It's nearly America's 250th birthday, and you've got to have cake to celebrate a birthday! I decided to go with making patriotic cupcakes, and since Texas summers are so hot, I thought it'd be fun to make the cupcakes look like one of my favorite summer treats - snow cones! These snow cones are easy to make, but you do need one special tool - a silicone mold for the … [Read more...]
At the Table with the Founding Fathers
As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, flags seem to wave a little higher, traditions feel a little deeper and it’s only natural to reflect on where we’ve come from. Anniversaries like this have a way of bringing the past into sharper focus. Not just the major moments memorialized in history books, but the atmosphere surrounding them. It makes you … [Read more...]
Pasta 3 Ways
Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad My niece, Trudi Henry, shared this recipe with me as we planned a family summer get together. Luckily, I had all the vegetables fresh from the garden. This Vegetable Pasta Salad is light, versatile and full of fresh flavor. Perfect for a backyard barbecue or any warm weather gathering. SALAD INGREDIENTS: • 1 pound pasta - rotini is a classic … [Read more...]
Pineapple 3 Ways
Grilled Pineapple Spears With the arrival of May and June comes grilling season. Pineapple spears take on a smoky flavor as they caramelize over the grill. Not only is pineapple tasty, but it’s also high in vitamin C and packed with natural enzymes that help with digestion. INGREDIENTS: • 1 whole pineapple, cut into spears (see how to prepare fresh pineapple below) • 2 … [Read more...]
Get in Line for Jay’s BBQ Shack
Five minutes before closing time is way too late to get to Jay’s BBQ Shack. A big sign right out front says, “Wednesday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. or Sell Out.” And it means it–1:55 p.m. is too late if you hope to chow down on Jay and Diana Stearns’ creations that were included in Texas Monthly’s “The 50 Best BBQ Joints in Texas” for 2025. Jay’s was already popular, but … [Read more...]