Most iconic Texas food challenge Final 4
Why it matters: We're down to four contenders in our most iconic Texas food challenge.
It's up to you to determine the championship matchup.
The intrigue: The last four standing are also among our greatest food exports.
How it works: Axios subscribers in San Antonio, Austin, Houston and Dallas are taking part in four rounds of our March Madness-style Texas food bracket. The winner will be announced Friday.
Vote in round three by 2pm Wednesday.
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Buzz Feed
16 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Reviewers Are Singing The Praises Of These 34 Genius Kitchen Products
An ice cube tray that'll make hollow cylindrical ice cubes — aka the perfect shape for your giant Stanleys and Hydro Flasks. An easily washable drip catcher to prevent the counter space between the back of your faucet and the wall from turning into a puddle after you wash the dishes. This absorbent mat sits snugly around your faucet so the back section of your sink area stays dry. An onion holder for a more secure grip and more evenly sized slices of onions, tomatoes, lemons, eggs, potatoes, and fruits. You can even use it as a meat tenderizer! Two products for the price of one! A time-saving fruit and veggie divider because pre-cut fruits and veg are expensive! Parents swear this thing saves them so much time and is pretty convenient because it's easy and safe enough for their kiddos to use — and the little ones find it fun to use, too! A Le Creuset magnetic trivet if you're always dangerously juggling hot plates. This GENIUS invention allows you to simply hover a hot pot over the trivet and — BAM! — the trivet will stick to the bottom, and you can place the pot on any nearby, stable surface. Gone are the days of frantically shouting, "Can someone help me in here?!" when your hands are full. A truly ~egg-cellent~ rapid egg cooker so you can enjoy an omelet (or a soft-, medium-, or hard-boiled egg as well as poached eggies — so many options!) in mere minutes. The best part = no supervision necessary, and you won't dirty a single pan. A lasagna trio pan that'll help you prepare meals for everyone, regardless of their dietary restrictions. Mamma mia! *insert chef finger kiss* A pack of foaming garbage disposal cleaners to deodorize your sink ASAP and get rid of the funk. Please, please, please do not stick your hand down the drain; let this do the work instead! A spinning water bottle organizer for those among us with an extensive collection of jumbo water bottles. This lazy Susan-style water bottle holder can accommodate up to six 40-oz. Stanleys, Starbucks tumblers, and more. A pack of carborundum sponges because these are the heavy hitters you'll want for stains and gunk that no other sponge is strong enough to handle. A single-handed server if you hate needing two hands just to scoop some salad. And it gives you more control over your serve — because using a spaghetti server means you either have way more pasta that you're going to eat or you're spooning noodles one by one onto your plate. A space-saving grater and slicer set so you don't have to invest in bulky and expensive individual versions. (You probs don't have the room in your tiny kitchen anyway!) It comes with a slicer, medium grater, and coarse grater, and the base serves as both a storage container (when it's in use) and a handy receptacle for sliced zucchini, grated cheese, etc. A pack of towel clips that'll prevent kids and pets from pulling down the towel. Or, maybe you have neither of those things, yet your hand and kitchen towels always end up on the ground. A 2-in-1 kitchen scale and measuring cup to reduce the number of dirty dishes you create and ensure your measurements are accurate. A pancake batter mixer with a built-in BlenderBall wire for hotcakes and waffles as fast as you can shake it. Give your best bartender impression to mix the wet and dry ingredients. Breakfast will be ready in minutes *and* with fewer dirty dishes that require your attention. A pair of meat shredder claws because pulling apart pounds of pork with two measly forks is not efficient or fun. A set of toss-and-chop salad tongs if you don't want to waste time pulling out a whole chopping board (that you will have to clean later) to transform your romaine into bite-sized pieces. Scissor supremacy! Use these blades to slice your greens as well as your toppings: eggs, tomatoes, radishes, cucumbers, pieces of chicken, olives, apples, and more. A set of refrigerator drip catchers so there isn't always a puddle in the water the floor in front of your fridge. They sit securely in the tray thanks to their magnetic design. A pack of slow cooker liners that'll come in handy if you have a lot of hungry people to feed. With the disposable liners, you can cook different recipes at the same time, reducing your overall cooking time *and* saving you from having to wash a huge stack of dishes. A pack of reusable toaster bags for when a 2 a.m. craving for a grilled cheese hits, but you don't want to dirty a pan. Just plop your bread and cheese in the bag and then in the toaster, and you're minutes away from ooey, gooey, cheesy goodness. A plant-based cooking oil solidifier (you might remember it from Shark Tank!) because it makes getting rid of leftover grease easier than whatever method you're using right now. Simply sprinkle the powder in your remaining oil while it's still hot, let it cool, and then scoop it into the trash. A dirty dishwasher indicator if you find yourself thinking, "What's it gonna be today?" when you open your dishwasher. If your household doesn't consistently flip the clean/dirty dishwasher magnets, try this instead! It sits inside your dishwasher, so you know if dishes are clean or dirty depending on whether the container has water in it. A pack of dishwasher cleaning tablets so you can clean as your machine runs — no need to spend your precious free time cleaning it by hand. A set of magnetic air fryer cheat sheets that'll ensure your foods emerge perfectly cooked instead of still raw or burned to a crisp because you guesstimated the cook time. A pouring chute to save you a lot of frustration when you're baking. Both wet and dry ingredients slide down seamlessly and into the mixing bowl instead of ending up on the you will now have to clean. A set of oven liners for catching crumbs before they can permanently attach themselves to your oven and create a big freaking mess you'll spend hours cleaning. Raise your hand if you hate cleaning your oven. Great. Now, take that same hand and click the "add to cart" button. A set of modular sheet pan dividers because no, you don't need to suffer through veggies that are burned to a crisp because you had to leave the pan in the oven to make sure the salmon was fully cooked. With this handy system, you can just remove individual trays when the ingredients are fully cooked. A Souper Cube if weeknight dinners take you no less than an hour and a half to make (and that's not counting cleanup time!). This silicone freezing tray stores perfectly portioned soups, stews, sauces, and more so you can meal prep in bulk over the weekend and then freeze it in these trays. It's so easy to quickly grab them as needed and defrost them for an easy meal. A space-saving ceramic folding griddle so incredibly well designed that you'll swear some magical wizard made it. There's a built-in drip tray for grease and two temperature zones, meaning you can cook at different temperatures! Eggs on one side, bacon on the other. Meat on one side, veggies on the other. You get the idea! A box of cleaning K-Cups that'll get rid of residue in your machine and prevent flavors from transferring in just one cycle. Or have fun descaling it multiple times. Your choice! A trivet tree to protect your table from a hot pot or pesky water rings. When the trivets aren't in use, they stack on the included wooden base and look like a cute lil' tree! A time-saving Thaw Belt because you didn't remember to move your chicken from the freezer to the fridge, and now you're home from work, starving, exhausted, and seriously considering ordering takeout. This silicone strap keeps your meat submerged so it defrosts in minutes instead of hours. A foil pan protector if your one job is to bring a dish to the family potluck, but your flimsy foil pans are doing their darnedest to leak everywhere. Enter the Fancy Panz. Simply plop your foil pan inside it (there's a riser so you can use it for both shallow and deep foil pans), and you'll have peace of mind knowing your pasta salad isn't sloshing around in the backseat, leaking dressing all over your car. You can even stack 'em — that's how sturdy they are. A pizza storage container so you don't lose the *entire* second shelf in your fridge to a pizza box. This expandable container grows to hold up to *5* slices of 'za and creates an airtight lid that keeps your slice from getting stale or soggy. AND! The dividers prevent your pieces from sticking together while also serving as plates when you want to microwave your pizza.
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville commission backs forest preserve district's efforts to restore 175-year-old Oak Cottage
The Naperville Historic Preservation Commission is throwing its support behind efforts to restore the 175-year-old Oak Cottage in the Greene Valley Forest Preserve. Commissioners voted Thursday to send a letter to the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County backing its initiative to seek proposals from groups that want to rehabilitate the old farmhouse in unincorporated Naperville and give it a new purpose. The deadline to submit a statement of interest is Oct. 16. 'We endorse the Request for Statements of Interest process, and we urge the Forest Preserve to utilize every effort to find the right partner to repurpose this iconic piece of DuPage County's agricultural history,' one of the draft letters reviewed by the commission said. The building was acquired by the district in 1983, but has been vacant since then and is in need of substantial repairs, officials have said. Preservationist organization Landmarks Illinois listed Oak Cottage as one of the most endangered historic places in Illinois in 2023. It was built in 1850 by William B. Greene, who arrived in DuPage County from Vermont in 1841. He played a pivotal role in the development of the area, was instrumental in establishing the area's first store and post office, and helped lay the groundwork for the region's economic development, according to a cultural resource evaluation. Greene also was known for his work in organizing the early government and infrastructure of the area that would become DuPage County. A draft of one of the letters considered by the commission noted that while Oak Cottage is in unincorporated Naperville, the Greek Revival-style home is 'very much a part of Naperville's history.' It went on to draw parallels between the Greene family and Joe Naper, who founded Naperville in 1831, for their contributions to the area and establishing communities along the DuPage River. Like the Greene family, Naper was an early settler who also migrated from Vermont to DuPage County. One of the two letters considered by the commission suggested the district might consider selling a $250 deed for one inch of ownership to the Oak Cottage property. In return, buyers would have their name posted on the property. The funding suggestion was inspired by the Wisconsin Green Bay Packers' football team model, which supports itself by selling shares to the public, according to the letter drafted by Commissioner James Wills. '(My idea's) a little radical … but this might give them an idea of maybe how to merchandise getting a company to become involved in saving this thing,' Wills said. Ultimately, the commission chose to not send that letter. 'I'm uncomfortable suggesting funding ideas to an organization that's not even in the city of Naperville. Feels like it's a little bit outside of our purview,' Commissioner Paul Deffenbaugh said. Restoring Oak Cottage is expected to come with a significant pricetag. According to a news release from the district, estimated costs just for adaptive reuse could range from $279,000 to $500,000, with another $200,000 to $500,000 for sitework and utilities depending on local requirements. Masonry repair work, in particular, is needed, according to the evaluation. Cracking was found at mortar joints of the stone foundation, and settlement was observed at the masonry foundation walls of the main house, the report said. Inside, there is cracked, deteriorated and missing plaster on the walls and ceiling as well as peeling and flaking paint, signs of water damage and biological growth in various areas, the report said. According to the district, the process for determining rehabilitation and reuse includes two phases. First, statements of interest will be evaluated based on factors such as proposed reuse, preservation strategy, project funding and mission alignment. Selected applicants will then enter a second phase that requires a business plan, architectural and engineering plans, and evidence of financial and organizational support, officials said.
Axios
3 days ago
- Axios
Why native gardening is on the rise in San Antonio
Native plants are gaining ground in San Antonio. Why it matters: Yards and gardens filled with native species can withstand the city's increasing heat and ongoing drought, conserving water while adding a beautiful touch to neighborhoods. Native plants also help attract pollinators and restore ecosystems, and they're easier to maintain. State of play: When Drake White opened The Nectar Bar in Leon Valley in 2023, it was the city's first nursery solely dedicated to native species. It was followed by Pollinatives, on the Northeast Side, shortly after. Zoom in: White tells Axios that The Nectar Bar began as a landscaping company in 2014. She specialized in pollinator gardens, but soon realized that certain native host plants needed for butterflies to lay eggs weren't available. She started growing those plants herself. Then came the influx of customers that led to the nursery's opening. The big picture: The San Antonio chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas says interest in native landscaping "is rapidly growing," which White has also seen. The San Antonio Water System this year increased the value of its WaterSaver Landscape Coupons, offering $125 per coupon to replace grass with drought-tolerant plants, which includes native ones. What they're saying: Such programs have "helped push the understanding and the drive for native plants," White says. She also thinks people's understanding of native gardens has grown, as they see it can be much more than cacti in a rock garden. How it works: Native gardens don't all look the same. Some neighborhoods are filled with tall wildflowers and a "no-mow" vibe that White calls a prairie look, while others are more manicured. The key is not to overwater. Native plants "kind of take care of themselves," White says. The "no-fail" native species she suggests — which can work even in a pot on an apartment balcony — are:
