The Savior of San Jacinto: The mostly true tale of the woman known as The Yellow Rose of Texas

This is a Texas two-step folks: salsa and a story. Now, there are just about as many versions of salsa fresca as there are versions of this story but I'm gonna serve up my favorite versions of both. Have a seat while I pour you a drink. Dharma's serving fresh, hibiscus mint iced tea or fresh Shiner Bock, straight from Shiner, Texas. What can I getcha, darlin'?

Now that you're all comfy with your drink in hand let me tell you the story of the Yellow Rose while I whip up this here salsa. Pass me those, willya?

So after the fall of the Alamo and the massacre at Goliad Sam Houston led his army of Texicans (or Texians, as they were sometimes called) east towards what is now Houston in an act that became known as The Runaway Scrape. Houston's minions were none too pleased about what appeared to be a retreat as many of them wanted blood after their fellow soldiers were killed as unarmed p.o.w.s. At least at the Alamo their men had died fighting-- at Goliad they were taken in a P.O.W.s and then roundly slaughtered. But Sam Houston knew that if he continued to lead Santa Ana's army further away from his camp and supplies that this would better position them to fight. The Texicans were greatly outnumbered so they needed to strategize.

Now, pass me that basket with the cilantro in it, willya hun? Thanks.

The woman who became known as The Yellow Rose of Texas was Emily West, an indentured servant of a wealthy entrepreneur from Philadelphia named James Morgan. Emily was, by all accounts, as clever as she was beautiful and for that reason Colonel Morgan gave her more responsibilities than was typically given a young woman in pioneer days. When Colonel Morgan moved to the Mexican colony --which ultimately became Texas-- for the cheap land and rich business opportunities available to him he brought his most valued servant with him.

Emily was placed in charge of managing the port which loaded supplies onto flatboats for Sam Houston's army in San Jacinto Bay. She managed this so efficiently that James Morgan left her to the task alone as he headed up to Galveston to manage his other shipping interests. And it was at the port of San Jacinto Bay that General Santa Ana caught sight of the fetching Emily.  His army was fresh from victory and even though they'd traveled for days they were ready to fight but Santa Ana was so bewitched by Emily that he commanded his men to make camp and..... take a little siesta.

Yeah, a nap. What a good idea!

As Santa Ana snatched the lovely Emily she managed to get word to another servant to alert Sam Houston of Santa Ana's arrival. Knowing where Houston's army was camped and how long it would take them to arrive, the clever Emily kept Santa Ana busy in his tent for hours as his men took a siesta and Sam Houston's army prepared for attack.

18 minutes later it was all over. Santa Ana was caught with his pants down and captured. Texas won its independance and so did The Yellow Rose of Texas.  Emily returned north and lived happily ever after, while down south, her legend only grew.

That's my version of the story. Are y'all ready to eat? 

 Fresh, spicy, homemade salsa on top of a salty, corn tortilla chip, followed by a cold swig of a nice, hoppy ale is proof enough for this Texas gal that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNmnzwGT4Ic

Amen!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

I like my salsa chunky so I dice all the ingredients but if you like it smooth then you can pop all the ingredients in a blender or food processor. But if you did that then people would just think you're from New Jersey or something. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

 Ingredients: 3 fresh tomatoes (or 1 can diced tomatoes) clove or more of garlic, 1/2 onion, several leaves of fresh cilantro, can of black olives, can of green chilies, as many jalepeno's as you can stand, fresh lemon juice, cracked black pepper.

Thanks, Mrs. Michaels! And happy San Jacinto to all!