LITERATURE + LECTURES

Wednesday, October 26 at 7:00pm, Blue Willow Bookshop presents Lisa Fain (photo by Jan Cobb). Lisa Fain will discuss and sign her new cookbook.

THE HOMESICK TEXAN COOKBOOK takes Texan cuisine beyond Tex-Mex and barbecue, updating classic recipes to fit a more modern palate, by replacing cream of mushroom soup in the sauce for King Ranch Chicken with a creamy béchamel sauce, removing processed Velveeta cheese in chile con queso and adding real cream and cheddar, and adding poblano chiles to spice up some homemade macaroni and cheese.

Fain takes cooks on a culinary tour of Texas, from the Ruby Red grapefruits of the Rio Grande, to the black-eyed peas and Deep South flavors of East Texas, and the seafood-inspired dishes of the Gulf Coast. She teaches us how to stock a true Texas larder—yes, even if you live in a tiny Manhattan apartment—and how to pick the right chiles to add the perfect kick to your meal.

Whether you’re looking for a taste of home, a dish to bring to a Friday Night Lights viewing party, or just a way to spice up your palate, THE HOMESICK TEXAN COOKBOOK delivers accessible and delicious recipes from the Lone Star state.

When a 25-year-old Lisa Fain moved to New York City from Texas, she thrilled in trading big sky for skyscrapers and backyard barbecues for Broadway lights. After the excitement ebbed away, however, she realized she missed the aromas and flavors of home: her dad’s chicken-fried steak; the spicy pork tacos she could find at almost any gas station in Dallas; the custardy chess pie, her grandpa’s favorite dessert.

Longing for the tastes of home, but unwilling to abandon the concrete jungle just yet, she did what any of us would do: she took to the internet and started writing. And so “The Homesick Texan” blog was born (www.homesicktexan.com), dedicated to Lisa’s quest to stay connected to her roots, re-create Texan meals in her own kitchen, and introduce the unique flavors of home to her new friends. Her blog gained a loyal following—of Texans and non-Texans alike—and was named one of the top 50 food blogs in the world by the Times of London and the Best Regional Cuisine Blog by Saveur (twice!).