Blog - Sweet Life

Texas 1015 Onion Rings

Texas 1015 Onion Rings Tis the season for Texas 1015 sweet onions! I can never get enough of these enormous, sweet babies. Sliced, dipped into buttermilk and dredge into seasoned flour the Texas 1015 make the best onion rings. Hands down! Last year we hit the Weslaco, Texas Onion Festival where these dolls are the main attraction. The festival celebrates the development of the famous Texas 1015 onion which was developed in Weslaco, Texas in October 15, 1980 at the Texas A&M University. Named 1015 which refers to the month and date they were invented. The festival which began in 1989… Read More

Guajillo Piloncillo Marinated Steak

Guajillo Piloncillo Marinated Steak Mi carino loves to grill. So when Wal-Mart and Latina Mom Bloggers asked us to create an original steak recipe to help spread the word of their Steak Over Challenge, where local firefighters compete for top Grill honors, we happily accepted. Fun! Texans love Beef! And we love to Grill! Let’s do it! When we hit the kitchen we knew there was going to be chile in our marinade, we have to have chile. Piloncillo adds sweetness while it helps to keep the beef tender. He heated the grill, I marinated the steaks, whipped a few… Read More

Sopa de Fideo Verde con Pollo

Sopa de Fideo Verde con Pollo I had a few Cinco de Mayo recipes, cocktails to share this week, but at the moment I feel it’s inappropriate. Those can wait. Our hearts go out to the families affected both in Boston and Texas. I was listening to the broadcast concerning the families in Boston while a big pot of fideo simmered away on the stove. I ladled bowls of soup, my girls set the table and we sat down to eat dinner. Then we heard the news of West, Texas. One tragic event, followed by another. We spent almost 6… Read More

Jalapeno Cheddar Hushpuppies

Jalapeno Cheddar Hushpuppies What’s a big platter of freshly fried oyster without some hushpuppies? Um, yes please. Little fried balls oozing with cheese with a kick from Jalapeno. Love bites. Growing up our neighbor made the best hushpuppies – light, airy he made them by the hundreds. He always sent us over a few dozen, they never lasted long. I can only hope these are just as good as his were, but I did have to add my own personal spin on them. Chile. No surprise.

Fried Oysters

Fried Oysters I have recently became friends with oysters. Our relationship was rocky, from the start we got off on the wrong foot, tempers flared and they were stricken from my heart. This is a major since I reside on the Gulf Coast where plump, juicy, fresh oysters are beloved by all. I had a bad experience, and what makes it worse it was my godmother who fried, served and presented them to me with excitement. Love her. The two families met when my parents first moved here in the 70’s, became fast friends and they were given the honor… Read More

Farro-Pepita Breakfast Bread

Farro-Pepita Breakfast Bread I made two of these breakfast loaves for brunch today. I served thick slices alongside softened butter and extra honey for drizzling. My mom used to make a similar loaf with oatmeal, dried fruit and served it with blackberry jelly on days when the temperatures dropped overnight out of nowhere. She enjoyed sitting at the table gazing out the window with her cup of coffee and a thick slice of breakfast bread. This breakfast bread is hearty, rich in color with a small touch of sweetness. Best served warm on cold mornings, add a few kiddos in pjs… Read More

Salsa Verde con Tomatillo Milpero

Salsa Verde con Tomatillo Milpero A new day a new salsa … I mean what’s life without salsa? It’s all about the spice at my house. I picked up 2 lbs of Tomatillos milperos at the small tienda I found fresh chilaca peppers; they never fail to surprise me. I roasted a pound along with onion and garlic to make this salsa verde for dinner. You could also boil the milperos, but roasting brings out so much more flavor. Roast on a pan lined with foil for easy clean up. ~Tomatillos milperos or miltomates are small tomatillos that grow… Read More

Roasted Poblano Fajita Quesadilla

Roasted Poblano Fajita Quesadilla I moved to San Antonio, Texas when I was 17yrs old. I followed my sister who had enrolled in the local college, it was a major life decision filled with happiness, regret and a BIG dose of reality. Rent, gas, groceries, no curfew and keeping one self on schedule without the parents proved to be a challenge. At first I failed miserably, but little by little I came into my own. And I worked A LOT. I had a full-time job at the local grocery store and I picked up extra shifts at Taco Cabana… Read More