May 1990 Issue

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

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’

Mango Lassis

64 ounces plain lowfat yogurt 2 cans (28 ounces each) mango pulp 12 cups crushed ice Whip 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

Sorrel-and-Watercress Vichyssoise

1 medium yellow onion, diced 1 tablespoon each of butter and flour 1 can (32 ounces) low-salt chicken stock 1 small bunch leeks (green and white parts), washed, trimmed, and sliced 2 medium baking potatoes, peeled and diced 3/4 tablespoon dried thyme Salt and black pepper, to taste 1 medium

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 coconut 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 cup milk 1/4 cup peanut oil 25 green cardamoms, peeled and seeds crushed, or 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom Mini-sized paper baking cups If using fresh coconut, break shell with hammer. Pry

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 beans 1 cup black-eyed peas 1 cup chana dal (split yellow peas may be substituted) 1 cup mung beans 5 medium red new potatoes 8 scallions (with some green), finely sliced 4 serrano chiles, seeded and minced 2 tablesppons chaat masala seasoning mix 6 tablespoons chopped

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

Marine Life

With the advent of a second Epicure on the Park this spring, Dallasites have gotten a taste of the elegant fare that has made this Fort Worth restaurant and catering company so popular. Executive chef Michael Thomson’s repertoire of take-out food adapts easily to a stunning supper that can be

Hot Off The Grill

Favorite neighborhood bistros have long been noted for delicious unpretentious fare that at once tempts diners and puts them at ease. Following that formula, chef Jack Chaplin has attracted loyal patrons to Chaplin’s, his year-old Dallas restaurant. He suggests a summertime aperitif guaranteed to awaken taste-buds and appetites—a batch of

Indian Summer

Indian-born cooking instructor Suneeta Vaswani has won Houstonians’ hearts with her authentic native cuisine. Her buffet for twelve can be made ahead and served at room temperature. Shrimp pulao and a spicy spinach sauté contrast nicely with a crunchy four-bean-and-potato salad and a cool cucumber-peanut relish. Mango lassis are sure

Crab Cakes With Ancho Chile Sauce

Crab Cakes 2 cups diced Roma tomatoes 1/4 cup each of minced shallots and garlic 1 cup diced onion 2 tablespoons thinly sliced serrano chiles 2 tablespoons each of sugar and lime juice 1/4 pound fresh scallops, muscle removed Salt and white pepper, to taste 1 1/4 cups chopped cilantro

Grilled Pompano, Sea Scallops and Crayfish

Grilled Pompano in Beurre Rouge With Sea Scallops and Crayfish 3 shallots, chopped fine 1/2 pound softened butter plus 3 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup each of red and white wine Juice of 1 lemon 1/2 cup heavy cream Salt and white pepper, to taste 1/2 to 3/4 pound precooked crayfish

Shrimp Pulao

3 cups long-grain rice (preferably basmati) 1 large onion 1-inch piece gingerroot, peeled 6 garlic cloves 5 tablespoons peanut oil 1 large tomato, finely chopped 1 1/2 teaspoons poppy seeds Scant 1/2 teaspoon turmeric 3/4 teaspoon each of cumin powder, ground coriander, and Indian red chile powder (or cayenne pepper)

Grilled New Potatoes and Asparagus

Recipe from chef Jack Chaplin, Chaplin’s, Dallas. 16 small red new potatoes 2 pounds fresh asparagus spears 1/4 cup olive oil 12 tablespoons butter, softened 1 teaspoon each of chopped fresh rosemary, parsley, and garlic In 4-quart pot of boiling water, blanch potatoes for about 15 minutes, until they can

Savoring Summer

If you can’t stand the heat, take a sip of a cool mango lassi and select refreshing recipes-such as chilled sorrel-and-watercress vichyssoise or gingery shrimp pulao-from these three menus.

By Camille Kraeplin

Columns

Business

A Bridge Too Far?

Laredo initially hated Monterrey’s plan for a new border crossing but had second thoughts when it realized that there was money to be made.

By Joseph Harmes

Behind the Lines

Literary terrorists.

By Gregory Curtis

Books

Shock Treatment

Three new books deliver sordid stories of drugged-up cops, kinky murderers, and a real-life drug kingpin.

By Chester Rosson

Vive Le Tex-Mex!

Lone Star cuisine is all the rage in Paris—France, that is.

By Edward Cone

Miscellany

State Secrets

Just when one education lawsuit is over, along comes another; how Ross Perot became an issue in the lieutenant governor’s race; why Coke-Stevenson, that is-is hard to swallow.

By Paul Burka

Roar of the Crowd

Talking up Texas’ present and past.