Texas Themed Party Food
Planning a Texas-themed party is an interesting exercise for those from other locales. On the one hand, the Lone Star State is often associated with all things exaggeratedly western, whether they have any real-life connection or not. On the other hand, the state's diverse population and eventful history have combined to create a number of authentically Texan foods you can call upon. Does this Spark an idea?
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Barbecue
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One of the quintessential Texan party foods is barbecue, which draws on authentic cattle-country roots. While the South revels in its pulled pork, Texas barbecue is made with beef brisket. It needs to be caked in a dry spice rub and slow-cooked in a smoker for the most authentic results, but if need be you can get by with an oven-roasted version. Slice your brisket thinly across the grain and serve it on plates, or shred it and pile it high on white bread with a lot of barbecue sauce. Authentic recipes are available from numerous books and websites.
Chili
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Chili is a food that most people enjoy, and many cooks have their own personal take that they consider to be the "world's best" version. However, if you're looking for a Texan theme, you need to understand that Texans are militantly opinionated on the subject. For one thing, skip the beans, which if anything are a side dish. Ditto any vegetable that's not a chili pepper. Pass on the ground beef, as well. For a top-quality chili, dice your beef into moderately small cubes. Thicken the sauce, as needed with masa harina whisked into cold water. Serve fiery hot with icy beer.
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A Tex-Mex Spread
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If you have the resources, serve a full-fledged Tex-Mex feast. Chimichangas, burritos and fajitas are all staples, well-suited for use as party foods. In the case of fajitas, you'll need a way to keep the ingredients hot, or provide griddles where guests can make their own sizzling fillings. Pinto beans, either whole or refried, are a suitable side dish for most Tex-Mex foods. Nachos are a Tex-Mex creation too, so serve them without guilt. A popular Texan dip for tortilla chips consists of melted Velveeta cheese with RoTel brand seasoned canned tomatoes stirred in.
Imports
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Aside from the obvious Native American and Mexican influences, many generations of immigrants from other cultures have enriched Texas food culture. For example, grilled German-style sausages are widely served at Texan gatherings. A 19th-century influx of Czech immigrants gave Texas its most popular pastry, the kolache, which are made of sweet yeast dough traditionally stuffed with poppy seeds, cottage cheese, prunes or sausage. They aren't easy to find in most places outside Texas, but recipes are available online. Feel free to use fruit fillings, which are less traditional but still popular.
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References
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