Terry Thompson-Anderson organizes the book into sections that cover breakfast and brunch libations (with and without alcohol); simple, classic, and fancy egg presentations; pancakes, French toast, and waffles; meat lover’s dishes; seafood and shellfish; vegan dishes and sides; and pastries. The recipes reference locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, and Thompson-Anderson provides enjoyable notes about the chefs who created them or the cultural history they represent. She also offers an expert primer on cooking eggs, featuring an encounter with Julia Child, as well as a selection of theme brunches (the boozy brunch, the make-ahead brunch, New Year’s Day brunch, Mother’s Day brunch with seasonal ingredients, teenage daughter’s post-slumber party breakfast, and more). Sandy Wilson’s color photographs of many of the dishes and the chefs and restaurants who serve them provide a lovely visual counterpoint to the appetizing text.
- 1 Part History
- 1 Part Interesting Anecdote
- 1 Part Excellent Research
- 1 Part Humor
Combine together, add a pinch of ingredients and instructions. Garnish with some amazing photos. In the end, you’ll have an amazing cookbook. In this case, one that focuses on breakfast and brunch, the most important meal of the day, especially in Texas!
Breakfast in Texas is chock full of recipes, a number of which really caught my eye:
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- Migas
- Churro Waffle (HELLO. CHURRO. WAFFLE.)
- Scrambled Egg Muffins
- Breakfast Tacos (which are a staple in my house)
- Brisket, Bacon, Egg Quesadillas (you can’t go wrong with any of these ingredients. Even better when combined)
- Hill Country Cinnamon Rolls (the picture alone is mouth-watering!)
- Even some vegetarian\vegan options (if you are into that)
And for you, readers, I did some research. I testing out the Apple-Raisin Blini recipe, but with strawberries. I’m a rule breaker, what can I say. My photography skills are not up to the standards of Ms. Thompson-Anderson, but here are my Blinis!
More than the recipes, though, I really enjoyed the history lessons and stories which accompany each chapter and recipe. I love the story of Ms. Thompson-Anderson in a hotel buffet line, getting a lesson on scrambling eggs from Julia Child herself. What a great lesson for all of us. Scrambled eggs are an essential breakfast recipe. I also really enjoyed the story of Texas Hill Country Distillers and making seasonal moonshine out of prickly pear cactus. I have a friend who has visited the distiller, and highly recommends them. I was ready to go out and buy some moonshine that I would probably never drink.
My caveats for Breakfast in Texas are these: the recipe portions are (Texas) huge, and clearly intended for a lazy weekend morning, not a rushed weekday. For a small family, the recipes would either need to be cut down while preparing or extras put into the freezer. Instead, I’d recommend inviting all your friends over to brunch on the weekend to enjoy these recipes!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Breakfast in Texas. 4 1/2 Stars!
I received The Heart of a Texas Cowboy free in exchange for my honest review. Thanks to author Terry Thompson-Anderson, University of Texas Press, and Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing this opportunity.
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Review
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Author Interview
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Oh my Lynn those blinis look delish!!
Julie S. recently posted…Breakfast in Texas: Book Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway #LoneStarLit
Thanks, Julie!