Ever have a craving for Tex Mex but still want to feel good about what you’re eating? I do . . . basically every day ;) I want that spicy, smoky, salty, creamy, crunchy goodness of Tex Mex, without feeling like I need a nap after lunch. Which is why I am loving this easy Chipotle […]
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Stacked Pear Spinach Salad
Have you ever seen a salad so beautiful? Oh I just love everything about it. The pear goes so well with the maple-syrup vinaigrette, blue cheese and candied pecans. And the presentation, oh the presentation! You can serve this salad vertically or horizontally. And while serving it vertically makes for a truly stunning presentation, be careful […]
Recipe Round-up: 25 Naturally Gluten-Free Recipes
Nothing quite makes my day like meeting a new friend! Like my new friend Laila, who I met on Instagram yesterday. She recently made my Crock-Pot Pork Verde, and even her kids enjoyed it! Laila said that she has recently started following a gluten-free diet. So for her, I’m doing this gluten-free recipe round-up. All of these […]
In Search of a Fig Tree
Okay, peeps. It’s decided. I want a fig tree. In my yard. Does anyone know how to grow a fig tree in central Texas? . . . If so, I would love to hear from you! In the meantime, I’ll share a recipe for a simple, summery way to use your figs. It’s more of […]
On the Mediterranean Diet: Tabbouleh Salad
John’s grandparents are originally from Lebanon, so we eat a lot of Mediterranean food at our house. (For a funny little post about learning recipes from his family, click here.) I love to make a big spread of Lebanese food with the usual suspects (hummus, baba ganoush, rolled grape leaves) and this tabbouleh salad. Tabbouleh is very […]
Side for Steaks: Build-Your-Own Wedge Salad
If there’s one consistently reliable source for advice about life, it’s bumper stickers. Okay maybe not, but there is one bumper sticker that I keep thinking about. It’s in the shape of a paw print, and inside, it says: “Who rescued who?” Who rescued who. It reminds me of what my mom always says about raising children: […]
Ideas for Valentine’s Day Dinner
Hey Guys, have you made plans yet for the big day? No, not the Super Bowl. Valentine’s Day! How about this: A romantic dinner for two (or more) in your own cozy dining room. It’s what John and I have been doing for years. We usually invite over four or five other couples (with kids) […]
High-Protein Lunch: Another Take on Tuna Salad
My friend Erica told me this about motherhood: “The days are long. The years are short.” She is so right. For example: The day seems long when I’ve been awake since 5:30 in the morning and now it’s 5:30 in the evening and we are all hungry and sister is fussing and then, a bunny […]
Roasted Beet Salad with Feta and Nuts
Some things are so divisive. Politics. Minivans. Beets. You either love ’em or you hate ’em. Or, you’re like me and just like ’em in small doses. To me, beets taste best roasted in the oven, and then tossed over a green salad with salty cheese, crunchy nuts, and a tart vinaigrette. Do you have […]
iPad App for Cocina Marie!
I heard a story on NPR a couple of months ago. It was about how, now, with social media, some authors are able to get input from readers as they write. I can’t find a link to the story or remember how it all worked … but I do remember thinking, “What a good idea!” […]
Gabrielle Hamilton’s Harissa Zucchini Salad
I’m in a book club. (What with the homemade astronaut costume and now the book club, you can tell that my life is totally crazy!) The book for this quarter was Blood, Bones & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton — a great read, if you haven’t read it yet. After everyone finished the book, we planned to meet […]
Do You Ever Just Wake Up Annoyed?
I do. Though, fortunately, not very often. It did happen to me a few days ago, and it wasn’t pretty. Literally everything — from the way-too-hot-for-this-time-of-year weather, to the dirt on the floor that somebody tracked in, to the pile of laundry in the hallway — was completely and utterly annoying. And, what was even […]
Recipe for Peas: Sautéed Peas with Shallots and Mint
So John and I had a dinner party last night. Pretty much everyone who came is either a great cook or married to one, so I was a little intimidated when planning the menu. Here’s what I came up with: Appetizer: Lump Crab Cakes + Cheese Plate + Lil’ Smokies (long story) Main Course: Prime […]
Recipes from Taste of North Austin
The Taste of North Austin was so much fun! Nice weather, great food, and cool people — pretty much all you need to have a good time in Austin, Texas. If you had a chance to stop by my cooking demonstrations, links to recipes for some of the dishes are provided below. Many thanks to […]
Odd Duck Trailer: Simple Sophistication
John and I had dinner the other night at The Odd Duck Trailer. Among other things, we had venison sausage on baguette with sauerkraut and aioli; pork belly sliders with peppers, red onion, and arugula; whole quail with Texas caviar; and tomato salad with melon, feta, and Texas olive oil. Everything was superb. Maybe surprisingly, […]
He Cooked Me Dinner
When I first met John, he lived in an old house at 3005 University Street, just north of the University of Texas main campus. He lived with his good friend, Cam. “Three-thousand five” (as everyone called it) was your typical post-college-frat-guy house. Overgrown lawn? Check. Dank couch on the back porch? Check. Lingering stench of […]
Green Bean Salad
Memorial Day weekend is just a few weeks away! John and I recently received a couple of invitations for Memorial Day “covered dish” picnics, which got me thinking about what to bring. What makes a good potluck dish? A few things. It must be easy to transport and fairly easy to serve. And it should […]
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