Texas Monthly

Straight Talk

Domain

See My Etchings; Quilt Complex; Sushi Summit; Rock-a-bye Baby.

State of the Art

Nine-Year-Old Brent Cunningham just after his Red Brangus heifer placed second at the 1989 Austin Livestock Show and Rodeo. Photograph by Michael O’Brien

Bad Karma

Texas Humor: How Many Aggies . . .

Did you hear the one about the eleven Aggies who told their favorite Aggie jokes?

Roar of the Crowd

Recruiting for the environmental team: tackling Texas’ education crisis: seeking justice at the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Raspberry Half-Dips

Houston pastry chef and bakery owner Marilyn Descours suggests making her easy sandwich cookies for parent-child assembly-line fun: Dab your favorite seedless raspberry jam between wafers, and dip the sandwiches halfway in 6 to 8 ounces of melted semisweet chocolate. Chill on waxed paper until the chocolate sets.Marilyn Descours’ Raspberry

Sorrel-and-Watercress Vichyssoise

1 medium yellow onion, diced1 tablespoon each of butter and flour1 can (32 ounces) low-salt chicken stock1 small bunch leeks (green and white parts), washed, trimmed, and sliced2 medium baking potatoes, peeled and diced3/4 tablespoon dried thymeSalt and black pepper, to taste1 medium bunch fresh sorrel1 large bunch fresh watercress1/2

Chaplin’s Bloody Marys

2 quarts tomato juice (Sacramento) 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (Lea and Perrins) 6 tablespoons chopped horseradish, or to taste 2 tablespoons each of chopped fresh garlic, lemon juice, lime juice, and dried dill 2 teaspoons ground black pepper 1 teaspoon each of ground white pepper, celery salt, and garlic salt

Coconut Sweet

3 cups grated fresh coconut (from about 5-inch-diameter coconut) or unsweetened packaged coconut1 1/2 cups sugar1 cup milk1/4 cup peanut oil25 green cardamoms, peeled and seeds crushed, or 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamomMini-sized paper baking cupsIf using fresh coconut, break shell with hammer. Pry meat from shell with knife tip.

Cucumber-Peanut Relish

4 large cucumbers 6 tablespoons chopped cilantro 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves 3 teaspoons sugar Juice of 2 lemons or limes 1 1/2 tablespoons peanut oil 1 teaspoon mustard seeds 3 or 4 serrano chiles (optional), seeded and slivered 1/2 cup raw peanuts, oven-roasted and coarsely chopped Salt,

Sautéed Spinach and Vegetables

4 tablespoons peanut oil 4 to 6 garlic cloves, minced 3 serrano chiles, minced 1 teaspoon cumin seed 2 small Japanese eggplants or 1 small purple eggplant; 2 medium red new potatoes; and 2 carrots – all cut into 1/2 -inch cubes 1 1/2 cups cauliflower florets, broken into 1/2

Four-Bean-and-Potato Salad

1 cup garbanzo beans1 cup black-eyed peas1 cup chana dal (split yellow peas may be substituted)1 cup mung beans5 medium red new potatoes8 scallions (with some green), finely sliced4 serrano chiles, seeded and minced 2 tablesppons chaat masala seasoning mix6 tablespoons chopped cilantroSalt, to tasteJuice of 2 large lemons or

Citrus Stars With Raspberry Purée

2 cups sifted flour plus 4 tablespoons flour 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus extra for dusting Zest of 3 lemons, 3 limes, and 2 oranges 1/2 pound butter, chilled 4 large eggs 3 cups granulated sugar 4 tablespoons each of lemon, lime, and orange juice 2 teaspoons baking powder 2

Roasted-Eggplant Salad

1 to 1 1/2 cups olive oil 2 cups each of diced red bell pepper, diced green bell pepper, and diced white onion 6 cups diced eggplant 1 cup canned diced tomato in juice 2 tablespoons capers 1/4 cup each of red wine vinegar and sugar 1/4 cup minced cilantro

Tortellini With Tomato Vinaigrette

1 cup sun-dried tomatoes 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon sugar 1/4 cup chopped garlic 1/2 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil, plus 1 1/4 cup cut in julienne 18 ounces fresh tricolored

Texas Bellinis

Recipe from executive chef Michael Thomson, of Epicure in the Park, Dallas.

Stilton Cheesecake With Walnut Crust

9 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped walnut pieces 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs 4 tablespoons plus 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 32 ounces cream cheese, softened 2 tablespoons flour 3 whole eggs, at room temperature 2 egg yolks, at room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla

Mango Lassis

64 ounces plain lowfat yogurt 2 cans (28 ounces each) mango pulp 12 cups crushed iceWhip half of ingredients at a time in blender until frothy. Pour into glasses. Serves 10 To 12.From Savoring Summer, featured in Domain, May 1990

Roar of the Crowd

Talking up Texas’ present and past.

The battle over the best way to put the space station into orbit; how Oscar Wyatt plans to lower his electric bill (and raise yours); why we should control the lending, not the spending, in the governor’s race.

Roar of the Crowd

Too much of a beautiful thing; codependent once more.

“Texans Never Cry”

The Lone Star State had top billing in many a grade-B western, and the proof is in the placards.

Buttermilk Pie

Drew Allen, a co-owner of San Antonio’s Liberty Bar, came across this custardy buttermilk pie recipe in an out-of-print forties cookbook. The pie was powerfully sweet for modern taste buds, so Allen halved the sugar to come up with his restaurant’s most popular dessert.4 ounces frozen butter 1 ounce cold

Roar of the Crowd

Steering clear; bucking the system; finding themselves.

Roar of the Crowd

Mapping the desert grandeur of Big Bend, pondering the problems at a Dallas high school, tearing down for moving up in a Houston neighborhood.

Roar of the Crowd

Discovering the hero in every person; getting off the ground without ever leaving the airport; paying our respects to an ancient tree.

The 1990 Bum Steer Awards

A year of antagonistic attorneys, beleaguered Bushes, costumed cacti, dead dogs, espied Elvises, falling Fledermause, garbled grapes, hemline histrionics, imprudent impeachings, journalistic judges, kinky kindling, legislative largesse, mock McMurtrys, novelist’s nooks, overrated Odessas, phantom pharaohs, qualified quail, Ruby’s revolvers, spurious spies, tardy transcribers, U-charistic Uthanasians, vandalized vans, weird wieners, X-onerated

Voices of East Texas

Remembering a special place; rethinking the political process; working toward a humane society.

Chocolat Pot De Crème

A recipe from Set to Fete.

Norwegian Salmon Filets

Lemon-Dill Cream1 shallot, chopped Zest of 2 lemons, plus 1/4 cup juice 1 tablespoon bruised black pepper (wrap peppercorns in cloth; hammer briefly) 1 1/2 cups dry white vermouth 1 pint heavy cream Salt, white pepper, and cayenne pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh dillCombine shallot, zest, black

Crab-and-Ham Pasta Saute

Jalapeño-Tarragon Butter1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter 1 fresh red or green jalapeño pepper, finely chopped (remove seeds and devein for milder butter) 1/4 cup fresh tarragon or 1 teaspoon dry, or 1/4 cup fresh marigold mint 1 tablespoon orange zestCombine all ingredients in food processor or blender, or soften

Citrus Salad With Minted Caramel Sauce

3/4 cups packed brown sugar 1 cup heavy cream 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon chopped fresh mint 4 to 5 oranges, sectioned 4 to 5 bananas or 1 pint strawberries (optional), sliced Whole mint leavesIn heavy saucepan, combine sugar and cream. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, and cook until thickened,

Upside-down Pear-and-Cranberry Gingerbread

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened 2 3/4 cups packed brown sugar 3 pears, peeled and sliced 1 cup fresh cranberries (optional) 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 tablespoon ginger 1 teaspoon nutmeg 4 eggs 1 cup

Pecan Scones

4 cups all-purpose flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 cup coarsely ground pecans 1/2 pound butter, chilled and cut into cubes 1 cup sour cream 1 cup milkPreheat oven to 375 degrees. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add sugar and pecans.

Sausage Scramble

1 pound new potatoes1 pound spicy Italian sausage, crumbled1 onion, chopped14 eggs, beatenSalt and freshly ground pepper, to tasteTwo tomatoes, sliced1/2 pound Monterey Jack cheese, gratedBoil potatoes until tender, about 25 minutes; cut into 1-inch chunks. In 9-inch skillet, fry sausage until done; remove from pan, reserving 2 tablespoons drippings,

A Matter of Taste.

Hooker strikes out; Texas screenwriters hit Hollywood pay dirt; Baptists bicker over Bible book.

The Haves and the Have-Nots

Ranking the rich; playing the game; watching the show.

The Best and The Worst of It

What we have in the Texas Lege; “What I Am” on record; what mom is about.

The All-New, Improved America’s Team

Three ad agencies take the ball and run (wild) with it.

The Dark Side

Following spirit religions.

The Texas 100: Introduction

How we calculated the fortunes of the richest Texans.

The Big Picture

A legacy of the Great Depression, murals in Texas post offices inspire reflection on the state’s splendid history and its grand potential.

State Secrets

Texas cleans up its act with natural gas.

Roar of the Crowd

Sharing our treasured spots

Fun Fare

Flying high on low tech; facing a painful but complex issue; waging war on pests.

Genuine Fakes

Rewriting history, bugging the big guys, acknowledging a threat.

Facing Forward, Facing Back

The Comanches in the present; the skinheads in Dallas, the mess in Texas; the crisis in the prisons.

Roar of the Crowd

Getting bummed out on 1988; separating church and state; facing difficult decisions.

A Brush With Life

A gallery of nine Texans and their other selves.