cover image The Official Fajita Cookbook

The Official Fajita Cookbook

Richard L. Miller. Lone Star Books, $12.95 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-87719-112-4

This appealing volume guides novices on a ``pursuit of the ultimate fajita,'' providing instructions that allow a beginner to trim, marinate and grill fajitasskirt steakswith the experts. Suggested marinades include olive oil and lemon, lime, beer and wine vinegar. Many of Miller's fajita recipes are borrowed or adapted, such as California fried fajitas with sage, and red-wine, rum and margarita varieties (the last from Jean Conner of Palestine, Tex., who won second place at the 1984 Texas Beef Cookoff). Supporting recipes, including Mexicali beans, green rice, chick-pea salad and homemade tortillas, are less interesting than the main event. A chapter on beverages serves up recipes for sangria and tequila sunrises as well as comments on appropriate beers. An irreverent lesson on Tex-Mex food purports that jalapeno peppers offer ``the acid test to separate the tourists from Texans.'' Miller is a Houston businessman and amateur chef. (Oct.)