Wait, That's Popcorn?

I am always on the lookout for healthier snacks and usually chips don't fall into that category. However, I have been diligently searching out alternatives and came across this winner. I love popcorn, but for some reason it never comes to mind when I think of a healthier snack. Good thing someone thought of that for me and put it into a "tortilla chip". Meet PopCorners. It's the "tortilla chip" made with popcorn. I tried the sea salt and couldn't get enough of them. Before I knew it, the bag was gone! They were light and crunchy, perfectly salted and a great way to satisfy your salty snack craving. They come in sweet flavors, like kettle and caramel, as well as cheesy jalapeno and white cheddar. Let's just say I will be conducting some more taste tests. So next time you are reaching for a bag a chips, make sure PopCorners are the ones you grab.

Tila's

I hope you have heard, but if not August 1-31 is Houston Restaurant Weeks. This started off as a one week event where restaurants created special lunch and dinner menus where a portion of the proceeds were donated to the Houston Food Bank. However, it became so popular that it turned into a month long event. The meals come with two to three courses for lunch and three to four courses for dinner and is affordably priced at $20 for lunch and $35 for dinner. A friend and I decided to try out Tila's for some Mexican cuisine. We were started off with tortilla and plantain chips with green tomatillo salsa and a red sauce. The green tomatillo salsa was fresh and mild and the red sauce was spicy, but not one of those that kills you with spice.

Next I had guacamole, but I was surprised to find that it was not what I usually got when I ordered guacamole. It was more of a deconstructed guacamole. It was actually chunks of avocado, tomato, chopped jalapeno, onion, and lime. It was delicious nonetheless and perfect for a hot summer's day. I decided to try one of there signature cocktails called the Paloma. This was mainly tequila and pink grapefruit juice. It was tart, but subtly sweet from the grapefruit. It was not a drink for people who like super sweet drinks, but it was very refreshing.

Time for the main dish. I opted for chilaquiles, served with black beans and grilled vegetables. Chilaquiles is a Mexican casserole with chicken, green tomatillo sauce, corn tortillas and is topped with sour cream and mozzarella cheese. It's basically like a Mexican lasagna. It was spicy, but the sour cream cut the heat and created a balance. The layers melted into each other and created a symphony of flavor in every bite. The black beans were served in a refried fashion and topped with a pinch of queso fresco. The grilled vegetables were carrot, squash, and zucchini. They had a nice crunch to them were definitely representative of seasonal summer veggies.

Fortunately, Tila's was offering a three course lunch so we also go to try dessert. I chose a Mexican key lime pie. Most of the time when I think of key lime pie, an image of a graham cracker crust filled with a bright green filling with whipped topping pops into my head. This was definitely not the case. There were layers of cookie in it that were covered in the filling. The lime was refreshing and the strawberries were fresh and sweet. I also got to try the cheesecake which had a light glaze on it and was also served with strawberries. These were both really delicious. 

There are more participating restaurants than you can imagine, so check out the whole list at houstonrestaurantweeks.com. You need to make a reservation and the instructions are listed on the website. Mention that you would like the HRW menu and you are all set! It couldn't be easier to eat for a cause, so be sure to take advantage of this offer as many times as you can. Come back and post where you tried and go eat and help support the Houston Food Bank!

Hip Poppin'

I am always looking for healthier snacks that don't taste like cardboard. A friend told me about these one day when we were in Central Market, so I decided that it was time to try them. What is a popchip you may ask? It is a chip made by popping, rather than being baked or fried. These come in a ton of different different flavors like plain, sour cream and onion, and barbecue. I decided to try the sour cream and onion because I haven't had flavored chips in a very long time and this was one of my favorite flavors. When I took one out of the bag I was surprised at how big it was. It was light, airy, super crunchy, and packed with flavor! It tasted a little bit like popcorn and a little like a potato chip, which was somewhat confusing for my taste buds. It had such a unique texture, but the sour cream and onion flavor sure packed a punch and it didn't feel like you were eating something healthy. I am so glad that I tried these because I am pretty sure that they will be a staple in my pantry. I can't wait to try all the flavors...and the tortilla chips. Make sure that you pick up a bag the next time you are on the chip aisle in the grocery store. You won't be sorry!

Wolfgang Puck Bistro

While driving around Tulsa, I was very surprised to see a Wolfgang Puck Bistro. One doesn't usually associate Tulsa as a culinary destination, however, they do have quite the restaurant array. The inside it super modern and chic, done in dark wood, black, and chrome lighting. It gives off the vibe that it is the place to be and the place to be seen. The restaurant focuses on organic and local ingredients and had a fresh farmer's market tart that sounded delicious. Their soup of the day was a french onion soup, and boy was it delicious! The cheese was perfectly golden brown and the broth was rich, but not too salty with a few bread cubes in the bottom. The caramelized onions were the shining star in the soup and there were enough to make the soup very filling. I also ordered half a sandwich, so next came my pesto chicken salad sandwich.

It was served on homemade ciabatta bread that was so light and airy. Though from the picture it looks like there was a lot of bread, there really wasn't because it was so airy. The sandwich was served with housemade potato chips, which I have to admit are so much better than store bought ones. They had just a touch of salt, so they were the perfect compliment to the sandwich. The chicken salad was chunks of real chicken breast and lettuce that was lightly dressed with a pesto. The sauce was barely there, allowing the ingredients to come together on their own. This was a very filling lunch and even though it didn't sound like a lot of food, I promise you it's enough. I did not leave hungry.


The best part about going out to eat with someone else is that you can share and try more of the menu. Luckily for me, my lunch buddy was willing to share with me. He got a roasted turkey club sandwich with sweet potato fries. His was also served on a ciabatta roll and it had turkey, melted cheese, caramelized onions, and arugula with a horseradish cream sauce on the side. This was perfectly toasted and everything blended together that it was almost like eating a barbeque turkey sandwich. The sweet potato fries had a tender inside and an outside with the right amount of crunch. They had a bit of sea salt on them, keeping the integrity of the ingredients. I have never eaten at a Wolfgang Puck restaurant, but I will definitely try another one or maybe just go back to this one! Stop by if you are in the Tulsa area.

My Take on Tortilla Chips

It been raining here, so naturally I thought that there was a reason for me to be in the kitchen. After concocting quite a few sweet treats, I wanted to make something salty or savory. Don't get me wrong. I love sweet things, but that's not always healthy to have lots of sweets sitting around...it makes it too tempting. So after thinking about what I had, I thought of tortillas. Bingo! I'll make tortilla chips. Seeing as they are baked and not fried, I won't have to feel bad after I eat them and I know they will be a perfect snack to munch on. But I was feeling spicy and decided to spice up my tortilla chips as well. Plain are always good, but today called for something more. After looking at my spice rack, three things immediately popped out...chili powder, ground cumin, and onion powder, along with salt and pepper.

Most people think that the only way to make tortilla chips is to fry them, which is usually how they are done, but if you bake them, they are just as good. I am pretty sure that this is quite possibly one of the easiest things that you can make. Trust me, you don't even need a recipe and it can be done with as many tortillas as you like. Preheat the oven to 350. Cut the tortillas into triangles and spray with cooking spray or brush with vegetable oil.

Here is the fun part where you get to be creative. Sprinkle on whatever spices you want and put them in the over for 5 to 6 minutes. Turn the pan and bake for another 3 to 4 minutes. Watch them because they get dark fairly quickly. I made mine savory, but you could always do cinnamon and sugar for a sweeter version. Pair that with a caramel dip and you have one crowd pleasing snack. You will always have a "go to" in your back pocket for every get together you might need it for. Have fun with these and let me know how you customize them!

Tex-Mex Necessities

There are countless number of food "accidents" that have resulted in the creation of some the most popular foods, and tortilla chips are no exception. Tortillas chips were introduced to the mass market by Rebecca Webb Carranza as a way to reuse the tortillas that weren't perfectly shaped. These fried tortillas triangles have now become a must have for any occasion. As a bonus there is a national tortilla chip day, so be sure to mark your calendar for the celebration on February 24.

Around here, people think that Tex-Mex equals real Mexican food. However, there are several differences. Traditionally, you don't serve chips and salsa and using yellow cheese is a big no no. For me, those are some of my favorite things when going out for Tex-Mex. Each place has it's own variation, so in celebration of Cinco de Mayo week, I have decided to compile a list of my favorite restaurant chips and dips.



1. Chuy's: What can I say, the creamy jalapeno dip is definitely something to write home about. It is pretty addictive and always keeps you coming back for more. They use a thin chip that can usually stand up to the dip, but there are usually a couple of breakages so beware. As a bonus, during happy hour, there is a nacho car where you can make your own queso. There salsa is pretty decent as well, though sometimes I find it a bit too spicy for my taste. You can see the chunks of jalapenos so you know they are actually in there and mixing the salsa and the jalapeno dip, makes for a great combination. If you haven't been here before, this is definitely on my list of "go tos" for Tex-Mex.



2. Torchy's Tacos: Originating in Austin, they just recently opened a location in Houston. I am a huge fan of guacamole and can't imagine ever getting tired of it. When I first visited the restaurant, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. The guacamole is some of the best I have ever had. It has some chunks of avocado mixed in, creating a great mix of chunky and smooth. You could definitely tell that they used fresh avocado, and there was the slightest bit of a kick to in. Queso is something that I am a little more cautious about trying since I have had some pretty bad queso. When I saw it on the menu at Torchy's, I decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprise to find not only was there a bite to it, but they also mixed in guacamole! Talk about a combination. The best part is that the chips are on the thicker side to accommodate the chunky guacamole and were able to deliver without breaking.



3. Lupe Tortillas: Until I came here, I had never thought to use charro type beans as a dip. I was critical because sometimes they can be pretty bland, but boy was I wrong. These have a great balance of spice and the addition of bacon adds just the right amount of salt and smokey flavor. They are great as a dip, but also on their own as well. However, their super thin chips break pretty easily when you are trying to eat the beans, but they can scoop the salsa pretty easily. Their salsa is fresh and spicy, so if you are not up to the heat it might be hard to handle.

So grab a chair and try some of my favorites out if you haven't already. I love getting suggestions, so feel free to leave a comment with your favorites!