It happens every year as we end our post-Christmas trip to Texas. We roll back into town, bloated and full of great Texas food and resolutions to do better. I can’t blame it all on one week of eating, but what a week of eating it is – join me, won’t you, in the gastronomical wonderland that was last week:
Guatemalan spicy chicken, tostones, and sweet plantains from a place that totally looks like a cross between Church’s and Taco Bell, but somehow serves authentic Guatemalan food within shouting distance of Dallas Love Field.
Chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes with gravy at The Gristmill, overlooking the Guadelupe River in Gruene.
Homemade tamales. When I first met Bryan, the only tamales I had ever eaten at home came from a can. Not so in Texas, friends, where tamales are not something to be bought in a grocery store, but instead brought home in bundles tied with string, always from a woman who is someone’s sister or cousin or aunt, who lives a few miles down the road. You can get them on Thursdays. Since we don’t really have that vibe going on in the metropolis of Sherwood, I have to make sure I eat enough of these to last me for awhile.
Fried jalepeño strips from Dairy Queen. Ah, the DQ…
Curly seasoned french fries (big curls, not those little Arby’s corkscrews) covered with melted cheese and dipped in pepper ranch dressing from Hondo’s in Fredericksburg. A plate of these, accompanied by a Luna Rita made with fresh pineapple juice, are like comfort food heaven after walking the blocks of beautiful shops.
Mexican straw hat – my dear mother in law’s version of taco salad, complete with fresh pico, avacados, cilantro, peppers, more tamales…you name it, it’s out there on the counter to go on your plate.
Fajitas wrapped in freshly made almost too hot to touch white flour and lard tortillas from Mi Tierras. I do love my wheat flour tortillas that I learned to make at home, but friends, there is nothing like these. They are like wonderful warm pillows for your mouth, and it is a very good thing that I live 10 hours away from them most of the time.
Breakfast. Real breakfast, eggs and sausage or bacon, french toast, biscuits, pancakes…cooked for us every morning by Bryan’s precious mother and stepdad. And none of it happening before 9 am, which in my opinion is a great hour to get up and start your day, everyday.
After a week of eating like that it’s not hard to come back home ready to exercise and eat raw carrots for about a month. Bryan and I have our plans in place. And then, just like every year, we remember that there is one more celebration to be had, one more dinner out and chocolate cake for everyone for dessert. And we couldn’t be more excited about it. So, last night we went out with my dad, and wished him the happiest of birthdays. Added to all the other reasons we love him is the fun that his birthday extends the holiday party just a little bit longer…maybe the diet will start tomorrow.
I just gained five pounds reading this.
You don’t need a diet…you look great! add in some extra walking time and keep eating breakfast & cake!