Tag Archives: Texas

Recipe: Mamo’s Rich Chocolate Cake

Posted on July 8, 2026 by Burnt My Fingers

Our grandmother (Mamo) made Rich Chocolate Cake for our birthdays and it was always a high point of the celebration. Her recipe (found among my mother’s recipe cards) differs from similar recipes by using chocolate squares instead of cocoa powder … Continue reading →

Posted in Baking and Baked Goods, Recipes, Sweets | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Uncle Son’s Blue Ribbon Watermelon Pickles

Posted on June 4, 2026 by Burnt My Fingers

We recently came across a 30 year old packet of recipes from my mother in Dallas, and among them was Uncle Son’s Watermelon Pickles. This recipe was a perennial blue ribbon winner at the State Fair of Texas so finding … Continue reading →

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Taste test: cafeteria baked fish

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Burnt My Fingers

Our success with Mediterranean Baked Fish made us nostalgic for the cafeteria baked fish served at the late lamented Highland Park Cafeteria. I recall it as being moist and juicy with a mild butter based sauce and a sprinkle of … Continue reading →

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Cookoff challenge: Aaron Franklin vs instant Pot

Posted on July 13, 2025 by Burnt My Fingers

A rack of baby back ribs is a wily beast. It’s a thin cut that is easy to ruin, yet it needs a long time in the smoker for tenderness. On a previous outing we managed to char the outer … Continue reading →

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Texas Monthly BBQ Guide is at it again.

Posted on June 1, 2025 by Burnt My Fingers

Four years ago, we accused Texas Monthly of jumping the shark when they published their Texas Monthly BBQ Guide and anointed a place serving Laotian sausage as the best in the Lone Star state ahead of Snow’s, Franklin, Kreuz, Mikelthait … Continue reading →

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Bean hole beans.

Posted on April 20, 2025 by Burnt My Fingers

Beans are on my mind today because I saw an ad on Facebook from Bush’s Beans: “Your Fam on a Can”. Submit a custom label with two lines and a maximum of 10 letters each; if it meets other, unspecified … Continue reading →

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The ultimate In-N-Out cheeseburger

Posted on December 19, 2022 by Burnt My Fingers

To experience the ultimate In-N-Out cheeseburger you need to eat in the facility, vs. ordering to go. The public space is jammed, seating on hard plastic benches is uncomfortable and you have to wait for a table. But the presentation … Continue reading →

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Recipe: Gonzalez Food Market Macaroni Salad

Posted on October 30, 2022 by Burnt My Fingers

Gonzalez Food Market Macaroni Salad comes to us from Robb Walsh, who explores the less-traveled backroads of the Texas barbecue trail for his Legends of Texas Barbecue Cookbook. The raisins add a note of sweetness that makes us think Miracle … Continue reading →

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Recipe: Mom’s Chess Pie*

Posted on October 13, 2022 by Burnt My Fingers

Mom’s chess pie is based on a card I found in my mother’s recipe box. It’s very close to the product served at the Highland Park Cafeteria… eggy, tangy and with more body than a custard pie thanks to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Baking and Baked Goods, Recipes | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The death of Tex-Mex?

Posted on August 25, 2022 by Burnt My Fingers

“The death of Tex-Mex as we know it” was a headline in yesterday’s Axios News. I nearly spat out my taco when I read the words. Fortunately, it turns out the rumors of Tex-Mex cuisine dying are greatly exaggerated in … Continue reading →

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