the Texas food (& family) tour

 Our trip to Texas has come to an end-- a day earlier than planned, actually. We weren't supposed to travel back until today (Tuesday), but when reports of Snowpocalypse 2.0 started circulating...we all made some frantic phone calls to Delta and lickedy-split got our flights changed to yesterday. I have no interest in sitting around in airports, waiting for cancelled flights to get rebooked...or in arriving in Atlanta and then being stuck there for 3 days, unable to drive home because Georgia gets a little cuhraaaazy when it snows (since it's barely been 3 weeks since our last Snowpocalypse, the memories are still fresh). So it was sad to cut our trip short by a day, but I'm happy to be riding out the storm in the comfort of my own bed and not the C Terminal of Hartsfield-Jackson.

My sister and I awaiting our frantically-rescheduled flight yesterday afternoon in Houston.

At any rate, it's probably good that we're home now. I'm pretty sure I've already gained 30 pounds since we arrived in Texas on Thursday...another day would mean another day of Texas food and therefore another fat roll added to the new collection and like...dang. So sad. So worth it.

If you've never been to Texas before, I must forewarn you: the food is abnormally good. Especially if you happen to like Mexican food, seafood, and/or pastries. Sadly for us all, I am extremely passionate about all three...probably a genetic thing, since both of my parents are from Texas? That's what I'm blaming it on, anyway. It seems that all of my family members are equally passionate about the Texas food scene, so I was in good company all weekend.

This was Friday morning, our first stop for kolaches (and doughnuts....and coffee...). Clearly I was excited. Also, I took a picture of the inside of some of our kolaches so that those of you uneducated in the ways of kolaches can see what I'm talking about. In the picture above, the (whole) kolaches are in the white and red baskets. They usually come in two sizes-- a large one that's roughly Hot Pocket sized (how's that for a standardized measurement?), maybe 6 bites...and a small one that's about two bites.

The top one is a ham and cheese, the small one is a sausage (like a cocktail weenie).The pastry that robes the meat is something magical and ethereal. I can't really describe it any better than that, sorry.

You're probably thinking that the only reason we went to Texas was to visit blog friends and eat. You're almost right, but not quite. In fact, the TRUE reason we went out was because it was my Nana's 90th birthday. My dad and uncles organized a big surprise weekend where we all just kinda showed up on her doorstep from our various parts of the country. And then we partied and ate all weekend. It was awesome. It has been a few years since we've visited (and even longer for some other folks) AND they've never met my niece Carley, so it was a huge and wonderful surprise and we had a blast. It's really been years since I've spent so much uninterrupted time with my siblings and this was a super fun chance to make up for lost time. I am really thankful for the days we had together (and the food, obviously).

On Saturday morning we had to do some last-minute party preparations. Trust me, you've never partied until you've been to a 2:30 p.m. 90th birthday celebration.

Sarah knows what's up. We used that sign for a multitude of things over the weekend.

These masks were awesome. We ran around the store scaring people because we are mature adults like that. 

The party was great-- I don't have any pictures of my own because we had a photographer doing the legwork for us, and I don't have her pictures yet. So sorry, so sad-- just know that my parents forced everyone in the extended family to wear WHITE SHIRTS AND JEANS for the ENTIRE PARTY because...because I don't know why. It was as awkward as you are probably imagining. We looked like a cheesy family beach photo that wandered into real life. Luckily my siblings, husband, cousin, and I were all on the same page about how hilarious the whole thing was. Many good laughs were had.

Surprisingly, on Sunday morning we made another run for doughnuts and kolaches. Sarah and I bravely guarded them in the back seat.

As you can see, everyone in the family is on a very strict and disciplined diet. And also I hate everyone on earth that has ready access to a Shipley Do-nuts. HATE YOU.

On Sunday afternoon we had a humongous shrimp fry (and grill and boil). Basically the menfolk spent like 8 hours making shrimp, starting with the disgusting task of de-heading and all that, and finishing with the glorious deep frying (and covering with this yummy concoction and grilling...those were AWESOME). Gulf shrimp are no joke, people. You shoulda been there.

Matt and I as we patiently waited for the dinner bell to ring and Shrimp Fest to begin. I may or may not have passed the time by enjoying a glass of wine or seven.

Shockingly, our Last Meal in Texas was breakfast on Monday...kolache run #3. Delicious. Amazing. So not available in Georgia, which should be a crime. Ugh.

So now we're back-- I'd planned to head back to work today, but lucked out and got a Snow Day! So far I haven't made it out of bed, except to make coffee. I've got my husband and my Lola curled up beside me, I'm watching big fat snowflakes falling through the window, and I'm about to eat some really lame and healthy non-kolache breakfast while I watch about 27 episodes of Revenge...it's gonna be a good day here. Stay warm, friends!