
December 1988 Issue
Features

Miscellany
State Secrets
The newest threat to Houston mayor Kathy Whitmire is an old face; an investigation of an acid leak turns sour; a Texas congressman may take over the banking committee.
Roar of the Crowd
The sounds of country; the life and death of the bay; the interpretation of our state’s history.
Domain Supplement
The Pleasure of Their Companies
Three Texas caterers turn the tables on the ordinary holiday gathering–they roll out the red carpet and bring on the food, but you feel like it’s still your party.
Lemon Cake With Dried Apricots and Walnuts
1/2 teaspoon salt Grated rind of 2 lemons 5 eggs 2 1/3 cups sugar 3 cups unsifted all-purpose flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 2 cups heavy cream 6 ounces chopped dried apricots 1 cup chopped walnuts Juice of 2 lemonsPreheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and
Cranberry-Bourbon Sauce
1 cup bourbon 1/4 cup minced shallots Zest of 1 orange 1 twelve-ounce package fresh cranberries 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon ground black pepperIn small saucepan combine bourbon, shallots, and orange zest. Bring to boil over medium heat, and simmer until syrupy, about 10 minutes. Add cranberries and sugar, and
Southwestern Holiday Buffet
The obvious signs of a catered party–rented chafing dishes, mirrored trays, snap–draped tables, and starchy flowers–are nowhere to be seen at a function by Food Company, a three-year-old catering concern. Instead, the food is a straightforward interpretation of New American cuisine, and the table arrangements have a natural look that
Shelley’s Crawfish-Cornbread Stuffing
1 1/2 cups chopped onion 1 1/2 cups chopped celery 1 1/2 cups chopped red and green peppers 10 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon each red, black, and white pepper Salt, to taste 1/3 cup chopped parsley 5 cups crumbled dry cornbread 1 pound crawfish tails, shelled 2 cups chicken stock
Apple-Raisin Spice Cake
1 cup cake flour 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1/2 teaspoon each nutmeg and cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon each ground cloves, mace, and ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups butter, at room temperature 2 cups granulated sugar 3 eggs 3 1/2 cups chopped Granny Smith
Cajeta Flan
Cajeta1 1/2 cups sugar 2 cups goat’s milk 2 cups cow’s milk 1 teaspoon cornstarch Dash baking soda(Makes 2 cups) Stir half the sugar in small skillet over medium heat for about 7 minutes, until medium golden-brown and free of lumps. Remove from heat. Combine milks; pour about one fourth
Lace Cookie Cup With Raspberries
Recipe from Stephan Pyles, Routh Street Cafe, Dallas.1 cup finely ground almonds 3/4 cup sugar 6 tablespoons butter, at room temperature 4 teaspoons flour 2 tablespoons milk 1 cup lightly sweetened whipped cream 2 pints fresh raspberriesPreheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine first five ingredients in bowl; blend into smooth
Cranberry-Pecan Kugelhopf
1 stick butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 4 egg yolks 2 1/4 cups sifted flour 1/3 cup milk 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 4 egg whites 1 cup chopped cranberries 1 cup chopped pecans 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugarPreheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease and flour 9-inch Kugelhopf
Formal Christmas Coffee
Houston caterer Byron Franklin’s holiday coffee reflects his Texas upbringing and years of study in Vienna. Franklin, born and raised in Baytown, has no formula or fixed menus for his clients, but his own tastes run to the traditional and formal. “Everybody is different,” says Franklin. “My philosophy is, regardless
Madeira Quail Breasts with Saffron Mayonnaise on Toast
Recipe from “The Pleasure of Their Companies.”
Cinnamon Cactus Cookies
8 tablespoons butter, at room temperature 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 egg yolk 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 2/3 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon each baking soda and salt 1/4 teaspoon each ground cloves and ground nutmeg 1 tablespoon ground cinnamonPreheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream together butter and 3/4 cup
Radicchio Packages
1 bunch green onions 1 carrot 1 red pepper 1 yellow squash 1 zucchini Vinaigrette, as desired 1 head radicchioCut bulbs from onions, and discard. Blanch tops in boiling water for 1 minute. Drain, dry with towel, cut length-wise into thin strings, and set aside.Cut carrot, pepper, and squashes into
Italian Puffs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and cut into pieces 1/4 cup heavy cream 1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese 1 pound bulk sweet Italian sausage, cooked and drained Freshly ground black pepper, to tasteIn saucepan, melt butter until bubbling. Add cream, and warm. Add Parmesan, then stir constantly until mixture
Hearts of Palm Wrapped with Smoked Salmon
1 eight-ounce can hearts of palm, drained 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature 2 bunches dill (1 bunch finely chopped and 1 bunch for garnish) Salt and white pepper, to taste 1 pound thinly sliced smoked salmonMix cream cheese, chopped dill, salt, and pepper. Spread cream cheese mixture 1/8-inch
New Year’s Eve Cocktail Party
New Year’s Eve inspires people to do things more exuberantly than they would the rest of the year. With that in mind, Galveston restaurateur and caterer Zan Millner has prepared a spread with the right combination of frivolity and sustenance to fuel a late-night party and herald the new year.“I
Columns
Kick ‘Em Back! Kick ‘Em Back! Waaay Back!
SMU’s fall socer season had cheerleaders; it had a band; it had pom-pom girls. What it didn’t have was excitement.
Sax to the Max
A Houston bellhop by day, tenor saxman Grady Gaines has come out of retirement to bring back the trademark sound of a great rock and roll band.
Brave New World
On temporary assignment, a newspaperman sees that when it comes to TV news, what you see is just about all you’re going to get.
Reporter
Texas Monthly Reporter
San Antonio media indulge in self-flagellation over Henry; Dallas goes gaga over Tom Cruise; Hoston thrills to a Pearl of a blues singer.