I might be the host of Spring Baking Championship but a baker I am not. But that doesn’t mean I can’t test the waters. When Studio 512’s host Stephanie Gilbert challenged me to a baking challenge . . . I knew I had to step up. With some guidance from Spring Baking Champion Nacho Aguirre, I came up with this: a mini chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and macerated raspberries or “Ali’s wedding proposal cake” for short. It’s in honor ...

A Pakistani curry specialty with a Texas twist.

Food Network + Cooking Channel's Ali Khan craves Vietnamese Meatballs and threw together an impromptu recipe. Served up in taco form.

Italian Beef Meal Kit: messy deliciousness in the comfort of your own home

I was gifted a copy of Sunday Supper’s by Suzanne Goin some 15 years ago. In that time I have probably prepared a handful of recipes which is more a reflection of the involvement the book requires. Broken up be Seasons, you would be wise to stick to the one you are currently in and have access to a good Farmer’s Market. True to the chef’s resumé and accolades, this book is not for the novice cook nor a busy ...

So McRib is back and I got excited. I mean, it’s the McRib . . . the only sandwich at McDonald’s thats as McDonalds as the freaking Big Mac. Now it has been more than a minute since I have had one and I just couldn’t eat a McRib and post about it. I had to make it better. So here it is, My McRib hack, which I swear to whatever higher power you believe in, is worth the minimal ...

It’s 47 degrees outside, football is in full swing and it’s high time I figured out a real deal Texas chili recipe. Spoiler alert: I used tomatoes. Yeah, I did. And I used ground beef, albeit coarse ground aka chili grind from a butcher shop called Longhorn Meats. No beans though, and that deep hue of red was from making my own chili powder. I even have two versions for you and my inspiration came from an award winning recipe ...

Pork Chile Verde It’s a hearty, comforting Mexican icon. Superb in tacos, burritos, over rice or even just in a damn bowl, Pork Chile Verde is a staple on both sides of the border. Thanks to one of Food & Wine’s Best of the Best cookbooks from years back, I stumbled upon a Rick Bayless version where chunks of pork shoulder are braised slowly in an oven along with tomatillos, cilantro and pickled jalapeños. Despite countless versions of Pork Chile ...

I don’t always drop $40 a pound for steaks. But some things are worth it. Like birthdays. For my annual revolution around the sun, the Mrs. scored me two premium steaks: local(Texas) Wagyu Ribeyes from a couple local butcher shops. Suffice to say these are premium butcher shops and we ate well that day. Which one was actually worth the money? Keep scrolling, friend.

A couple years ago I found myself at a street fair and the aroma of grilled kabobs from a Vietnamese food stand caught my attention. Meaty, juicy and flavorful, I asked the vendor what cut of meat he used. The answer was what I suspected but still surprised me: pork shoulder. I walked away determined to figure out how to make this at home.