A magical, Mexican beast.

(photo by Dan)

You know you're in the presence of some kind of creative genius when he takes the dragon his aunt (not me) has made out of tortilla dough (which they give kids to play with at Uncle Julio's in Dallas) and tortilla chips...


(photo by Dan)

...and sticks a shrimp on its head. The question is, what do we call this creature he has made?

Mindy Lu, I sure am sweet on you.

What was my biggest regret on my trip to Dallas?




That I bought only one of the Mindy Lu Pies being sold at the register of the BBQ joint where we ate lunch the first day.




Banana, Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate, etc...I'm sorry to have missed out on what might have been.

These packaged pies beat the pants off of those shellacked, sugary packaged handpies made by Hostess. With Mindy Lu, you get something that actually tastes like sweet fruit in a real, flaky crust.

Oh, Mindy Lu. If only I'd known.

What's that? You say you ship anywhere in the US? Do you mean it? Don't lie to me, Mindy Lu. I couldn't stand it.

Poetry Tuesday: What I Ate in Texas

The BBQ of Texas
(to be sung to the tune of The Yellow Rose of Texas)

There's a yellow rose in Texas, but all I find is meat,
Few vegetables or salad, unless they're fried or sweet.
There's BBQ a-plenty, with sauces as high art,
But eating yellow roses might be better for my heart.



(Chorus)
I'd the biggest shrimps with bacon this chow-hound ever knew,
Their bellies stuffed with cream cheese, and jalapeño, too.
You may talk about your San Antone, and sing of Kansas Cee,
But the Mexican of Dallas beat the belly out of me.



Where the chicken gravy's flowing, and the okra fried delight,
I walked with my umbrella* to huge dinners every night;**
I think that I remember, when I left upon the plane,
I promis'd to not eat for days, so I'd feel me again.

(Chorus)

Oh! now I'm going to veg out, for my stomach's full of woe,
And also full of casserole, and things fried long ago;
I'll eat my greens so happily, and I'll sing a song of fruits,
And the BBQ of Texas I will leave for Texan brutes.***

(Chorus)



*It did rain the entire weekend we were in Dallas.
**And lunches every day
***It was really good! But overwhelming. I can't eat like that every day.