Texas Toast Your Way

 Everything in Texas is bigger including their toast. THis is garlic bread on steroids and can be used not just for Italain dish's but makes a nice base for sandwiches like roast beef au jus. Like garlic bread it's a simple make.

Regular contributor Christina Morales wrote about this treat in yesterday's New York Times Food section.This is a big  slice of bread with a buttery and garlicky top. Where it came from is iffy. Two outposts of Pig Stand, a popular barbecue stand throughout the state claimed to have invented it in either Denton or Beaumont.It was first made in the 1940's. A cook buttered both sides of a plump bread that was too thick to put in a toaster.It was then browned on a griddle. The last location of Pig Stand in San Antonio closed last year had made the bread the same way for decades. One longstanding waitress, Mary Ann Hill who had worked their since the Sixties recalled customers loved the bread so much that they asked for several pieces in advance and while others asked her to soak pieces in butter. Other Texans claimed fame in inventing Texas toast. Gene Dunson , owner of the Dallas restaurant Gene's Wheel toook thick slices fo bread from his baker ,brushed both sides with butter and  toasted it on the griddle. Customers fell madly in love with the slices

The bread is now finding its' way into sandwiches.Ian So who is the chef at Vuji Cafe in Houston tried several breads in his Vietnamese themed restaurant to see how they'd hold up.Nothing  really held up to his spicy jam packed sandwiches like the Texas toast from the Texas grocery store H.E.B. Texas toast is big in the frozen food aisle where there are several different brands featuring it. Yet it's a snap to make. All that's  needed is six thick sliced pieces of white bread. You can buy an uncut loaf  at any store or bakery (although the bakery is your best bet.) The slices should be three quarters of an inch thick.It's then brushing both sides with a mix of melted butter olive oil, parsley and  kosher salt like Diamon. Garlic powder can  be added to this , especially if you're planning to serve it with spaghetti and a lot of sauce. (the bread is perfect for sopping up all that rich tomato goodness.. Generously brush both sides. place  sliceson a sheet pan  and bake in a pre set 375 degrees Farenheit oven for eight to twenty two minutes or until the bottoms are brown .FLip over and bake the other side for three to ficew minutes more. (this side wont take long to brown.) Sprinkle with more salt  and serve hot. Keep in mind this would be great topped with meatballs and pesto sauce or London broil with gravy.

Texas toast is a great side for any dish. It's also a snap to make. Try it this weekend as a side to pasta or as a base for meat balls or roast beef.

Farfalla Soup Pasta

 One of my Mom's favorite dishes was a hybrid of chicken broth and farfalle or butterfly pasta in sauce. This fusion dish was and still is perfect for the cold days ahead. It's an easy mix that's sure to please. Just serve with garlic bread for a hearty week day or weekend meal.

It starts with two containers of veggie broth for a vegan spin on the recipe. I used Acme's Signature brand but you could use chicken or beef broth too.

This is cooked for twenty minutes and then the farfalle is added.

Farfalle is a tricky pasta to cook. The middle takes longer than the ends because they're pinched together. You have to be patient with it. It does take about twenty minutes to cook properly no matter what liquid you cook it in.

                        It's then adding the Ragu sauce and mushrooms to make it heartier

I think a smaller can of just roasted tomatoes would work better. This gave me a whole pot of pasta soup.

It was then cooking it for another few minutes until the farfalle were tender on the ends and al dente in the middle.

                                 Of course you have to have garlic bread with it . Salads work too with this

The end result was more like a tomato soup with pasta. I think it will taste even better reheated with some Melt plant butter added. It was good with the garlic bread, very tomato-y , thanks to Ragu's intense flavor.

This pasta soup is the best chill chaser you can make. It;s a tasty blend of traditonal farfalle and broth. Try it for a tasty way to combat the cold.