Lisa Fain

Mar 6, 2025 | homesicktexan.com | Lisa Fain

One of the ways I learned to cook was by preparing the recipes presented to me in my daily media consumption. Thirty years ago, this included reading a paper version of the New York Times every day. When I compare how I found recipes today versus 30 years ago, not much has changed. I still read newspapers, for instance. Though now this activity is usually done in front of my laptop. Back in the 1990s, the Times' Sunday magazine's food column was by Molly O’Neill.

Feb 20, 2025 | homesicktexan.com | Lisa Fain

My grandma’s last meal was a bran muffin. This was apt, since eating a warm one was her favorite way to begin the day. She liked to share, and she'd offer you one whenever you visited. Whether they were fresh out of the oven or pulled from her stash in the freezer, my grandma was never without a bran muffin. Even after she retired from the kitchen, she didn't need to worry about her supply. My uncle had taken over the baking duties and would bring her a batch every week. With . . .

Feb 6, 2025 | homesicktexan.com | Lisa Fain

On a coastal road trip, I spotted a place outside Corpus Christi with a sign out front that read, “Crawfish queso.” I decided to stop and have a bite. It was early afternoon in the off-season, and while this spot wasn’t on the beach, it was close enough to the coast that seagulls flew overhead, the air was salty, and the restaurant was elevated on stilts. When I ordered the crawfish queso, I asked the server if she had tried it. She had not, which I thought was curious because it was advertised . . .

Jan 23, 2025 | homesicktexan.com | Lisa Fain

If your family is like mine, you have a favorite Tex-Mex restaurant. This is the place where you know you can get a large table that will hold everyone, and there are enough options on the menu to satisfy anyone. Whether it’s a hearty beef eater, a vegetarian, or someone who appreciates cheese, the classic Tex-Mex menu has options for all. My family is no different, and for years we’d frequent the same family-owned spot.

Jan 9, 2025 | homesicktexan.com | Lisa Fain

There is one cookie that reminds me of Dallas in the 1970s—a chewy oatmeal cookie laced with caramelized butterscotch chips. When I was young, a plate of these was seen at friends’ houses, bake sales, and pool parties. However, these butterscotch oatmeal cookies have been scarce in my life, of late. It was time to revisit this classic. Now, to make butterscotch candy, one heats butter with brown sugar until it’s blended and thickened.