I’m a native Texan with a passion for good food and Texas history. Tex-Mex is a way of life for me, and so is baking!
Bluebonnets are the Texas state flower. In South Texas, Bluebonnet season is in spring, which is also when all of the festivals like Night in Old San Antonio, Fiesta, and Oysterbake happen too. Everywhere – highways, fields, front yards, fill with the sweet blue flower. You don’t plant them, they just grow.
It’s just a fantastic time of year to be in San Antonio, where I grew up. Especially if you like food.
In 2004, I left San Antonio for England and my future husband. Having a Texan and a Brit in a marriage certainly can get interesting. I just thank the sweet Lord that he loves breakfast tacos as much as I do!
I started Bluebonnet Baker as a way to reconnect to the food I grew up with: Tex-Mex, Southern, and Midwestern cuisine that might not always be good for you, but makes you feel loved from the inside out. I learned to cook from my mother and grandmother, Nanny.
Nanny spent many summers with my sister and me, teaching us to bake cookies, cakes, and Depression-era favorites like SOS. You’ll find a lot of her recipes on this site.
She’s the single most influential person on my cooking style, and making them for the blog and for you is my way of keeping her close. Plus, it was really difficult to find a chicken fried steak in New Jersey.. just sayin’.
Nanny gave me my first cookbook when I was 17, and it’s turned into a full on obsession. Maybe I’ll write one one day, maybe I won’t – but I will never stop loving what happens when love and food come together to make dinner (or dessert).
We’re back in Texas now, but the passion for all things Tex-Mex and Southern Comfort hasn’t waned one bit.
{a day in the life} Bluebonnets & Brownies » Rachel Cooks
Monday 30th of June 2014
[…] “a day in the life” feature is Amber of Bluebonnets & Brownies. Amber’s is one of the first blogs I started reading, and I […]
a
Tuesday 24th of June 2014
I'm truly enjoying the design and layout of your site. It's a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme? Excellent work!
No Bake Cherry and Chocolate Cheesecake | Cravings of a Lunatic
Wednesday 18th of June 2014
[…] much from Amber of Bluebonnets and Brownies. She has been so sweet, and welcoming. So thank you to Amber for all the help and kindness you have shown […]
brenda
Sunday 26th of January 2014
Thank you for your tortilla soup recipe. I am a born and raised San Antonian that still lives here. I was looking for the recipe for Jim's tortilla soup. I came accross yours. Last week me and my two preschoolers went to have the half a sandwich and tortilla soup. I had been wanting it ifor a while. The entire time I sat at the bar I was trying to analyse the ingredients. lol. I am going to try your recipe.
Amber
Sunday 26th of January 2014
Brenda, I don't know if that soup will match up to Jim's.. but it's definitely good. Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a sweet comment.
Abby
Saturday 2nd of November 2013
Amber, Thank you so much for your blog! I love seeing the delicious looking recipes and can't wait to try them. I love that you are involved with a local CSA and do a lot of your baking with local seasonal ingredients! I had to choose a food blog to follow for one of my college classes this semester and was so excited when I found one that does Southern/Tex Mex food because I grew up in Arlington, TX! I look forward to your posts and check every day to see if there is a new recipe for me to try! Thanks again! Abby from Troy, AL