This recipe calls for bone-in chicken thighs but chicken drumsticks or boneless skinless thighs can be used, if preferred. This chicken is delicious served over cheddar cheese grits. 

Sorghum Glazed Chicken

This makes a great bed for the Sorghum Glazed Chicken. 

Cheddar Cheese Grits

Serving the salad on a platter instead of a bowl keeps the toppings accessible. 

Cranberry Cobb Salad

The best homemade ranch dressing to ever hit the dinner table! Homemade ranch dressing is easy to make and will elevate the taste of any salad with a few simple ingredients likely to already be in your kitchen. 

Ranch Dressing

Leaving the okra whole, instead of slicing, makes the entire process so much faster!

Fried Okra

These classic biscuits are easier to make than you think! Grating the butter instead of cutting it in guarantees you a flakey biscuit!

Buttermilk Biscuits

The Southern Side

A rich hearty alternative to tortilla soup. This stew is a crowd pleaser on a cold night, but my family loves it any time of the year!

Chili Verde Stew

Enjoy with chips, on tacos, or as a delicious garnish for a rich soup, such as Chili Verde Stew. 

Tomatillo Salsa Cruda

Sometimes, less is more, and that is definitely the case with this understated but flavorful dip. Should you have leftovers, add it to tomorrow's breakfast tacos. Simple and delicious!

Queso Blanco

Crunchy winter veggies and fruit combine with a perfectly balanced vinaigrette for a fresh winter salad. This side is a good accompaniment to soups or to serve alongside some simple quesadillas for an easy meal. 

Winter Slaw

The perfect garnish for soups, stews, and salads! Frying your own tortilla strips is easy and fun. The fresh taste is so much better than the ready made kind at the grocery store. Here are a few tips to help you get perfect crispy tortilla strips for garnishing soups, stews, and salads. 

Tips for Frying Tortilla Strips

Simple ingredients that bake into a golden buttery chewy dream blondie! A staple dessert in our house!

Buttered Pecan Blondies

Winter Weeknight

Use this recipe to feed a large family or put half the sauce and meat in the freezer. Any cut of steak will work in this recipe. Depending on what cut you use, you may need to add additional cooking time while the meat is in the sauce to make sure it’s tender. Spacing the enchiladas out in your baking dish will ensure they are coated in plenty of sauce and make them easier to serve. This also makes a great make ahead meal - the meat and sauce can be made up to three days before. 

Green Chili Enchiladas

This recipe highlights many veggies growing in your garden — squash, zucchini, corn, peppers and onions. It’s a fresh, vibrant side for a Mexican meal.

Calabacitas

Mango Guacamole 

My grandma, who is from New Mexico, passed this recipe down to me. Serve as a side with honey. Tear off the corner and drizzle honey inside while the sopapillas are still hot - delicious!! Or make a sopapilla sundae - dip the hot sopapillas in cinnamon sugar and serve with vanilla ice cream, caramel, and chocolate sauce. 

Nona's Sopapillas

Green Chili Relleno Puffs

Mexican Fiesta

México en la Mesa translates to Mexico on the table, and we hope this meal makes you feel like you’ve just walked into a warm, welcoming kitchen in the heart of Mexico — where the food is full of flavor, the tortillas are handmade, and there’s always room at the table.

Crispy, crunchy, and filled with simply seasoned chicken, these Flautas de Pollo are a comforting classic that families across Mexico have been making for generations. They’re also a favorite on Mexican restaurant menus here in Texas—and for good reason! This easy, homemade version brings that same delicious flavor to your own kitchen, perfect for sharing with family or friends around the dinner table.

Flautas de Pollo 

I have three Mexican rice recipes that I circulate through depending on what I am serving it with and how much time I have to prepare the rice. This is the easiest and quickest of the three recipes. Which means it's also the one that I make the most! From start to finish, this will take about 30-35 minutes, including resting time, to get on the table. This recipe is simple, essential, and delicious!

Easy Mexican Rice

My maternal grandmother made the best pinto (and refried) beans I've ever had. She was born in Martindale, Texas in 1913. She married my grandfather at a young age and together they had a large family of ten children. As a family they worked as migrant farm workers here in Texas and up to Minnesota and Wisconsin at various times of the year. My industrious grandmother, fueled by faith in God and love for her family, learned to make meals with very simple - often scarce - ingredients that could be stretched to feed her family. This is one of those recipes and one I find myself serving to my family over and over again!

Frijoles de la Olla and Refritos

This cookie is a longtime Martinez family favorite! Every year for Christmas, my mother-in-law makes a variation of these cookies, but they are always gone before we arrive. They’re that good! So shortly after my husband and I were married, I worked to find a recipe that I could make during the holidays, to remind him of home. This recipe makes about three dozen small cookies, but fair warning: they disappear quickly, so I highly recommend doubling the batch!

Mexican Wedding Cookies

A modern twist on a traditional favorite, this Café de Olla Iced Coffee brings the comforting flavors of cinnamon and piloncillo into a refreshing glass perfect for our hot Texas summers. Whether you're familiar with Café de Olla or trying it here for the first time, this iced version is sweet, spiced, and super simple to make. It’s like a hug in a glass, just served over ice to help battle the Texas heat. 

Café de Olla Iced Coffee

México en la Mesa

Welcome to our April 2025 recipe collection, created by Ephratah Schwennesen!

This recipe will make an excellent Sunday dinner with your family. Imagine serving perfectly fried chicken topped with a light, lemony sauce over a bed of silky angel hair pasta. You can do most of the work in the morning—prepping the chicken up to step seven—while the sauce can be conveniently made a day ahead. 

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

You can make perfect green beans every time with this simple but classic recipe. This versatile dish will be one you reach for often, since it pairs well with just about any meal.

Green Beans Almondine

In our opinion, stuffed mushrooms are a must-have for a celebratory dinner. They make a hearty appetizer, filled with cheese and savory meat. Ephratah created this recipe specifically to accompany her Parmesan Crusted Chicken. These mushrooms would also be an elegant choice for a wedding or any event where small bites are served.

Stuffed Mushrooms 

This is by far the best Caesar salad dressing you will find anywhere. The preparation is super simple and results in huge flavor!

Caesar Salad 

These breadsticks pair perfectly with just about any Italian dish you can imagine! They are also great alongside a bowl of soup or with a  dinner salad.

Breadsticks

Buon Appetito

Crispy and fresh, these fritters are easy to make, and fun to serve and eat! You’ll love the combination of sweet corn, cilantro, and spicy green peppers. 

Corn Fritters

Free Recipes

Welcome to our May 2025 recipe collection, created by Ephratah Schwennesen!

By: Ephratah Schwennesen with inspiration from Hannah Adams

This classic curry comes together quickly and simmers quietly while you prepare the rest of your meal. The flavor is rich and satisfying—one your family will look forward to often. 

Thai Curry Bowl with Noodles

This vibrantly fresh salad goes well with any Asian meal. The peanut dressing is packed with flavor. It can also be made well in advance, which is a huge plus in my book!

Thai Salad with Peanut Dressing

Here is your foolproof recipe for crispy, flavor packed spring rolls. You can’t hardly make too many-everyone loves them!

Spring Rolls

A perfect finish to a delicious Thai dinner. This ice cream is easy to make. Serving it with fresh mangoes, toasted almonds, and toasted coconut creates a beautiful presentation that no one can resist!

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