of…