Hiw did I miss Taco Tuesdays?

How did I miss Taco Tuesdays? My niece has been doing Taco Tuesdays for years in Rhode Island and North Carolina, and I often think of her when I see a crispy taco. I can’t say why it didn’t occur to me to have a standing Taco Tuesday for me in Texas. Who doesn’t have tortillas in their home stock around here? They keep forever. There are so many options. if you can overcome the corn or flour debate. My husband likes flour only and I’d pick the corn based on health alone. When I do flour, I crave them fried up a little so that adds even more calories. But for insides, there’s beans and rice and peppers and cheese and variations within those varieties. Turns out we had another debate the first time I announced the Castillos would be indulging in Taco Tuesday on a regular basis. I rolled out fish tacos and Mr. Castillo proclaimed a fish does not make a real taco. Really? Immediately I texted the niece. She took my side. Fish will remain in the rotation.

Sugar Plum tackles taco night You’ve heard me rave about Sugar Plum’s sweet stuff. Now they’ve branched into Tex Mex. I’ll vouch for taco seasoning blend with a hint of lime for your next Taco Tuesday. Can’t wait? Try it on eggs. Guacamole Seasoning makes the fave dip of Southeast Texas insanely easy in mild or hot forms. Here’s my secret tip: It’s not that I don’t love guac… it’s that pico de gallo has fewer calories. Just mince up your tomato, onions and cucumber and sprinkle some of Sugar Plum’s guacamole seasoning on and you’ve got flavor any day of the week. Even easier: Open a can of chunky tomatoes and sprinkle on their new taco or guacamole seasoning for a salsa with depth. It’s available at Uncommon Goods. Cantina If the agave illustration on the can doesn’t get you, the “Born in Austin” note will. “Cantina is the perfect union of spirit and artistry” begins the history lesson of premium Blue Webber agave in Jalisca, That’s a lot of emotion and info for this well-designed packaging. Now get to the contents, Cantina Especial Tequila Soda in flavors such as Grapefruit Paloma with a low calorie count. This is light, summery stuff that will make you look forward to Taco Tuesday. The bubbly experience is both bubbly, traditional and modern. Ranch Water and Watermelon Margarita are also born in Austin. Canteen All who wander… get thirsty. You can’t argue with that. Picture active people in cool rides being athletic, hiking, running along the beach. They’d enjoy Canteen spirits vodka sodas in lime, cucumber mint, watermelon and strawberry, right? I’m pretty sure they would, after my sample, which was flavorfully adventurous from a stationary spot on my patio. Ruby Red was my very favorite from a line of light refreshment with 99 calories. I love how it fizzes. Please note that this is an adult beverage, but one can’t help noting the stats on this can vs. a regular soft drink. Everything in moderation? Wander responsibly and when you’re back, open up a Canteen. Bean Vivo I went out and bought an onion especially to serve chopped, over a Bean Vivo option. Coconut Curry Chickpeas come in a pouch that released a turmeric and spicy flavor. I heated in a skillet and spooned it over leftover rice. My crunchy onion and red pepper topping made this an easy meal that popped. I’m also very much loving Taco Tuesday options of Refried Pinto Beans and Baja Black Beans, both with onions, sea salt and avocado oil. Three Bean Vegan Chili is a great potato topper, too. Just picture a pouch, and a starch, like bread, and you’ve got a superior, filling meal plan. They have several traditional flavors and variations. Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who considers anything Mexican to be a Taco Tuesday possibility and could celebrate Taco Tuesday on any day of the week. Reach her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Plants grow drama

Plants grow their own drama Someone called us new parents as we bragged about keeping an eye on little zucchini developing on our patio. While we’re not sitting around talking to our succulents, we consider that plants “grow” on you, and often have dramatic tales. In “The Nation of Plants,” plants create the first Universal Declaration of Rights of Living Beings. They want respect in this earthly world of climate change. Stefano Mancuso is a leading authority in plant neurobiology, which explores plant signaling and communication. Don’t dismiss this. Of course we want plants to thrive. They feed us. Consider some of the anecdotes within: Did the fortunes of England depend on cats? By nourishing themselves on mice, cats increased survival of bumblebees which pollinated shamrocks that nourished beef cows for British sailors, permitting the British Navy to… Get it? Then there’s the prickly pear which attracted an insect that the Aztecs used to make a carmine red. Spain guarded the process even as the English used it to make their red coats. Someone thought about reproducing the cactus-insect climate in Australia to get more dye, but the prickly pear went wild, invading cultivated land. Burning, rabbits and mustard gas were considered to stop the spread. Each added more problems. Plants deserve respect, and here are two products that will help us respect the gift of plants on our plates: Orga Super Crisps, in Vegan Cheese by Orga Foods, is the kind of snack that is versatile, but they can’t seem to last longer than a rip and a munch. Rip open the bag and try to control yourself. Addictive seed crisps with chia, sunflower, sesame, flax, etc. can be cracked onto salads, spread with guac and hummus and served with soup. It’s a good thing they put the serving size on there or else you’d be tooooo tempted when you unleash the contents of that bag. Garlic & Onion is my second fave. The seed clusters look like an edible mosaic. The cracker itself is artistic Guava Pie

Rosa’s Guava Pie from Porto’s Bakery & Café is simply a sweet and flaky mystery. How could it get from this Echo Park, California bakery’s classic original menu, be “shelved” for 30 years in favor of individual guava strudel and come back to arrive on your doorstep? It doesn’t end there. Pull this flat pie from the box and aim your phone’s camera at the code to get the specs on baking it. I was impressed to the heights this flaky crust rose. It at least doubled in size. The flavor was so good that my husband and I each had a piece as an appetizer. Then we had a main course of rice and veggies and went in for a second piece of Rosa’s creation. That left some for breakfast and the next day’s coffee break. Pie gone. Thanks Rosa, that was a treat. www.portosbakery.com/bakeathome Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who is rewarded with herbs, and floral beauty when she plays in the dirt. Reach her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Texas in a bottle and popcorn among tastes with ‘impact’

Grayson Blended Bourbon is what they’re calling Texas in a bottle. The little leather Texas tag is alluring as all get out, so y’all just know it’s going to taste amazing. It for sure does, packaged to the hilt with a nose of raisins, barrel-aged maple syrup and the rest I’m not even making up: there’s beignet-flavored coffee grounds, jalapeno jelly and a hint of the inside of new cowboy boots in this “nose.” I nosed a bit of this delicacy in a single blended evening. Grayson Blended Bourbon, an authentic and one of kind expression debuting as the first black-owned whiskey brand from Texas. The specs: Co-founded by native Texan, author and craft spirits professional Nico Martini, former Major League Baseball three-time All-Star Vernon Wells, and private equity investor Brandon Davis, Grayson Blended Bourbon is an amalgamation of some of the best whiskies in Texas and pays homage to the Lone Star State. www.graysonwhiskey.com

Sweet Chaos I just ought not be left alone with popcorn. Sweet Chaos in Chocolate Devotion is tempting me anew. I’ve loved the chaos before when I mentioned here a couple of bags got me through a 2020 hurricane. Cold Stone Creamery is a part of the latest releases of kettle corn, pretzel sticks and cookie bites with milk and dark drizzles. Need I say more than crispy and sweet? The team that wrote the back label understands. The message recalls days at the spa with no little fingers reaching under the bathroom door… Adults, feel free to enjoy Sweet Chaos all by your grownup self. Okay. Maybe Birthday Cake Remix you can share, but Cake Batter and the minty one are for you. Pop! Johnson’s Caramel Popcorn – Of all the things that could get me to New Jersey, the notion that this brand is hand-cooking popcorn every 7 minutes of everyday. Copper kettles are mixing all kinds of sweet and savory popcorn, beginning in 1940 on the Ocean City Boardwalk. Caramel Sauce and Sea Salt? More, please. It can come right to you in baskets of amazingness. https://johnsonspopcorn.com/collections/caramel-flavor/products/johnsons-caramel-lovers-basket Impact Snacks When a neurosurgeon designs your snacks… The Caramel Iced Latte is quite good. I didn’t taste any kale. It seems like there are new bars all the time. These take special care. At Impact Snacks, they aren’t just talking about reducing carbon footprints, they’re taking big steps forward. Others should catch up to them. It isn’t just a bonus to a delicious product, it’s a commitment. Go to www.impactsnacks.com if you’d like to know more about the bar that is so sustainable the soy/bio cellular biodegradable wrapper features plant-based ink. Can you eat the wrapper? Log on to figure that one out. Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie ready to let Texas out of that bottle. Share your local cooking/dining experiences with her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Scotland sends their best… and what to eat on a date Handmade in Scotland I know I’m not the only one who knows a fair amount about Scotland from Tiger Beat features on the Bay City Rollers. Mom made my friend and I a yellow tartan top based on Woody’s family pattern. I’d have preferred Derick’s, but that’s not what Hancock Fabric had on hand. The teen pop sensation had me dropping phrases such as to watch the “telly” and figuring how many “stone” a person weighed. No wonder I’m drawn to a patterned can of Malt Whiskey Fudge, handmade in Scotland to a traditional Scottish recipe. That’s what the Gardiners can says and let it be known, I’d love to someday travel there and try it myself. For now, this can delivers a fresh, sweet, malty confectionery that makes me give a highland kick. I fancy the creamy, tan-colored fudge would be delicious without the whiskey flavoring, but I’m so glad it is there. Sona. Same Story, with Jim Beam. In what resembles a fancy Chinese food to-go box, “our” Jim Beam flavors Gardiners of Scotland Ltd. hand-made fudge. For after-dinner coffee or along with a “wee dram,” you’ve got another blend of sweet and the not-so-subtle bourbon whiskey. This rich flavor is like a reward at the end of the day. Enjoy it ever-so-slowly. www.gardiners-scotland.com

Never Too Soom I’m sure the ‘70s health food craze brought tahini to the attention of American Culinary Thrill Seekers. I was a kid then, with no buying power. But I’m sure my Mom was into it. I think tahini is having a moment now and makers are justifiably proud of their roasted and pressed sesame seeds. Soom is a new brand to me and I loved the liquid texture of its single-sourced premium tahini. But even more, I love the Soom sisters’ Chocolate Sweet Tahini with three ingredients: sesame seeds, powdered pure cane sugar and cocoa powder. There’s no way I’m blending this into smoothies as suggested. I want that concentrated flavor spread onto toast or something where I can savor it best. You can do anything you like with it. You have my blessing. The Soom family also introduced me to Silan, steamed and pressed dates made into a syrup that handles like honey, agave and maple, but with less sugar. Why don’t you pack this on a picnic, and share it with your “date?” It’s thick, dark and very sweet. www.soomfoods.com tells the story. Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who knows a bit about Scotland because of her teen crush on the Bay City Rollers. Reach her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com