Have you heard of The Homesick Texan?? Well, pretty much you need to know her, and her food, and her gorgeous photography both on her website and her new cookbook! Lisa Fain, aka the Homesick Texan, is probably one of the first bloggers I ever started to follow when I jumped into the blogging world. Her recipes are truly fantastic and they are all right up my alley with the flavors and spice and southwestern flair. I’m pretty sure I was meant to live in Texas, at least for some period of my life, because I am all about the Texas style of cooking. So it’s safe to say that when I unwrapped this cookbook, I was pretty much jumping for joy. I read it front to back, twice. And then immediately went to the market to pick up ingredients for a few recipes. They. Are. All. Amazing. Literally, each recipe looks like it belongs in my belly. I’m seriously going to cook my way through this book in the next few weeks.
The Homesick Texan is full of drool worthy recipes from, Cheese Enchiladas, Gorditas with Picadillo, Austin Style Black Beans, Biscuits and Gravy, Chicken Fried Steak and of course Guacamole! And then there are the carnitas. Bring on the carnitas. I’m all about the pig. I like pork pretty much any way you slice it… but I will always have a soft spot for carnitas. And these Homesick Texan carnitas are ah-mazing.
AND… because The Homesick Texan is such an amazing and beautiful book and I don’t think anyone should have to live without it – I am giving away 2 copies thanks to the fabulous people over at Hyperion!
To enter, just leave a quick comment telling me your favorite Texas inspired dish of all times!! Mine – definitely carnitas with a side of spicy guacamole.
For a second entry, What’s Gaby Cooking on Facebook, then return here leaving another comment saying you did so.
The giveaway begins today, Friday, September 16, 2011, and ends next Friday, September 23rd, at Midnight PST. Winners will be announced that evening and then the winners books will be shipped out shortly after.
Here’s the quick link to the book on Amazon too!
Here’s the quick run down on the mouth watering Carnitas from The Homesick Texan Cookbook….
Ingredients:
3 lbs boneless pork shoulder, cut into 2 inch cubes
1/2 cup Orange Juice
1/4 cup Lime Juice
4 cloves garlic
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
Directions:
1. Place the pork in a large dutch oven with the orange juice, lime juice, garlic, cumin and salt. Add enough water to barely cover the meat. Bring the pot to a boil and then turn down to a simmer and let cook for 2 hours.
2. After 2 hours, (and by this point your house will smell awesome) turn the heat up to medium high, and continue to cook the pork for 45 minutes, stirring every once in a while, until all the liquid has evaporated and the pork fat as been rendered.
3. Once the pork is browned on both sides, it’s ready to eat. Taste and season with a little extra salt if needed.
Tags: Carnitas, mexican pork recipes, Pork, pork recipes, tender carnitas, texas pork recipes
Since I’m from Texas, that one is tough. I love fajitas but then there is cheese enchiladas and for the winter, a good true Texas chili is almost unbeatable. I can’t wait until it gets cooler so I can make a big pot of chili! I guess chili is my final answer.
So hard to choose…probably cheese enchiladas. I would love to have a whole cookbook devoted to Texan style recipes! (I’ve already liked you on fb, if that counts…)
TACOS.
TAAACOSSSS.
sorry. hello! Tacos!
I agree with you – carnitas are my favorite! I feel like I order them every single time that they are on the menu.
These look amazing. I’m actually making carnitas this weekend for the first time, too. Hope they turn out as well as it looks like these did!
Carne asada. And anything involving guacamole I say YES!
And, I just don’t like you on Facebook, I like you a lot.
When I think of Texas, I think of chili and cornbread- yum!
I big hearty bowl of Texas chili!
And just liked you on FB!
Chicken fried steak!
I live in San Antonio, so…everything? If I had to pick, I would go with brisket…no, breakfast tacos…or queso…fajitas? That question is much too hard!
I’m a salsa fan. Salsa on most anything. Love.
I miss the queso and guac. I’m a homesick Texan that moved to D.C. four years ago for work. We have about 20 former Texans that get together regularly and this would be perfect! We have yet to find Tex Mex here that satisfies our tastebuds.
I liked your page!! But I’m not a good FB user. I’m an excellent Google Reader RSS user!!
I am all about fajitas!! They are absolutely my favorite, with a huge side of guac!!!!
I like you on facebook also!
I’m with you on the carnitas.
Love carnitas, too. Love to top em with something cool – guacamole!
BBQ brisket. Only texans do it right
Carne Asada Tacos are amazing. Come to think of it, any Tex-Mex is great in my book.
TACOS! All kinds
Especially carnitas!
Cheese enchiladas!! I am so homesick for some good Tex-Mex food, here in South Florida nothing comes close.
Wow – it’s hard to choose a favorite, but I vote for enchiladas.
I love ground beef tacos and beef fajitas…I could eat them everyday!!
Any kind of taco works for me. I side of bean and cheese dip, margarita and I’m good to go
Any kind of taco works for me. A side of bean & cheese dip, a margarita and I’m good to go
I like you on FB
anything Mexican, but i cannot live without super hot tamales.
I never met a Tex-Mex dish I didn’t like…but chimichangas are probably my favorite
I just “liked” you on Facebook : )
I have unfortunately never been to Texas. Sadness! Butttt I do love Tex-Mex cuisine. And I think my *favorite* dish would have to be chicken tacos (boring, perhaps; delicious, heck yes)–as long as you promise me they’ll come with a side of black beans and rice and a huge bowl o’ guac.
And clearly I like you on Facebook! Psh.
Yum… I’m a huge fan of carnitas, although guacamole comes in at a close second!
And… just “liked” you on FaceBook. ^_^
Queso!!! Queso!!! Queso!!!
Pulled Pork ANYTHING I love, as well as Texas inspired Chilli! Oh and cornbread…mmhm, cornbread with cheddar and jalapenos..
I love cheese enchiladas, but guacamole is definitely my favorite!
I like you on FB
Thank you, Gaby! And even though it might be a while until we’re neighbors, I do look forward to cooking with you soon!
Frito Pie is my all-time favorite!
Chili!
Kolaches!
I actually adore Texas caviar and its many variations. It’s not common at all here in Australia, and people always rave when I make it as a side dish – it goes well with so many different meals!
Just one? Carne Asada.
I like you on Facebook.
not sure if it’s “texan” per se, but cheese enchiladas!
and i already like you on facebook
Guacamole! Actually the reason I started following your blog is because you love guacamole as much as I do
I’ve been craving a good burrito lately. Where I used to live (a small city out in the middle of West TX), there were several little Mexican places that made nothing but burritos… *amazing* burritos. Served up with some salsa verde and Mexican cokes (the kind in the glass bottle, with real sugar) and spicy tamarind candy for dessert. I miss it so much. We still live in TX, but much nearer to Louisiana. The trade-off for having better seafood & Cajun goodies is a distinct lack of authentic Tex-Mex.
I’m going with brisket right now but that could change at any moment! I LOVE Southwestern cuisine!!!
I like you on FB
Sour cream chicken enchilladas! Liked on FB.
Anything with guacamole – which reminds me – Happy Guac day to you – almost feels like your birthday!
Since I am a Homesick Texan…although I LOVE my new home of California…I miss a TRUE bowl of Texas Chili!
I miss all of the Tex-Mex flavors we have there
I am a true blooded Texas girl! My family loves tacos, echiladas, fajitas, chili, nachos, heck… anything with cheese or an avacado I am happy!
Never had carnitas, so right now it would be fajitas. Will be trying the carnitas soon though They look amazing. Another one I would like to try that I just recently heard about is migas. Thanks for another resource
A native of San Antonio:
Cheese enchiladas con carne with refried beans and spanish rice.
I’ve made each of these from Homesick’s website in the past.
My hubby judges a restaurant by it’s carne asada. Love guac, salsa, enchiladas, tacos…I could go on and on! And I already “like” you on FB!
I love me some south of the border cooking. I think my favorite in the winter months is chicken tortilla soup, but then again you just can’t go wrong with some awesome carnitas.
Oh wait, home made flour or corn tortillas on their own are an awesome experience. My mama would whip up a batch of flour tortillas every day. I’d sit and watch as she rolled each little round ball of dough out. Then it would be my turn to roll. My torts never came out round. They always looked like a boot.
Pretty much everything- but my favorite fave would have to be enchiladas, because they are delicious and wonderful to say- en- chi- la- da…..!
oh, yum. guacamole, baby.
like you on fb
Hominy! Just a little butter and maybe a little cheese. Perfect.
Also. I “like” you on Facebook.
It would be easier to tell you what I don’t like. I guess if I have to choose a favorite it would be fajitas; although we have had carnitas twice in the last month. That’s how much we love them. This recipe like every other Homesick Texan recipe looks amazing. It looks like we are going to have to have them three times just so that we can try this version. Yum! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I’ve been following you on Facebook for sometime now with my personal account. That’s where I saw this post. Thanks again for the opportunity to win! I’m pinning this recipe to make very soon!
Guacamole is my all time fave…hold the tomatoes and extra grilled serranos!
Just left a note on your FB page, too.
hmmm“i really dont know which is my favorice!!! i think that i will have to say i cant live without salsa!!!mmmm!!!
i have been following you for a long time now~~on twitter and i have you on my homepage for myyahoo but forgot to add the fb–so thanks…i now follow!!
Have to go with the cheese enchiladas, Austin style black beans, Texas chili because I can’t pick just one.
Have liked you on Facebook and like you here -
The dirty sanchez! Love this book : )
This cookbook looks great! Delicious!
i could get very specific, but i’m just going to say anything that can be eaten with guacamole, because guacamole is my favorite edible thing of all time. ALL TIME.
I’m off to the store to buy a boneless pork shoulder. Carnitas should be ready by the time the Gators kick off! Thanks for the recipe!!! ;p
I love all things tex-mex! but, you’re right, carnitas are hard to beat!
Love your blog! 
Texas caviar!
Definitely chicken fajitas with guacamole!
Gotta be the fish tacos. And I’m also from TX.
okay. gotcha on facebook. Love this book!
Posole made with pork or chicken is a favorite…we have it on Christmas Eve.
I love carnitas. I love any tex-Mex food actually- but these look especially drool worthy, gorgeous Gaby! Of course I follow you everywhere!
My husband and love of my life, was a true Texan. I lived in Texas for 8 years and it was the first place I felt I could call “home.”
It’s so hard for me to choose just one item so can I list a meal?
Brisket, fried okra, beans and cornbread!
Beef Tenderloin Fajitas. They have always been my favorite and don’t forget a good margarita!
Chili and Cornbread!
Ooh I really want to win a copy- but I am definitely buying one if I don’t win! I love queso. Mmm.
Migas – scrambled eggs with crisp tortillas and chopped green chiles. It is delicious!
Carne asada and guacamole!
I can’t decide between shrimp and barbecue – but , I think barbecue wins by a grit! Thanks for this. I, too, read cookbooks like I do a good novel!
Carnitas for sure! Yum!
Love shredded beef tacos with fresh cilantro – oh, YUM!
Cheese enchiladas with chile gravy….my #1.
I am a Texan living in Florida….and man, I sure miss the Texas cooking! I can’t even find ingredients here! I, too, have followed the Homesick Texan and would LOVE her cookbook!
ps….my favorite is Texas Sheet Cake…..mmmmmmm….chocolate on chocolate!
Quesoooooohhh
Chili con carne is a Texan favorite!
I’m a FB follower!
Carnitas and chili.
hatch enchiladas
Texas chili. Cooking in the crock right now for football Sunday.
Liked on Facebook
Too many great Texan foods to pick from from, but will go with fajitas.
Sour cream chicken enchiladas. mmmmmmm.
I like you on FB.
I AM a homesick Texan! I still remember my first order of fajitas…….
Yum- this looks delicious! Thanks for sharing!
I’m a homesick Texan as well and the thing I miss most are sour cream chicken enchiladas.
I would have to say smoked brisket. I had the best brisket I ever had in my life in west Texas.
We love Tex-Mex flavors! My husband has been known to take down chips, salsa and guac (I’m right beside him, of course) but we love carnitas burritos or chicken fajitas!
Guacamole.
I’ve been lurking on your site for a while, it took a Homesick Texan cookbook giveaway to get me out of hiding. I love most southwest style Mexican food, but my very favorite is Green Chile with Pork, topping a Flour tortilla, fried crisp and sprinkled with cheese. OMG. I also did a facebook thing; hope I did it right.
I’m a Texan…and I can’t live without good ol Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes and Grilled Veggies. Perfect Meal!
I like you on Facebook!
I’m a big fan of the taco salad!! YUM.
You mean I’ve got to pick one?? Ok, it’s gotta be chili… with chunky meat, of course!!
Not being from Texas… or ever visited Texas… it is hard to say what my favorite Texan food is. However, I do enjoy anything spicy and guacamole. Some of the things I read above that I wouldn’t mind trying to make Sour cream chicken enchiladas and Cheese enchiladas with chile gravy.
I have been a fan on FB for a while now… have so many things I want to try.
Chicken fajitas with a squeeze of lime on corn tortillas…yum!
You bring the carnitas, and I’ll make homemade tortillas. mmmm
Tamales! I loveloveLOVE them! Te.ll me it’s Tex<ex and I'm bound to love it! (seriously, menudo today for lunch. I thought it was real good!) Anything else I'll make at home- fajitas? Easy. Cornbread? With my eyes closed. Carne asada? Fire up the grill! Texas cake? For brekkie… But I've never worked up the courage to try and make tamales, so I just get these burning cravings until I hunt one down… they're deeeelicioooooussss! But intimidating. And there's a recipe on The Homesick Texan… I'll at least have to bookmark it :-/
And I’m “like”ing now!
I lied, you’re nowhere to be found on FB :-/
Mine would be good cheese enchiladas. Thanks, Maureen (jnomaxx at hotmail dot com)
Beef BBQ! When my husband’s mom lived in Texas, we would visit her with plans to eat any and all BBQ we could lay our hands on. We always flew home with well deserved meaty stomach aches. But so worth it!
Those Carnitas look good.
It’s so hard to choose one thing, but I have to say Texas pecan pie!! The cookbook looks amazing, I was drooling over it on Amazon!!
Sopapillas…b.c. they are not only a desert, you can turn them into Apps or the Main Entree…You can stuff them with ANYTHING!!! So, Stuffed Sopapillas, Christmas style.