The prickly pear cactus thrives in the deserts of the American Southwest; its bulbous red fruit is prized for many Mexican and Tex-Mex preparations. This legendary margarita, which takes its distinctive flavor from the fruit, comes from bartender Ruben Bernal at Las Canarias restaurant in San Antonio, Texas. André Baranowski
Titillate your palette with a fruity sangria, tangy margarita, or spicy Mexican chocolate.
Mexican Chocolate Icebox Cookies
At brunch at the Liberty Bar in San Antonio, a plate of these spicy-sweet cookies is set down on the table at the beginning of the meal—gratis. Featured in our book Best Cookies, they make a perfect cookie for holiday parties, especially when drizzled with a little melted white chocolate.
Horchata Blanca (White Rice Drink)
Creamy and sweet, this recipe is a far cry from traditional horchata—his is almost like a dessert, and equally good served hot or cold.
Aunt Renee’s Gelatin Mold
A flip through any cookbook from the early or mid-20th century will reveal a bevy of shimmering, molded gelatin treats like this one, made with peaches and cream cheese.
Michelada Bloody Mary
Chef Rick Bayless suggested this recipe for a bloody mary made with beer, citrus, and tequila.
Horchata with Chocolate and Pumpkin Seeds
Horchata, a cool, creamy drink popular across Latin America, is frequently made from ground almonds and rice. This decadent adaptation, spiked with cinnamon and dark chocolate, tastes rich and nutty and makes a delightful liquid dessert.
Chico
This drink takes its ruby color from blackberry liqueur.
The prickly pear cactus thrives in the deserts of the American Southwest; its bulbous red fruit is prized for many Mexican and Tex-Mex preparations. This legendary margarita, which takes its distinctive flavor from the fruit, comes from bartender Ruben Bernal at Las Canarias restaurant in San Antonio, Texas.
