December 1988
Features
One day in 1962 Ross Perot read Thoreau’s insight that the “mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” The country hasn’t been the same since.
Visitors to the Harris county Jail resign themselves to the hours they must spend waiting in line to get fifteen precious minutes with an inmate.
What kind of woman gets her own skin-care company, a place in Nouvelle Society, and the second-most-eligible bachelor in the world? Meet Georgette Mosbacher.
In Dallas, people call the new superintendent of schools the Messiah. Now all Marvin Edwards has to do is prove they’re right.
Columns
SMU’s fall socer season had cheerleaders; it had a band; it had pom-pom girls. What it didn’t have was excitement.
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.
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.
Miscellany
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.
The sounds of country; the life and death of the bay; the interpretation of our state’s history.
Domain Supplement
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.
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…
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 pepper In small saucepan combine bourbon, shallots, and orange zest. Bring to boil over medium heat, and simmer until syrupy, about 10…
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…
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…
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…
Cajeta 1 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.
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 raspberries Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine…
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’…
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…
Recipe from “The Pleasure of Their Companies.”
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 cinnamon Preheat oven…
3 cups short-grain rice 1 stick (1/2 cup) margarine 1/4 cup oil, plus oil for deep-frying 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup finely chopped celery 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons chili powder 6 ounces tomato…
1 bunch green onions 1 carrot 1 red pepper 1 yellow squash 1 zucchini Vinaigrette, as desired 1 head radicchio Cut bulbs from onions, and discard. Blanch tops in boiling water for 1 minute. Drain, dry with towel, cut length-wise into thin strings, and…
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 taste In saucepan, melt butter until bubbling. Add cream, and warm. Add Parmesan,…
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 salmon Mix cream cheese, chopped dill, salt, and pepper.
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.
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.
