I've said it once, and I'll say it again: Tex-Mex is one of my favorite cuisines of all time, my top dish pick being chili con queso with Ro-Tel. Naturally, when I came across a Tex-Mex mac and cheese with green chilies, I knew I had to make it.
The recipe comes from Robert Del Grande, one of the Lone Star State's best-known chefs and restaurateurs, and the roasted poblanos give the melted cheese dish an addictive kick. Want the recipe? Keep reading.
If you're not from Texas — or a few other choice towns across America — you may have never had the pleasure of eating a kolache. A Central European pastry iconic across the Lone Star State, the kolache is prized for its soft, pillowy dough and its versatility: kolache fillings range from the sweet (apricot, prunes, and poppy seeds) to the savory (sausages). And some fillings, like cheese, even possess qualities of both.
Texans owe the enjoyment of this fluffy yeast roll to the number of Czechs who immigrated to the state in the 1800s, and while there's nothing more authentic than enjoying a kolache in one of the state's few remaining Czech towns, city dwellers can savor kolaches on the go at any of the state's ubiquitous Kolache Factory stores. The Kolache Factory, a breakfast chain somewhat akin to a Texas kolache version of, say, Dunkin' Donuts, is also known for its unconventional kolache fillings, such as chocolate cream cheese, sausage and gravy, ranchero, and even Philly cheesesteak.
Set your sights on these regional specialties when you read more
On a recent trip to Texas, Reef wasn't the only provocative meal that I had. I also ate an unorthodox lunch at Feast, a restaurant that was opened by three British ex-pats, James Silk, Meagan Silk, and Richard Knight, in Houston last year. The eatery, which has earned accolades from the New York Times as well as a James Beard Best New Restaurant nomination, focuses on adventurous and gourmet nose-to-tail dining. See more of the restaurant — and the dishes that push America's dining envelope — when you keep reading.
I've got roots in Houston, TX, home of some of the world's best steak and Tex-Mex. But on a recent return to Bayou City, I was eager to check out some dramatically different local fare that's garnered a lot of national attention. That would be the refined Gulf Coast seafood served at Reef, the brainchild of 2009 Food & Wine Best New Chef Bryan Caswell.
Although I was expected to be impressed by the food, I was absolutely blown away. Every dish — from the raw appetizer to the sides to the bread — was absolutely spectacular. To say it is my new favorite restaurant experience is an understatement! Read on to scope out one of the nation's best new eateries.
The last time New Orleans saw snow was a white Christmas day in 2004, and the Southern city has only been painted white 17 times since 1850. But this morning residents woke up to as much as six inches of snowflakes.
Today marks the earliest date for snowfall in the city, and the rare weather found some unprepared. The snow halted bus services and flights out of Armstrong International Airport, and students at a few universities and schools are enjoying the freedom of a snow day.
Meanwhile in Houston, TX, snow fell last night, tying a 65-year record for earliest snow date. Check out these pictures from a very wintry New Orleans! Should residents worry about climate change, or just enjoy the Winter wonderland?
To see more pictures, read more
It's not just pets that need help in the aftermath of recent hurricanes, over 1,000 baby squirrels are undergoing care in what's best described as a "squirrel neonatal unit". 
The Houston SPCA still receives 20 to 30 lil ones each day, causing these creatures to far outnumber all of the other animals there.
We’re feeding them puppy formula every three hours. . . . We’ve had a pelican and a couple of seagulls, but we’ve been overwhelmed by the squirrels, said Sharon Schmalz, executive director of the society’s Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center, who explained that this was the height of squirrel birthing season in Texas.
The orphans – many less than three inches long – are hand fed via these nipple-tipped syringes and will remain in the care of volunteers until they reach 12 weeks old. They will then be re-released into their natural habitats, places like rural areas outside city limits or tree-filled suburbs, with newfound strength to frolic freely and leap from limb to limb.
Thankfully, there were improved plans in place before the recent hurricanes hit, but I'm reminded that plenty of pets still need help in the storms' aftermath. 
Shelters including the Houston Humane Society and the Galveston Island Humane Society are working around the clock to photograph all the arriving animals to help keep track of the pets, and locate their owners. Much of the area is still without running water, electricity or gas . . . but the stray and injured animals keep on coming!
In addition to accepting monetary donations online, if you're local to these areas (or any place affected by the storms), don't be shy about stopping in to volunteer or bring by some much-appreciated goods. To see the items on the shelter's wish list, read more
Philadelphia just became another major US city to hit a connection snag in their plan to offer citywide free Wi-Fi. Earthlink, the private company working with Philly, has just announced its intention to pull the figurative plug on Philly's operating project. Why the pull-out? Money. The New York Times reports that: "The conclusion that such ventures would not be profitable led to sudden withdrawals by service providers like EarthLink, the Internet company that had effectively cornered the market on the efforts by the larger cities."
The virtual age is making internet a utility rather than a luxury, so with all the other services cities offer — libraries, parks, public transportation, and water — many realize the necessity to provide citizens with free municipal wireless internet. It's been three years since Philadelphia announced its plan to become the city of wireless love, bringing free internet to all residents and the poor are feeling the pinch.
Tons of other cities, like Chicago, Houston, and San Francisco, realize the need and have decided to follow suit — but wireless for the masses is still just a pipe dream. Massive technological problems, faulty business models, politics, and of course, money, have resulted in a bad connection between the cities and their internet provider partners. To see the impact of this disconnection, read more
