Our Recipes

Print In West Texas, we can't always be picky about what we grow. We have to learn to like some of the plants we have.  Our fig trees are starting to produce more and more, and Nana does not have.....

Print This recipe has been around our family for at least thirty years, and it often shows up when we’re all together. Even those that don’t usually like broccoli can’t turn it down. When served, it often sparks a family.....

Print Is this a main dish or a side? Yes, it is usually served as a side, but it has chicken, vegetables, and bacon, so it’s really a whole meal, right? Then add Nana’s garlic Asian sauce, yum! We’ve served.....

Print This eye-catching dessert is great, especially for Valentine's Day.  You can show your admiration for your first love or your life-long love with in-season fruit. As we always say, cream cheese frosting, will (almost) never disappoint.  It might even.....

Print Every backyard barbeque needs barbecue ribs, potato salad, baked beans, and homemade ice cream, right? Since Jay from Bush’s Beans isn’t letting Duke talk, we'll share our recipe. We’re not sure who started making this recipe first, because we.....

Print When we harvest peaches each year, we love eating them fresh with or without cream. We also make peach dump cakes, peach ice cream, peach pies, peach cobbler, etcetera. It is such a delicious time of the year. This.....

Print When we gather for the holidays, we know that Gigi will bring her cranberry marshmallow salad. For as long as she can remember, her mom made it each year. It’s always delicious with our feast, especially when she gets.....

Print This recipe can be done at any time of the year, but it is usually a holiday favorite for our family. It is part of Rebekah and Aunt Alisa’s holiday tradition. Since Rebekah was young, she’s loved being in.....

Print Many people in Texas have a pecan tree or know at least one friend that does.  Each year, we get more pecans than we can immediately eat, so we gather, shell, and freeze all we can.  This is one.....

Print We all know that Uncle Bear was raised as the baby child, and as a result has learned to get his way with flattery.  Recently Michaela was his main target.  Weeks in advance of his birthday, he began to.....

Print Uncle Lee loves enchiladas with sour cream and chicken, so Aunt Ky started looking.  After a few attempts, this is the one she’s sticking with.  She doesn’t make them exactly the same every time, but they’re delicious every time......

Print We can’t grow strawberries around here, but our fig trees are starting to make more and more each year.  Since we haven’t convinced Nana to make fig rolls (Fig Newtons), we’re enjoying this new treat.  It is delicious on.....

Print What's better than fresh Texas peaches and cream? Peaches and Ice Cream!  Peach season is so exciting for us, especially when Nana makes peach ice cream.  We’ve shared Gran’s homemade ice cream recipe, but Nana wanted y’all to have.....

Print A good cream puff is so delightful, especially on a hot summer day, but can you easily make that for a crowd?  This recipe offers the light and refreshing taste of a puff pastry with the creamy filling that.....

Print We all love Aunt Alisa’s homemade French bread all by itself, but it is nice when it is served with different kinds of toppings like French bread topping, pesto butter, and now this.  If you like Carino’s olive oil.....

Print On hot summer days, anything cool is a welcomed food.  Aunt Alisa tried this for the first time to give us more variety when eating cold pasta salads since it is a familiar taste we love.  Some in our.....

Print Nana loves a good green sauce, but she doesn’t like the tomatillos that are usually called for, so she began looking for something else.  In this recipe, she decreased the breakfast sausage and increased the green enchilada sauce to.....

Print One dream, one love.  Who doesn’t like the simplicity of doing one thing well?  Raising Cane’s is committed to delicious hand-battered chicken strips, and who doesn’t love the dipping sauce?  We love this sauce on our own hand-battered chicken.....

Print Finding a delicious recipe for short ribs is a common problem for many of our beef customers, so Nana is making an effort to get some recipes posted: Shepherd's Pie.  Like the traditional Sunday gravy that was a meal.....

Print Aunt Ky impresses us with another coconut recipe.  (Check out her Pina Colada Cake.)  This recipe is a variation from Gran's Homemade Ice Cream and a gift that is now enjoyed by the fourth generation.  Don’t forget that Aunt.....

Print As we’ve mentioned, Gran gave us a great base recipe for making ice cream, and she also loved coffee-flavored desserts.  Aunt Ky picked up this recipe from her, through Gigi, then made a few changes.  The main difference is.....

Print Gigi loves making homemade ice cream, and we love eating it, especially when she serves this sundae sauce to drizzle over the top.  As Nana goes back for her second drizzle, it is always fun to hear her telling.....

Print Our two young women are learning their way around the kitchen and tend to be more adventurous than some of us that are set in our ways.  As a result, we are discovering new recipes that the whole family.....

Print When Uncle Chris was just a toddler, Pa’s brother-in-law was in seminary, so Nana and Pa visited him and his wife in New Orleans.  Pa’s sister made authentic gumbo using a recipe that a local had shared with her. .....

Print This has long been a go-to soup for Nana, but she’s started making the recipe even more special by adding her homemade beef bone broth.  If you don’t want to make your own bone broth, use beef broth or.....

Print Don’t know how long Aunt Kati has been bringing this to family gatherings, but it is always a hit. She claims it is because the green color is so cheerful and appetizing. In the original recipe, there was no.....

Print Shrimp is delicious in so many ways: just sauteed in butter or served in homemade Alfredo sauce.  We also enjoy this Cajun cream sauce especially when it is served over our cheesy corn grits.  Is it better served with.....

Print Kerah is learning to bake, especially if she can color the icing and decorate the cake to look cute.  For Easter, she did this cake and made it look like an open tomb.  She used a sugar cookie for the.....

Print The first time Aunt Ky made this for everyone, it was love at first sight.  She then shared the recipe, and we learned how easy it is to make.  Now, it is often cooked by each of us for.....

Print Nana’s beef bone broth starts out with short ribs in this recipe.  You’ll see that during the process, she separates out the meat to use in other recipes.  You can use any bones with connective tissue, marrow, collagen, and/or.....

Print Everything is bigger in Texas, right?  And, bigger is better?  Well, these cookies, regardless of the size you decide to make them, are likely to take you on a trip down memory lane.  Every time Gigi makes these for.....

Print Is there anything better than finishing a campfire picnic with s’mores?  Are you craving that warm combination of chocolate and marshmallow, but don’t want to make a fire?  Try this chocolate layer cake with a toasted marshmallow frosting.  Unlike.....

Print What do you do with short ribs or flanken ribs?  It seems when we’re helping customers with their customized beef cut sheets, this is a common question.  Most people don’t like or want beef short ribs, so Nana’s been.....

Print Aunt Alisa is our bread expert.  She loves making it, and we love eating it.  Since dinner rolls, French bread, jalapeno cheddar bread from a Dutch oven, yeast biscuits, butterhorns, cornbread, hoe cakes, (Shall we go on?) isn’t’ enough,.....

Print As you know, Aunt Ky likes all things spicy, and when she goes to a restaurant and likes a dish, she soon starts trying to replicate it. This is Aunt Ky’s version of Abuelo’s potatoes without bell peppers and.....

Print This dessert tastes as good as it looks.  You feel yourself float with each bite of cream cheese and marshmallow filling served in a cloud of meringue and then topped with a mixture of cherries and berries. Although Aunt.....

Print On Valentine’s Day everyone needs chocolate, right? What about a homemade chocolate treat? It would be great for your sweetheart, teacher, mother, or just about anyone you love. This is one of Aunt Alisa's go-to treats, and they're always.....

Print There are some, Aunt Kati, that believe turkey and dressing is not complete without cranberry sauce.  There is just something about the sweet and tart flavors that pair with the deep and earthy flavors of Uncle Chris’ turkey and.....

Print As a child, Gigi enjoyed eating cherry pies that her grandmother would make, and now she enjoys making it for her grandchildren, especially Samuel.  She doesn’t like desserts too sweet, so she makes sure to get tart cherries, but.....

Print When you think of meatballs, you automatically think of spaghetti (with homemade marinara), right?  Well, Nana also makes her own meatballs when making her wedding soup on cold winter days.  Yes, you can buy premade meatballs, but if you.....

Print At Thanksgiving, everyone has their dish.  We know that Nana will do the chicken and dressing, Aunt Alisa will do the sweet dinner rolls, and this one is Aunt Ky’s.  This, like many of our favorites, are slight variations.....

Print Aunt Ky loves spicy dishes and recreating what she’s eaten somewhere else.  She developed this years ago, because every time she went to Carino’s, this is what she ordered.  When she first made it, it was too hot to.....

Print When Nana smells green chilis roasting, she wants to make this recipe.  It is a quick go-to for Nana.  She’ll even make it for lunch when she’s especially excited about the chilis she’s picked that day, because you get.....

Print Don’t know if it is just us or not, but hominy versus corn is a big debate in our family.  It seems that either side is love or hate.  There is no in-between, but Nana is closing the divide. .....

Print Although this dessert has bread in it, Aunt Alisa doesn’t make it from scratch.  This is a quick and easy dessert that doesn’t disappoint when served.  It takes the classic cinnamon and sugar combination plus cream cheese to create.....

Print Awe.  Falltime.  One of the many things to look forward to in the fall is caramel apples.  If you love caramel apples, cookies, and all things fall try, these soft cookies with a rich icing.  Grab a cup of.....

Print Sweet and sour sauce is traditionally served with our Asian meals including Hawaiian Stack 'Ems, but not surprisingly, Nana had to create another choice for everyone.  Sometimes she likes a savory alternative, so this was her creation.  Many of.....

Print For three generations, we’ve enjoyed this addition to our Hawaiian Stack ‘Ems.  Gran often made this, and we wanted to pass it on so that your family could enjoy it as well.  It is a pretty simple process.  Just.....

Print This is another recipe passed down from Gran, Gigi’s mom.  She loved making it for big gatherings but, like Nana and Gigi, didn’t serve it when there were many men around.  Apparently, like Pa, many men don’t think this.....

Print We’ve shared Gigi’s go-to cream cheese pound cake, and this recipe is the traditional taste that Nana remembers as a child.  Unfortunately, or not, this is not the recipe from Nana’s mom, but it brought back fond memories of.....

Print What’s more exciting than chocolate chip cookies?  Cookies made with M&Ms and cream cheese.  Yes, you read that right.  In this recipe, you add cream cheese with butter in the beginning.  You also get to use brown sugar.  This.....

Print This is a refreshing summer side that we usually serve with corn chips.  When making it this year, it seemed especially delightful, because we had grown the corn, tomatoes, onions, and jalapeno in our small garden.  We tried to.....

Print We like our pound cakes, especially when we are able to add an ingredient we grow ourselves.  We’ve enjoyed making our accidental applesauce, apple fritters, apple pie filling, and then of course apple pie with our apples, so now.....

Print In this Texas heat, ice cream always sounds good, especially when you know that it’s homemade or served with brownies or apple pie.  This recipe is another one that has been passed to the third generation and enjoyed when we.....

Print As you can tell from many of our previous recipes, we’re influenced by our community culture and that has been influenced by our geographic location.  This is one of those recipes.  It is a common side on many dishes.....

Print Yes, another cookie recipe with cinnamon and sugar. Can you tell we like this combination?  This recipe has the cakelike texture and enormous size of a Crumbl cookie topped with the perfect amount of an ever so light cinnamon.....

Print Nana and Uncle Chris get to sit down each year and plan the garden. Nana advises based on what she wants to cook and eat, and Uncle Chris’ advice is influenced by how much work is needed to grow.....

Print Aunt Ky loves jams and jellies and anything with peppers, especially if they’re spicy.  So when Nana needed another recipe for our peaches this year, Ky was ready.  We are so glad that we tried something new, but really.....

Print If you love Aunt Alisa’s cinnamon rolls, but don’t have the time to wait for the dough to rise, try these.  As you know, her daughter (Michaela), loves trying new cookie recipes, and we’re going to make sure she.....

Print Coleslaw is a nice side for many meals, but Nana’s favorite is with fish tacos.  There is just something about a lightly dressed slaw that takes it to the next level.  It’s even more delicious when you’ve grown your.....

Print Hoe cakes, or if you’re from the North, Johnny Cakes, are a great alternative to making bread.  They may have started with tradition to use local ingredients, but they’ve stayed in the modern cooking world, because they are simple.....

Print Nana loves eating quiche, and of course, she loves making them.  She’s tried many combinations, but this is one of her favorites.  You’ll also see her putting bacon and breakfast sausage with cheddar cheese as well as mixing ham.....

Print Aunt Ky is good at finding creative recipes so that we can use produce that we’ve grown.  We are always grateful when we can grow winter squash, such as butternut, since it has a longer shelf life and can.....

Print Everyone knows that Aunt Ky loves all things Hawaii.  This includes coconuts and pineapples.  Not surprisingly, this is one of her favorite cakes passed on from Gigi’s mom.  Aunt Ky’s daughter had the idea of adding the food coloring.....

Print Most people in our family know that if they go to Wienerschnitzel, they need to get a couple of hot dogs for Pa and at least a pint of chili.  Pa loves most any chili recipe, but this may.....

Print Did you ever wish you had a salad with your Asian meals?  Well, Nana did.  She loves a salad at every meal and has convinced most of us to like this unique recipe.  We still call it a salad,.....

Print Do you think of beef when you think of fillet mignon?  We did too, even though in France it commonly refers to the pork tenderloin.  Well Nana must be in on this secret, or she just knows that pork.....

Print Do you want ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ when you serve dessert?  Try this poke cake.  Like most poke cakes, it is simple to make, but your guests will not care.  I mean what is better than chocolate and caramel topped.....

Print This is one of Uncle Bear’s favorite desserts, but it is tasty for many.  One thing that makes this cake especially favored is the homemade icing that is poured on while the cake is still warm.  Yes, it does.....

Print Like all of her recipes, Nana has researched, tested, retested, and experimented until getting exactly what she wants.  Although Pa eats any and all mashed potatoes, Nana has been on a mission to create creamy & fluffy mashed potatoes.....

Print This recipe is made using a delicious, warm sandwich spread wrapped in homemade bread.  Yum, right?  It is often used in our surrounding communities and a common item when someone makes a community or church cookbook, because so many.....

Print Anyone that knows Nana knows that she likes to have a salad at every meal whether it is ramen salad, a salad with her basil dressing, a yummy buttermilk ranch dressing salad, her Broccoli Salad, Citrus Spinach Salad, Spinach.....

Print This is a long favorite of Nana’s, probably because of the flavor profile and the ability to sneak in vegetables that most of us will still eat.  While researching and trying to find if her recipe counted as a.....

Print If you can’t tell, we really enjoy cooking around here.  The main reason is because we like to eat, but we also don’t like wasting our resources.  In fact, we came across this recipe trying to find another way.....

Print These enchiladas are so gringo that we don’t even know if we can call them Tex-Mex, but they resemble an enchilada enough to keep the name.  Aunt Alisa enjoyed this enchilada recipe growing up and has continued to make.....

Print Who says a salad needs a leafy green?  This salad has been around our family for at least 20 years.  Nana likes making it almost as much as she likes eating it, and it may be the kids’ first.....

Print Nana usually makes the Hot Bacon Potato Salad that she’s already shared.  She especially enjoys this recipe as a pleasant break, because she can make it the day before and stick it in the fridge.  Then she doesn’t have.....

Print What is more basic than chocolate chip cookies?  Yes, we know, that’s why we like this recipe.  Everyone likes a basic chocolate chip cookie, and these are the perfect texture.  They are not too chewy or too cakelike.  It.....

Print Nana discovered this little treasure to add to the garden a couple of years ago when ordering seeds.  Zipper peas are a fat round cream pea that is easy to shell, thus the name.  Just pull the fibrous strand.....

Print This glaze was created as an experiment when Aunt Alisa made apple fritters one time.  After cooking the apples, Nana couldn’t bear to see the apple juice thrown away.  The glaze turned out delicious and beautiful, so we wrote.....

Print Nana enjoyed making corn and jalapeno fritters, and she would change the “mix-ins” when she wanted a sweet fritter.  Now that the apple harvest is in for the year, she and Aunt Alisa wanted to try a new sweet.....

Print We are aware that this recipe may not be helpful unless you have a couple of apple trees or access to a friendly neighbor.  We still wanted to share, because the result was delicious and exciting to discover.  Before our.....

Print As much as Nana loves to cook, she enjoys her kitchen even more when she is surrounded by her grandkids.  Through trial and error, she has discovered that Michaela enjoys making cookies.  There is something about watching each batch.....

Print Who had this growing up?  Aunt Alisa has fond childhood memories when her Nanny made this for her.  Hope your family can enjoy it as well.   Ingredients Cake 2 cups flour 2 cups sugar 1 – 20-ounce can crushed.....

Print We harvested enough apples this year to can more apple slices and make applesauce for the first time.  Nana has made apple pies for years, but of course, it tastes so much better when you know how much blood,.....

Print Are grits only supposed to be eaten at breakfast? If not, when?  We love them at any meal.  Sometimes it is a simple side, and sometimes it is part of a scrumptious main dish.  Aunt Alisa often serves these.....

Print Pinto beans are another dish that seems like everyone around here knows how to make.  We all know that Nana decides how to season them as she is doing it, but she said if she had to write something.....

Print Anyone that has ever labored with love knows that something you’ve made yourself just seems to be better.  Well Nana often experiences this in her kitchen, but everyone that has helped weed, water, prune, or trellis the blackberries got.....

Print We grow some pretty hot jalapenos, and we enjoy eating them fresh, but they are also used in many canned recipes to enjoy all year: Jalapeno Cheddar Bread, Nana's Hot Sauce, and many more.  One of our favorite ways.....

Print When the boys were younger, Nana and Pa often ate at Pancho’s Mexican Buffet.  Yes, the restaurant that lets you raise the flag to request more food.  Calabacitas was not the boys’ favorite dish, but Nana loved it.  Since.....

Print As you know, Nana often looks for new ways to prepare produce after each harvest.  She likes to call these her “company green beans.”  You know, the ones that you only make when you know someone is coming for.....

Print We hate to admit it, but sometimes we find a nice cut of meat that we’ve overlooked in the freezer.  If it is just freezer burned, and not ruined, Nana will brine it before cooking to ensure it is.....

Print We’ve already shared Aunt Alisa's traditional cream gravy that she calls her "2-2-2 Gravy," but Nana wanted an alternative.  You can serve them on the exact same dishes, but Nana especially enjoys this creamy garlic sauce/gravy on her brined.....

Print As with many of Nana’s recipes, they change over the years as she refines her knowledge.  She’s worked on this recipe for a while now looking for an acceptable batter for different foods.  It might even be good on chicken.....

Print Yes.  We have something else that Nana serves with a cream sauce.  Nana continues to serve this recipe just like her mother did when they had fresh potatoes as a child.  It is oh-so tasty on freshly dug potatoes,.....

Print Yes, we know that most Southern homes have their version of cream cheese icing, and there’s not much variability.  But we wanted to make sure everyone knew about this treasure.  There is something about a delicious cream cheese icing.....

Step-by-Step Print A couple of months ago, Aunt Alisa shared her go-to sweet dinner rolls, and we mentioned that she also uses the recipe to make cinnamon rolls. Due to popular demand, she has meticulously, with her youngest daughter’s help,.....

Print It is summertime.  That means time for homemade ice cream and a backyard barbeque, right?  Well, if you have ice cream, you need warm brownies.  There are plenty of boxes to purchase, but how much better is it to.....

Print In the south, we like all things creamed.  Not only do we add cream to our vegetables (Creamed Yellow Squash, Creamed Carrots and Peas, and Creamed Potatoes), like this recipe, but peaches and cream is not just a saying. .....

Print We have a joke that Nana can turn any leftovers into Ribeye steaks.  Of course, she cannot, but she can disguise them pretty good.  When serving this dip, it is often because she’s already served fresh pinto beans and.....

Print If you don’t try something new, you’ll never discover something new.  Last year we had our first successful cabbage crop, so Aunt Alisa made sauerkraut.  It is so much better than the store-bought, so we are looking forward to.....

Print This is a recipe that Nana came back with after visiting Israel.  She often serves it when we celebrate Passover, and it is so refreshing to eat on a hot Texas summer day.  Most of her other recipes with.....

Print When the hot Texas summers arrive, a cold sandwich begins to sound good during the middle of the day.  Nana uses this recipe as a break from a bologna or turkey sandwich.  If she’s cooking for someone, she’ll often.....

Print If you get something new, you have to break it in, right?  We are so grateful that Aunt Alisa got a new Dutch oven, because this bread is as delicious as it is beautiful.  This bread has a wonderfully.....

Print The men in our family lead each family unit by word and example.  The women are especially spoiled on Mother’s Day, because they grill salmon and steaks.  True to family tradition as well, there is always enough leftovers for.....

Print Tartar sauce is such an easy thing to buy, but when Nana is serving, it is always fresh.  Once you try it, you’ll think you have to have homemade tartar sauce every time, especially when serving fried fish.  .....

Print It’s the joke that southerners have to add sugar to everything.  Well, we are from Texas and tend to agree.  This bread recipe is one of Aunt Alisa’s first to master.  It is often served, and when she does,.....

Print It is springtime, and we’re getting fresh spinach out of the garden, which means Nana is looking for new ways to enjoy spinach.  She actually borrowed this recipe from one of her sons.  After tasting it, she made her.....

Print Aunt Alisa has a yeast biscuit recipe that we’ve shared, but she’s really wanted a good buttermilk biscuit recipe since that is a required staple in the south.  She’s tried dozens of recipes but hasn’t found one that she.....

Print The first time Nana had this salad, she was a guest in Gigi’s home more than thirty years ago.  Due to the abundance of spinach in our garden each year, Nana began making it herself.  Now it is a.....

Print Aunt Alisa is our bread expert and having one good recipe is not enough for her.  She likes learning new ways to serve us delicious bakery items, and no one complains about her “experiments.”  This recipe has become a.....

Print When Nana serves carne guisada to everyone, we know that we’ll soon have another great treat: Pozole.  The fun thing for Nana about soups and stews is that you can really add as much or as little of each.....

Print In the winter, do you imagine what warm dish you are going inside to enjoy - a delicious dish that warms you up from the inside out?  Try this recipe.  It is a traditional recipe and welcomed by many when.....

Print Nana loves indulging those she loves with food, so when Pa was diagnosed with diabetes, she began to get more creative with her sweet indulgences.  When Pa has a craving for something sweet, this is a frequently used recipe. .....

Print This recipe came back from Louisiana with Aunt Kati and her family when they moved back home.  She cooked it for Nana’s birthday dinner soon after returning, and Nana fell in love.   Ingredients 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese.....

Print Nana’s mom loved making this snack for her when she was younger.  She would always say, "Eat this.  It's good for you, because it's made with Special K."  Nana would just smile and enjoy the snack.   Ingredients 1.....

Print There aren’t many recipes that Nana follows exactly, but this is one of them.  She found it in an old Better Crocker cookbook years ago and continued to use it, because it doesn’t weep or pull away from the.....

Print This is one of Uncle Lee’s favorites, so Nana often makes it for his birthday meal.  If needed, you can follow Nana's meringue recipe to top this pie.  If you don’t like coconut, and you just want a cream.....

Print Anyone else have roast every Sunday?  This oven roast was a typical Sunday lunch when Nana was growing up.  Her mom would get up early Sunday morning to prepare the roast, then it would cook in the oven while.....

Print This recipe came to us through Aunt Alisa.  If you ever eat her homemade biscuits and gravy, you’ll probably ask for her gravy recipe (and probably her yeast biscuit recipe).  She’ll reply by saying, “2-2-2.” The last ingredient is 2.....

Print Nana discovered this recipe by accident.  One time when frying, she ran out of all-purpose flour, so she used self-rising flour.  The batter turned out crispy and didn’t seem to fall off.  Now, if she doesn’t have self-rising flour.....

Print The savory and sweet balance that Nana achieves in her Glazed and Grilled Chicken Breasts is continued when she adds this creamy sauce with Dijon mustard and orange marmalade.  She serves this dish over rice or pasta, but her.....

This is a favored recipe when we have extra eggs from our hens.  Nana will often serve deviled eggs when she is tired of having green salad but wants something light on the side. Print Ingredients 18 eggs 2/3 cup.....

Print This recipe comes from Gigi’s mom and has become a staple dessert now for the third generation.  It is simple and straight forward and often a quick favorite when served, especially with homemade whipped cream and fresh strawberries.  Now.....

Print When we first posted this, we learned that this pie was a nostalgic favorite for many of our Facebook followers.  Apparently many southern moms incorporated egg custard pie into their repertoire of family recipes along with Nana and her.....

Print When using this recipe, Nana uses the less sugar needed SURE-JELL (pink box).  She has taken the recipe from the box, but she has made the instructions easier to follow.  If your sort your peppers by color before you.....

Print We enjoy this winter squash with other vegetables, in some dishes such as soup, or mashed and added to homemade Alfredo.  Right now, we are sharing a simple way to roast a butternut squash, then you can decide how.....

Print This delicious recipe came to us from a family member that caters large wedding receptions.  Nana has converted it into smaller portions to work for a family meal.  It is delicious on Aunt Alisa’s homemade French bread recipe served.....

Print The kids love this squash, but it may be because it is disguised somewhat.  When served, it resembles noodles.  Nana has even been known to add homemade meatballs to enhance the charade.  Spaghetti squash can also be baked if.....

Print Due to the ease of growing and long shelf-life of spaghetti squash, we enjoy this and other winter squash such as butternut.  Spaghetti squash can be used as a replacement for spaghetti noodles (with or without homemade meatballs), or.....

Print Aunt Alisa is our go-to person for bread making.  She has a sweet dinner roll recipe and a butterhorn recipe that we often use with meals, and we are so thankful that she decided we needed a French bread,.....

Print We were so excited to gather our first apple harvest of significance this year.  After making dump cake, jelly, dried apple chips, apple pie, and apple butter, Nana and Aunt Alisa had fun preserving a great number of our.....

Print One of Nana’s favorite smells is the aroma of green chilis being roasted at the grocery stores.  She looks forward to it all year long, but this year she got to experience that smell on the farm.  Thanks to the.....

Print Our garden produced many jalapenos this year, so we spent hours searching for new jalapeno recipes until Aunt Alisa found this one.  Even though our jalapenos were super-hot this year, the end result was “not so hot.” This is.....

Print This is a go-to dressing for Nana, other than ranch, of course.  She uses it to dress a salad, when making mango chutney to go on grilled salmon, with her zucchini caprese salad, and with her citrus spinach salad.....

Print When making corn fritters, Nana came across this aioli to compliment them.  It was delicious with the corn and jalapeno fritters, and I’m sure we’ll use it with many other dishes.   Ingredients ½ cup mayonnaise 1-2 tablespoons lemon.....

Print For many locals, the corn fritters served at the drive-in theater were a favorite snack, but unfortunately it was closed in the last few years due to a fire.  Like many of us, Nana misses this special treat, so.....

Print Our garden surprised us this year with an abundance of carrots.  So, of course, Nana has been busy finding creative ways for us to enjoy them.  This recipe is an adaptation that came to her from one of her.....

Print This prolific squash is often made into this delicious quick bread and is usually the first and last recipe that Nana uses with our zucchini each year.  If we happen to let some zucchini get too big, someone often.....

Print Eli begged to make prickly pear jelly with his mom, Aunt Ky. Since making it the first time, it has become an annual tradition, and they've revised the recipe each time.  When they do, they thankfully, make enough to.....

Print There are times in the year when we have so much squash and zucchini that Nana looks for new recipes, because she is afraid we’ll stop eating her food.  (Never gonna’ happen.)  This is a recipe that she found in.....

When Nana was a little girl, she was a picky eater, so her mom tricked her into eating lima beans, or butter beans.  Grandma Jane would stab each bean with a toothpick instead of using a fork.  As a result,.....

Print Yes, we have another way to eat okra other than fried!  Since Pa loves okra,  even when it is steamed, we tend to plant more each year.  As a result, this year we’ve had enough okra to eat, can,.....

Print Aunt Jill is our resident arborist, so when she harvested this year's apple crop, Nana asked her for an apple dessert.  The family gobbled it up in one meal, so Nana decided to share this recipe for everyone to.....

Print When looking through recipes the other day, Nana decided to try this one, because the word "old-fashioned" caught her eye.  It's not your typical buttercream frosting, but it is sure to become a new favorite for your family. When tasting.....

Print For this recipe, we wanted to pass on a funny story.  Everyone knows that chicken fried steak is one of Uncle Lee’s favorite foods, and one time Nana was making this recipe for the family.  He walked by and.....

Print Do you hate slimy boiled okra?  You put it your mouth, and you feel like it will slide right down your throat.  Well, Nana is revealing her tried and true secret method to preparing steamed okra with no slime. .....

Print Bran . . . sounds like an elderly person’s food, right?  No, the grandkids love them, and they are great for breakfast.  You can even serve them for dessert or as the bread at a meal.  Nana has also.....

Print If you are from the south, and have ever had a backyard garden, there is a high likelihood that you’ve had creamed yellow squash.  This is such a quintessential southern comfort food.  Nana had this often as a child.....

Print One day we were all buzzing around the kitchen making fresh pesto and shucking corn from the garden, and someone said, "Hey, why not put pesto in the butter for the corn?"  Nana experimented a bit and came up.....

Print The first time Nana had this recipe, it was a gift from a friend.  She quickly got the recipe and has used it for many years.  She uses it to stuff yellow squash as well as bell peppers.  She.....

Print Nana found this delightful recipe in a community cookbook and uses it for breakfast and dinner meals since it is not a traditional biscuit.  Not that Nana can’t make wonderful biscuits, but if she is doing this recipe, or.....

This recipe was discovered in a magazine several years ago when our garden produced an abundance of okra.  The family liked it so well that it has become a traditional side dish.  The word Maque Choux comes from Cajun cuisine meaning.....

We grow our herbs in half barrels, and they have definitely been prolific this year.  In order to use some of them, Nana experimented with a new way to make fresh marinara.  It is not like the recipe she usually.....

Print God blessed us with an abundance of spaghetti squash last summer, and we were able to preserve the extra in our cellar.  We grew tired of eating it the same way, so Aunt Alisa found a new way to.....

Print This recipe has been in our small community for years, but we aren’t sure where it started.  Each local cook has their own variation when serving their family.  Nana wanted to share some of her variations.  She doesn’t always add.....

Print Besides spinach, we tried English peas in our garden this spring. It was fun to taste test in the garden to determine if they were ready to pick. Come to find out, there is a point when they are.....

Print We told you to expect more spinach recipes while we enjoy our spring garden.  Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant used to be one of our favorite places to eat.  So of course, Nana found a copycat recipe, so we wouldn’t go.....

Print We experimented this year by planting spinach in our spring garden, and God blessed us with a bountiful crop.  Nana has used this recipe for years, and we’ve been fortunate enough to eat it more frequently lately so that.....

Print Ribs . . . need we say more?  If you've heard of Texas, you've heard of ribs.  This is always a welcome treat, especially when we’ve had a long day working outside. Pair this with Nana’s hot bacon potato.....

Print A potato salad with no eggs or mustard . . . but it has bacon!  This recipe came to us through a marriage.  We inherited a beautiful new family member that caters weddings, and she shared one of her.....

Print Yes, we know; meatloaf needs ketchup, not pickles and cheddar cheese. When Nana was a newlywed, Pa’s mom gave her a new meatloaf recipe, and she’s been making it since. It sure helps that Pa loves this recipe.  If.....

Print The southern debate. Do you put sugar in your cornbread? We sure do, because Nana uses sugar in about any delectable dish she serves.  You don’t have to use an iron skillet, but then you wouldn’t have the crunchy.....

Print Every year our family celebrates Passover just before Easter. It is a time of understanding the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt as well as the symbolism which points to Jesus, our Messiah. During the course of.....

Print No, this is not a joke. Yes, we are still from Texas, but Nana wanted to share her white chili with chicken, not beef. Don’t be shy about trying something new.  Nana won’t disappoint. It is even better when served.....

Print Talk about a classic. Who doesn't have a fond childhood memory of chicken and noodles? Whether it was served on a cold day to help you warm up from the inside out or it was served to you to.....

Print This recipe is rich, creamy, and extra delicious, especially when Nana uses fresh Parmesan cheese.  Alfredo is traditionally served over noodles, but Nana also serves it on baked potatoes.  If she wants to make her food go farther, she'll.....

Print Nana has long served garden fresh tomatoes with mozzarella and her homemade dressing.   Thanks to The Pioneer Woman – Ree Drummond, she has learned to mix mayonnaise and pesto together in order to add extra deliciousness.  If you love.....

Print These pickles are great served with pulled pork, hot dogs, hamburgers, or whatever you can imagine. Let us know how you enjoy eating them, and don't hesitate to check out Nana's dill pickle recipe if you want variety.  .....

This has been around for a while and is one of Nana’s many ways to deliciously use squash when it is plentiful in the garden. Print Ingredients 4 yellow squash Pesto ¼ cup chopped basil ¼ cup olive oil ½.....

Print Nana is always looking for new ways to present leftovers so that no one knows they’ve eaten them before. This recipe is a great way to use leftover cornbread, especially when your garden is producing loads of yellow squash.  Use your favorite.....

Print Grits are a common dish in the south even if it is a savory dish served after breakfast. If you have a delicious recipe like Nana's cheesy corn grits, you may want to top it with a dreamy sauce.....

Print Nana loves growing greens and spinach, and we see this dish more often when her plants are doing well. It makes the spinach more palatable to those that don't like spinach, and it gives Nana more variety in eating.....

Print After a big crab and shrimp boil for the whole family, we continue to peel even when we're done eating, because we know that we'll likely see the leftovers in this salad.  It is a delicious side to many.....

Print This recipe was perfected trying to use excess pumpkins that we grew the previous fall. After we filled jar after jar with canned pumpkins, Nana wanted to try a recipe.  Of course, you can use store-bought canned pumpkins if.....

Print This is one of Nana's many pickling recipes. It can be used with cucumbers like the recipe is written, or she uses it to make pickled okra. If she does okra, she uses pint jars and processes it for.....

Print This is a classic that Nana has developed over the years and made her own. She uses this recipe to make her homemade quiches and chicken pot pie.  Need dessert ideas as well?  Nana has shared her egg custard.....

Print This dessert is commonly served during fall holidays in the south as we love our pecans and the huge trees they grow on.  As with many of Nana's recipes, this one did not come to her in this condition. .....

Print YUM!! Does it seem overwhelming to turn fresh pork chops into a mouthwatering main dish? Try this simple and delicious recipe on any weekday, and your whole family will thank you.  If you'd rather grill outside, try Nana's Pork.....

Print Nana calls this recipe gumbo, but it is usually served as a side unlike the traditional gumbo. She made it recently with zucchini instead of okra, and it was still delicious. Have fun with this, and continue to share.....

Print Nana uses our fresh basil to make homemade pesto. The pesto is added to many dishes for a deeper flavor including her spaghetti squash (microwaved or baked), buttered noodles, and zucchini spirals. It is especially good when she spreads.....

Print Chili is best served on cold, or chilly, days.  Am I right?  What a better way to warm up and feel comfortable than with a bowl of chili with GREEN CHILIS?  Make it even more filling and delicious with.....

Print Nana shares her hot sauce recipe.  She loves making it when our garden is producing tomatoes, jalapenos, and cilantro. Yum!  We've got more creative ways to use our garden jalapenos as well: cowboy candy, not so hot green sauce,.....

Print This dish is such a treat, especially if you are trying to warm up from working outside.  This is a fall comfort food that makes a delicious meal all by itself, or you can serve it with a pot.....

Print This is a favorite for kids and adults. It can be served as a side, or make it the main dish with rice and beans on the side.   Ingredients 1 ½ pounds hamburger meat ½ cup chopped onion.....

Print Does anyone else produce so much zucchini in their garden that you need to get creative? Nana had fun creating this recipe to use our excess zucchini. It is also especially delicious when we get to use corn from.....

Print As a family we celebrate many holidays such as Passover, Thanksgiving, Christmas and the like, but we don't have too many New Year traditions.  As you know, Nana is always looking for an excuse to try a new recipe,.....

Print Want your kids to eat their vegetables? Ask Nana for a recipe. Most of our kids enjoy green beans, and we hadn't thought that it might be Nana's cooking.  It also helps that she lets them eat using a.....

Print This recipe combines Pa's impeccable grilling skills with Nana's eye for detail in the kitchen.  As you notice the light crunch and taste the smoke flavor from the grill, you realize that Nana's added a touch of sweetness to.....

Print Who doesn't love fried food?  Well, our family is thankful that Nana enjoys making fried okra. This is a great side for a meal, or a delicious bite-sized snack.  Follow Nana's instructions so that the okra is ready to.....

Print Nana cooks for us every Wednesday night, and it is even more exciting when we get our first vegetables from the garden each year. She wanted to share a quick method you can use when you can’t wait to.....

We eat this a lot in the summer, and no one complains. It is a simple and delicious way to use our vine-ripened cucumbers. Print Ingredients Salad 2 medium cucumbers one small onion Dressing ½ cup mayonnaise ½ cup sour.....

Print Nana often pairs her soups with sandwiches.  For this soup, she likes a grilled cheese sandwich made with pumpernickel and provolone cheese.  It is also delicious with a grilled cheese made using jalapeno pimento cheese and Aunt Alisa's Jalapeno.....

Print Cucumber relish is a creative way to use fresh garden produce, and you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor throughout the year.  This recipe is yummy served with beans and rice, hot dogs, Nana's Chalupas for a.....

Print What is more comforting than a thick, warm chowder when you've been working outside?  Nana knows she can cook this to get us to quit working, especially when she serves it with Aunt Alisa's Perfect Cornbread.   Ingredients 4.....

Print The kids love this despite the vegetables. Maybe it is the creamy filling and amazingly flakey crust.  If you happen to have extra filling, maybe try making a chicken corn chowder. Want another recipe with carrots, search for the.....

Print Upon request, Nana has put the clam chowder recipe on paper. Our prayer is that you enjoy the recipe with your families as we have with our family. This is a New England recipe that Nana has personalized and.....

Print Each family has their own take on this Thanksgiving and Christmas classic, and Nana wanted to share her most current recipe in case you are up to amending your family's traditions.  If not, we appreciate you checking ours out. .....

This recipe is even better after working outside in the cold all day. It is one of Rebekah's favorites. Print Ingredients 4 large Yukon Gold potatoes 1-3 teaspoons of salt 2 tablespoons butter 2 teaspoons minced garlic 2 tablespoons flour.....

Print This dish is even more delicious when we can grow our own cabbage, but store-bought is very suitable and often used. Cabbage seems to be an overlooked vegetable, and when it is used, it is often just mixed with.....

Print Nana enjoys cooking blackeyes from our garden, and she wanted to share her most used recipe. These peas are eaten throughout the year, and we get to enjoy the fruits of our summer labor in the hot Texas sun. .....

Print Thank you, Kimberly Bingham Clare, for sending us a delicious recipe! Everytime Nana uses it, she changes it just a bit.  Nana loves tossing zucchini in a light and crunchy batter then throwing it in the oven.  It makes.....