Fajitas – Steak, chicken, shrimp, it doesn’t matter…I’m all about a sizzling platter of meat, peppers, onions, and all the yummy fixings that go with them. I love fajitas because they have attitude. First of all, consider the delivery…when a server heads out from the kitchen with a steaming, smoking skillet of fajitas, people take notice. And there are so many sides. I love a little variety and when you get a giant platter of fajitas, every bite can be different. Do you fix one with just meat or add some veggies? Do you want salsa or pico or guac or cheese? Sometimes I go completely rogue and layer in a scoop of refried beans. Ah, the possibilities. With fajitas, they’re endless.
Chicken Enchiladas with Sour Cream Sauce – Something about the creamy white sauce mixed with a hint of spice from the green chilies warms my heart. Like someone else’s mac and cheese or Sunday pot roast, it’s my comfort food. Yes, there are chicken enchiladas with red sauce or green sauce, but the white sour cream sauce is my favorite. Served up with a side of rice and refried beans, dinner doesn’t get much better than this. And I always make enough for leftovers because this is one dish that’s even better the next day.
Tamales – If you’ve never had an authentic homemade tamale then your life isn’t complete. Add it to your bucket list. They can look a little intimidating with the husk wrapped around the crumbly masa, but dig in, they’re so worth it. I’ve found that tracking down the best tamales takes time, dedication and connections. Usually you have to know someone who knows someone who can recommend you to someone who knows someone who sells homemade tamales. But once you’re in, you’re in and you’ll be able to enjoy tamales whenever you want.
Swirl Margaritas – I’ve tried ordering Swirl Margaritas outside the state of Texas without much success. The closest I got was a regular frozen margarita with a shot of Sangria floating on top. I still enjoyed it, but it’s not the same as that perfect frosty blend of frozen margarita balanced with a delicious twist of homemade sangria. It’s best if the glass is the size of a fishbowl and they’re two-for-one during happy hour. Cheers!
Last but not least… I lied. There’s no way I can keep my list to five. We haven’t even talked about dessert yet. Two more… let’s go with my top six must-have Tex-Mex dishes. As you can tell, I’m not much of a rule follower.
Sopapillas – Time for dessert. These deep-fried, golden, warm, cinnamon-sugary treats are melt-in-your-mouth pockets of awesomeness. The best way to get these is fresh from the fryer. And I’m not talking a heavy, deep-fried lump of dough that’s going to sit in your stomach for days. These are light, fluffy, and heavenly. In fact, in the past, when I’ve bitten into a perfectly prepared sopapilla I’m 99.9% positive I heard angels sing.
And now we’re at the end and I still haven’t decided which dish gets to fill my last spot. How can I choose between mile-high nachos, brisket tacos, chile rellenos, fresh guacamole and fried ice cream? That’s it… I won’t do it… every single Tex-Mex dish deserves to be celebrated. As I write this, it’s long past time for dinner but suddenly I’m finding myself craving a burrito. Or a taquito. Or a chalupa. Something with a tortilla and cheese, please! Oh, and a swirl margarita on the side.
Do you love Tex-Mex half as much as I do? Then tell me, what’s your must-have Tex-Mex food?
This city boy has it all figured out...
Until he goes toe-to-toe with a fierce cowgirl who's snagged the home field advantage.
Holiday, Texas is known far and wide as the most celebratory town in the South—and no shindig is complete without one of its founding members. It's a real shame the last remaining Holiday is a city slicker, but what's that old saying about putting lipstick on a pig...?
Beck has no intention of being charmed by some crazy Texas town, but the minute he lays eyes on his grandfather's old honky tonk—and Charlie Walker, the beautiful cowgirl who runs it—he finds himself wishing things could be different. Life's gentler in Holiday. Slower. More real than anything he's ever known. And when he looks into Charlie's eyes, Beck may finally discover what it's like to truly belong.
