A collection of Courtney's columns from the Texas Monthly, curing the curious, exorcizing bedevilment, and orienting the disoriented, advising "on such things as: Is it wrong to wear your football team's jersey to church? When out at a dancehall, do you need to stick with the one that brung ya? Is it real Tex-Mex if it's served with a side of black beans? Can one have too many Texas-themed tattoos?"--Amazon.com.
All jaws drop when high school track and football star Tyler Spence throws in his helmet and cleats to form Dance Machine a, “white boy,” funk band with four fellow classmates. Rising in popularity, the band sets off on a road-trip to a remote corner of their State to play for yet another Sadie Hawkins Dance. Car troubles turn what should have been a simple “gig-n-go” into a two-day ordeal. An unexpected encounter with an old teammate puts conflict into motion for Tyler and his friends when they find themselves at the mercy of the local Sheriff and townsfolk who all agree “they’d never seen boys wearing shoes like those before!” With no way out Tyler is forced to face his rival head-on in a climatic showdown to settle the score. PLATFORMS is a one of a kind, coming-of-age road-trip story with a fun funky vibe making it a timeless classic in the same way the 1970s fashions did for denim, sequins, rainbow knee-socks, and high-heeled shoes, “for men”!
Sara's Story is a work of romantic fiction. Sara is a young woman in her early twenties. She works in a family restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. Sara struggles with her memories of a chaotic childhood and her present day reality. Then she meets James; a romance begins. Sara discovers her inner strengths.
When Lisa Fain, a seventh-generation Texan, moved to New York City, she missed the big sky, the bluebonnets in spring, Friday night football, and her family's farm. But most of all, she missed the foods she'd grown up with. After a fruitless search for tastes of Texas in New York City, Fain took matters into her own hands. She headed into the kitchen to cook for her friends the Tex-Mex, the chili, and the country comfort dishes that reminded her of home. From cheese enchiladas drowning in chili gravy to chicken-fried steak served with cream gravy on the side, from warm bowls of chile con queso to big pots of fiery chili made without beans, Fain re-created the wonderful tastes of Texas she'd always enjoyed at potlucks, church suppers, and backyard barbecues back home. In 2006, Fain started the blog Homesick Texan to share Texan food with fellow expatriates, and the site immediately connected with readers worldwide, Texan and non-Texan alike. Now, in her long-awaited first cookbook, Fain brings the comfort of Texan home cooking to you. Like Texas itself, the recipes in this book are varied and diverse, all filled with Fain's signature twists. There's Salpicón, a cool shredded beef salad found along the sunny border in El Paso; Soft Cheese Tacos, a creamy plate unique to Dallas; and Houston-Style Green Salsa, an avocado and tomatillo salsa that is smooth, refreshing, and bright. There are also nibbles, such as Chipotle Pimento Cheese and Tomatillo Jalapeno Jam; sweet endings, such as Coconut Tres Leches Cake and Mexican Chocolate Chewies; and fresh takes on Texan classics, such as Coffee-Chipotle Oven Brisket, Ancho Cream Corn, and Guajillo-Chile Fish Tacos. With more than 125 recipes, The Homesick Texan offers a true taste of the Lone Star State. So pull up a chair-everyone's welcome at the Texas table!
NPR's "Weekend Edition Sunday" food commentator goes deep into America's heartland to write about the food people actually eat for holidays, family gatherings, and comfort--with more than 70 recipes included.
Among the more than 150 recipes are upscale interpretations of traditional favorites like chili and barbecued brisket as well as adventurous dishes such as Grilled Portabello Pizzas, Shark Steaks Grilled in Hoja Santa with Sun-Dried Tomato and Walnut Pesto, Texas Chicken-Fried Rib-Eye with Tabasco Cream Gravy, Quinoa with Lentils and Curry, and Texas Trifle with Raspberries and Custard Cream. The lavish color photographs of scenic photographer Bob Parvin and food photographer Ralph Smith capture the glory of the Lone Star landscapes and foods.
The definitive book on Texas cooking-which has been influenced by cuisines around the world, including Eastern Europe and Mexico-by distinguished food writers Cheryl and Bill Jamison, who traveled for two years around the state talking with home cooks, chefs, barbecue experts, fishermen, and farmers. Chapters include "Real Pit-Smoked Bar-B-Q," "Tamed Game," "Farm-Fresh Vegetables," "Eye-Popping, Heart-Thumping Breakfasts," "Football Food," and "Y'All-Come-Back Desserts."