So, I haven’t quite mustered up enough energy to get back in the kitchen with a purpose. I am choosing to cook quick, easy meals because I am so tired still! I didn’t even go half way across the world like Uru from Go Bake Yourself, but driving to and from Texas has finally taken its toll! I am impressed with Uru for actually baking and then posting it too!
Today, I decided to just share some vacation photos from my trip with you. There is no recipe today! It was an awesome trip and we had so much fun with family and friends. Everyone was so kind and fed us constantly. I think I put on 10 pounds!
We drove down to Fort Worth where my cousins live and spent a couple of days there. We chose to go to Texas in the winter for tolerable weather conditions, but oh my! Fort Worth was freezing! I don’t think the temperature went past 41℉ (5℃) the entire time we were there. Our outdoor trips were considerably shortened!
Fort Worth Stockyards with prized Texas Longhorns
More Texas Longhorns
Laith going through the maze at the Stockyards.
a very cool dining and shopping area at the Stockyards
a very nice ranch hand/wrangler with his horse
After the Stockyards, my cousins treated us to a delicious lunch at an Italian restaurant called Fortuna in Fort Worth. Here’s our lunch:
Eggplant parmigiana for me
spinach and cheese ravioli for Maryam
Fortuna chicken salad for Haala
After lunch, it was a short trip to see the Fort Worth Water Gardens, what an awesome place to hang out. I can totally see coming down for lunch and sitting under the trees and listening to the water.
a very cool fountain where you can walk all the way down to the pool area
a fountain made to resemble water dancing on a mirror
We spent a short time at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens because it was so cold!
I couldn’t resist photographing the beautiful archway
another beautiful spot at the Gardens.
After Fort Worth we headed down to Houston. On our first night, my wonderful friends all got together with a potluck for us. It was so nice to see them again after so long. I only got two shots of the many dishes there:
Ruby’s famous biryani…delicious!
Melihate’s amazing burek. I can eat that whole tray!
In Houston at my aunt’s place:
My brother, Ali, thoroughly enjoying my aunt’s dessert. I don’t blame him, it was delicious!
Here’s me with my gorgeous cousins! They make me laugh and keep me young.
After leaving Houston and my family, reluctantly, we headed across to San Antonio to see my father in law. The children wanted to see The Alamo again since the first time we went they were so little. It’s a cool place but a little sad at the same time. I think all historic sites are because of the events that took place. The gardens and the courtyard at The Alamo are beautiful. It was nice to see greenery after all the gray in Colorado!
Texas freedom
Loved this window on one of the buildings in the courtyard.
This concluded our visit to Texas! We ate at some great places on the trip. I wasn’t able to take pictures of everything but I did Instagram a lot. Check out my Instagram photos (CoffeeCrumpets) from the Thai place in Fort Worth and Rudy’s BBQ in San Antonio, and let’s not forget In n Out Burger!!
Thank you for allowing me to share my vacation with you! I will be back in the kitchen very soon…just need to get rid of this fatigue.
Meanwhile catch me on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!
Hi, Nazneen! I have just come across your blog. I am a Brazilian living in San Antonio, Tx. Glad that you had the opportunity to visit Texas and got to eat great food and visit different locations. I hope you can try Texan bbq next time. So yum!
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You recently posted..Cod Cakes (Bolinho de Bacalhau): The versatile fritters with a heavenly taste!!
Hi Denise! Thanks for stopping by! I actually lived in Houston for a total of 19 years on and off. We just moved to Colorado again three years ago. I am very fond of TX BBQ and make it a point to eat it often!
Nazneen that sounds good to me, I love seeing places through your eyes. It was a pleasure to see your face on a photo. =)
haha real cowboys, just like in the movies. How is the texas accent there. I would have trouble understanding the folks there. ^.^
Your food photos (especially the ravioli) tempted me to go and check to fill my stomache. 😉
Helene Dsouza I Masala Herb recently posted..Comment on Guar Bean Bhaji – Cluster Bean (Gaur) by kumar
Thanks Helene! We do have real cowboys in Texas! You should see in February when the Houston Rodeo is on….they are everywhere fully decked out. Thank you for your sweet comment 🙂 The Texas accent is pretty strong…my children have it! My husband is Southern too so it’s a veritable Southern household here…I don’t know how I manage to keep some British alive in me, though my accent is almost gone 🙁
Sounds like you had a wonderful holiday with your family! I wish my family could visit me or I could visit especially during holiday. It’s nice to be surrounded with family. Glad to have you back!
Nami | Just One Cookbook recently posted..Easy Tuna Bowl (Tekkadon) 鉄火丼
Thanks Nami. Yes, it was really nice to see everyone. Is your family in the States or around the world? Mine is scattered all around but there are quite a few here in the US.
That biryani looks amazing. I was born in Texas so this post made me smile. Thank you for sharing! =)
The Squishy Monster recently posted..Weekend Smiles …
That biryani was great! My friend Ruby makes a good one, mines pretty good too 🙂 So Texas has a special place in our heart I bet. My kids are hardcore Texans even the native Coloradan.
Hi Nazneen,
Wishing you a very happy New year! I would love to visit Texas after seeing your post. Looks like you had a lovely vacation!
Asmita recently posted..Pumpkin Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Icing
I did, thanks Asmita. Texas gets a bad rap, but it really is very unique and has its own beauty. You should visit.
I don’t blame you for being tired. Texas is *far*. Of course I’m in NJ, so it always sounds especially super far to me.
Always happy to meet a fellow Sherlockian! XD
Kim@Treats & Trinkets recently posted..Spinach and Sausage Calzones
Thank You Kim. Thanks for stopping by and Sherlock rocks!
Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures with us
I especially loved the last picture of the Texas gardens..breath taking
It was a pleasure to see you too Nazneen 🙂 you are a beautiful lady
Sawsan @chef in disguise recently posted..Baked eggs, healthy breakfast idea #3
Thank you Sawsan! Thank you for reading and and leaving such a sweet comment 🙂
Loved the photos, Nazneen. I haven’t seen the Alamo since I was young. It is funny how things always seem so much bigger when you are little. I know you must have had a wonderful time even if the weather was cold.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..Seared Salmon With Mustard Dill Sauce And Garlicky Potatoes
It had been a wile since we had gone too so it was nice to see it again. It’s a bit creepy though but I love the architecture. We had fun despite the cold. Thanks for stopping by Karen!
Nazneen xx
I love the pictures of the cattle station, seems so alien here but fabulous to visit. All that food and I bet the portions were huge! A great trip. GGxx
glamorous glutton recently posted..Pear Tartin and Comfort
Having lived in Texas for so long, I am used to cattle and horses! It is fun to visit and see how the cattle trade worked back in the day. Lunch was great too with huge portions, which I had no problem polishing off!
Nazneen xx
beautiful pictures , one of my friends lives in texas and he sends me such lovely pics sometimes of the place ..
thanks for sharing
Bikram’s
Bikramjit Singh Mann recently posted..Thursday Challenge (45):-FRUIT
Hi Bikram! You should visit him in Texas. It’s a bit hot in the summer and there are bugs…lots of bugs, but if you have good friends and good food, anything can be overlooked! Dallas and Fort Worth are beautiful and there weather is drier than Houston. San Antonio has a lot of history and its situated in the Hill Country so it too, is beautiful with rolling hills. Thanks for stopping by. Hope all is well with you in the UK.
Nazneen
Looks like you had a great holiday and the food in that restaurant looks super-delicious. It’s so easy to gain weight on holidays! xx
hotlyspiced recently posted..Truncated and Lectionary and…Avocado, Mango & Walnut Salad
It was loads of fun and there was a lot of eating, So worth the weight though!
Nazneen
Thanks for sharing your vacation with us. I have a dear friend in Ft. Worth who moved from Colorado nearly 10 years ago. I have not visited her there yet. (boo hoo) We talk on the phone and email each other. Your photos show me that I might even enjoy visiting Texas! Maybe next Summer.
Texas is great despite the heat and humidity. Go in the winter, its very mild then and a nice change from Colorado.Of course, we had similar weather and were freezing!Fort Worth and Dallas are beautiful.
Nazneen
Your holiday looks like a blast haha I always thought Texas cowboy-ishness was exaggerated but I’m wrong there 😉
Fun times for sure!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Choc Chip Uru recently posted..Made It To 2013!
Oh no! Texas is a big cowboy State, actually so is Colorado. I love the Houston Rodeo, so much fun!
Nazneen