Monday, February 23, 2015

Where to eat Queso in Austin

Texas is known mostly for two types of food: Bar-b-que and Tex-Mex. With BBQ you get your ribs, sausage, and brisket. With Tex-Mex you get your tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, and chips with salsa, or more popularly, chips and queso!

But queso isn't just queso anymore. Especially in Austin, where many places have taken what used to be a cheese dip and turned it into a bowl of many wonders, adding peppers, meat, and most notably guacamole. Austin has become well known for it's queso and here are some of the best places to get your queso fix:


2613 South Lamar, Austin, TX

You don't get more classic Austin than Matt's Famous El Rancho, and you don't get more classic queso than the Bob Armstrong Dip. Authentic Tex-Mex 101, the Bob dip starts with a cheese base, followed by a scoop of seasoned ground beef, and a dollop of guacamole. As the bumper sticker says, "Gimme a Large Bob!"


Best accompanied by: 
a Margarita, of course! Frozen or on the rocks, either one does the trick.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Homemade Gumbo, NOLA style

A father is set to meet his daughter's boyfriend for the first time. She is from Texas, he is from Louisiana, New Orleans no less. As so many courtships are these days, a neighboring state is the closest you can get to the boy next door. But I digress...

The father knows exactly what he wants to ask the native New Orleanian. He wants to hear how the boy makes a dark roux (pronounced "rue"). The father knows there are different theories, old and new with the newer ones involving - gosh forbid - microwaves, but he is looking for the secret that has stood the test of time, having been passed onto him by his own southern nomadic ancestors. The trick is to burn it.

He could have tested him even more by asking him to name the Trinity (Onion, Celery, Bell Pepper, all together but in no specific order).

What you'll need...
2 Andouille sausage
1 Rotisserie Chicken
1/2 lb shrimp, de-shelled, de-veined, but tails on!
2 qts chicken stock
1/2 cup of flour
1/2 cup of vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 stock of celery, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 cup of frozen okra, thawed
3 Bay Leaves
1 Tablespoon of Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon of Salt
White rice
Scallions

What to do...

Friday, February 6, 2015

Old-fashioned Cream Soda

A cold drink that can be so warming. 

Sometimes a good old-fashioned cream soda just hits the spot.


Sunday, February 1, 2015

It's Superbowl Sunday!

We'll be enjoying these this weekend, how about you?!


Pigs in a Blanket

1 Package Cresent Rolls
1 Package Little Smokies

Preheat oven to 350.
Wrap the little smokies in the crescent rolls, like a pig in a blanket.
Place on a greased cookie sheet or pizza stone, and cook until golden brown.