Tamalero (tamale vendor)
A tamalero is a tamale vendor. The vendors were popular in Texas in the late 19th century. 24 November 1886, Galveston (TX) Daily News, pg. 1:The tamalero, on receiving what may prove to be his…
Tampiqueña Plate (Carne Asada Tampiqueña; Steak Tampiqueña )
A Tampiqueña plate usually has carne asada (thinly sliced steak), plus enchiladas, beans, and white panela cheese. It is the only major combination plate in Mexico, and it's served in Tex-Mex…
Tanks for the Memories (Killeen slogan)
The city of Killeen is located next to Fort Hood, first built in 1942 to feature a new Tank Destroyer Tactical and Firing Center. In the late 1980s, Killeen officially adopted the slogan,…
Taquito
"Taquitos" are rolled tacos. A taquito is a tortilla (corn or flour) with a filling (usually chicken or beef) that is deep-fried. Taquitos often have cheese, lettuce, guacamole, sour…
Tasso
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Tasso hamTasso Ham is a specialty of Cajun cuisine. In this case, "ham" is a misnomer, since tasso is not made from the leg of a pig, but the shoulder…
Taylorite (inhabitant of Taylor)
"Taylorite” is the name of an inhabitant of Taylor, Texas. The name “Taylorite” (the term used in Taylor Daily Press) has been cited in print since at least 1902. Wikipedia: Taylor,…
Tea-sipper or Teasipper; Tea-sip or Teasip (University of Texas at Austin student nickname)
Since at least the 1930s, the Texas A&M Aggies have called students of the University of Texas at Austin "tea-sippers" ( or "teasippers"), later "tea-sips" (or…
Tee-Pee & “Time and Patience” (Texas and Pacific Railway Company nicknames)
The Texas and Pacific Railway Company was nicknamed "Time and Patience" (it was slow) and "Tee-Pee." Wikipedia: Texas and Pacific RailwayThe Texas and Pacific Railway Company…
Tejano
"Texas" comes from "Tejas" (supposedly meaning "friendship"), and "Tejano" is derived from this native word. "Tejano" means a native or inhabitant…
Tejolote (stone pestle)
A tejolote is a stone pestle, used with a molcajete (mortar) to grind food. It is a traditional piece of Mexican cookery. (Oxford English Dictionary)molcajete, n.A mortar, usually made of stone or…
Telecom Corridor (Richardson nickname)
The "Telecom Corridor" is a registered trademark (since 1988) of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce. The city of Richardson (near Dallas) is home to many technology companies, including…
Telera (Mexican flat bread)
"Telera" (sometimes misspelled "Talera," and often given in plural as "Teleras") is a Mexican bread popularly used for "tortas" (submarine sandwiches). It is…
Ten Gallon Hat
A "ten gallon hat" cannot hold ten gallons of water. The "gallon" term is said to come from the Spanish word galon, a decorative braid worn on the hat. "Gallon hats"…
Tenderfoot (or Tender Foot)
A "tenderfoot" (or "tender foot") is a "greenhorn" or a "pilgrim" -- someone new to the West, often fresh from the East. The name comes from someone new to…
Tenny Runners (or Tennie Runners)
Tenny (or tennie) runners are tennis shoes. The term is said to be used in Texas, but is also popular in many other states. Dallas SlanguageTenny RunnersA pair of athletic shoes Google Groups:…
Tequila Chicken or Tequila Lime Chicken (Chicken Tequila)
Tequila (usually paired with lime juice) began to be added to chicken recipes by at least the 1970s, but the recipes became much more frequent in the 1990s. A 1977 recipe for "Chicken Tequila…
Tequila Daisy (cocktail)
The "Margarita" (Spanish for "daisy") cocktail is a world-famous tequila-based cocktail, made with Triple Sec (or Cointreau) and lime juice and often served in a salt-rimmed…
Tequila Mockingbird (cocktail)
Ever since Harper Lee's 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird, a drink named "Tequila Mockingbird" was bound to happen somehow. Drinks by that name date from the 1960s; the only thing in…
Tequila Salty Dog (Perro Salado)
A "Salty Dog" is a cocktail of gin (or vodka) and grapefruit juice, served in a glass with a salted rim. A "Tequila Salty Dog" (or "Perro Salado") substitutes tequila…
Tequila Shrimp (Margarita Shrimp Skewers)
Tequila Shrimp (or Mexican Margarita Shrimp Skewers) sounds perfectly Texan. What could be better than tequila added to shrimp from the Gulf? The dish "Tequila Shrimp" dates from 1970s…