Chicken Fried Steak
There's nothing poultry about Texas Chicken Fried Steak. It gets its name from the method of preparation and cooking - pan-fried, flour-coated sirloin (or other cut of meat). If you're accustomed to fried chicken from a deep fryer you may be surprised to hear that real chicken fried streak is done in a skillet, preferably an iron skillet. After all, we didn't always have deep fryers. In fact, I still prefer my fried chicken from a skillet not a vat of hot oil. Next time you're at a restaurant, before you order their "authentic, Texas-style chicken fried steak" get the chef to show you his skillet. Just as important as the beef is the topping. A tasty, pepper-style cream gravy is the traditional accompaniment to a chicken fried steak.
Texas Chicken Fried Steak Recipes
Barbecue
Barbecue can be beef, pork, sausage, or many other meats. Some parts of the country specialize in pork or cook their meat in the sauce. That won't do in Texas. In Central Texas our rich German heritage and cattle-country history merge to produce a strong beef and sausage barbecue tradition. The perfect Texas beef brisket is dry-rubbed with the cook's secret mixture of spices before slow smokin' over a pit of pecan, mesquite, oak, or hickory. The hot or sweet BBQ sauce is always served up on the side, never cooked with the meat (and it's usually wise to ask if the individual even wants sauce - some purists shun the stuff).
Texas Barbecue Recipes
Chili
There are as many versions of the origins of chili as there are chili recipes. What some people call chili almost borders on soup, stew, or even a garden salad. I'm sure they have their place, but not in Texas where chili is the Official State Dish. Real Texas chili is a thick concoction of beef and chili peppers. And most important to remember, real Texas chili does not have beans. In fact, in some quarters tomotoes or onions are looked down upon but as long as you serve it up with lots of meat (usually beef) and chili peppers and no beans, those other transgressions can be overlooked. Chili is a meal all by itself but a nice chunk of Southern-style cornbread or flour tortillas are acceptable accompaniments.
Texas Chili Recipes