Introduction to this site

Cooking and entertaining is a big part of my life.

I have been cooking since I was 10 years old and have collected, created, and tried hundreds of recipes.

I have found that anyone can be a success in the kitchen. It takes a little interest and the right recipe to get results that will impress even the least experienced cook. Every time you have a success in the kitchen it gives more confidence to try other recipes.

I believe that many memories are connected to the kitchen. We have a heritage there, we learned from our mothers and they learned from theirs.

I really did learn to make tamales from my grandmother, Carmen Vargas. She was my mother’s mother. I went to stay a few days with her one summer in Fort Worth and she taught me. She made Mexican chocolate for me, and used a funny whip thing to mix it up. When I went to Mexico, long after she had passed away, I would rub my hands together and say "Chocolate" to the vendors and they told me I was looking for a Mollinio. I found one and bought it and every time I look at it I think of her.

Anyway, Carmen Vargas was the epitome of Southern Hospitality! She had diabetes and could
not eat sweets, but you never were a guest in her home that she did not offer you a piece of cake and a cup of coffee. And what a piece of cake it was! The one I remember most clearly was a yellow layer cake with bananas sliced longwise between each layer and a rich buttery chocolate frosting to top it off! She used to make a yellow cake with pineapple filling between the layers and frosted with chocolate as well. And this lady never used a recipe! Can you imagine?

We have a heritage as rich as the delicacies that came from their kitchens.

My mother, Cecilia Mares, made the most awesome pineapple cheese pie when I was a little girl. I asked once for the recipe and guess what…it was nowhere to be found. She could not remember anything about it except that she made it. I have searched high and low for that recipe and never have found what I remember.

Now, she makes some awesome tortillas! I have never been able to master them like she does. She also makes tamales, enchiladas, sopapillas, wonderful pinto beans. Always ask the mothers and grandmothers for lessons, they are always so willing to share and hoping that you will have success in what they teach.

Maybe, you are the one with the touch that will mimic the talent in a particular area. I have tried but failed in some areas and have succeeded beautifully in others! I always want to see a victory in this area of kitchen heritage.

This site is a journey through my life in the kitchen. Many of the recipes are just my own favorites that I have made over and over and just want to share. I have included recipes that others in the family made and brought to family celebrations. My recommendation to all of you is to get those recipes now that you remember your mothers and grandmothers making. You will always treasure those memories.

I have included some notes for you. Some include stories about food we made. One dish that has many stories is the famous Frogmore Stew AKA Miranda Stew! It was one of my Dad’s favorite! When he died, we served it to many family members before his rosary. His sisters, Minnie and Isabel, were there. I told them that it was one of Daddy’s favorite dishes and that I just knew he would be happy they were getting to eat it. He would be saying, “Get some more…Look! Look! Get some more! Minnie, Isabel, Eat!, Eat!, Eat!” He sure liked for people to eat! He used to buy cheese for my niece when he would baby-sit her. He thought the world of her. You really never could go to his house that he wasn’t offering you something to eat or drink.

I started my journey in the kitchen at a rather early age. Daddy would not let us have sweets. So, I would buy the cocoa powder and tell him that we could add sugar to it to make our hot chocolate and it would last longer. Wasn’t I awful! Then when he would go to work, I would make brownies, cakes, and etc. for my siblings and myself. My sister says she remembers me baking for them back then.

So, Let us begin this tour of my heritage and journey in the kitchen!