Mexican dinner

[chel0524]

I want to start doing a mexican dinner night occassionally. I need ideas for side dishes for the family. I will be doing make your own burrittoes and tacos, but what about sides? I will probably do tortilla chips and a couple of different dips for them. I don't thinks something like refried beans would go over too well either.

Do you gals ever do this? What would you all use?

[Biblecat2]

I love Mexican food!

I like to make Spanish rice for a side dish. Since it's a side, I just used a box mix to save time.
Lots of shredded lettuce, cheese, onion, tomato, sour cream, sliced olives, and sometimes avocado when it's not so expensive.
You can buy pre-cooked tostada shells to put things on too.
This is really hot and spicy, usually for the adults..I take a small can of jalapeños and mix it with sliced boiled carrots and let it soak overnight. You can add onion and cilantro.
I hope I can get some ideas from this thread too...:)

[Marie_M]

Black Beans and Rice

Take a couple of cans of pre-cooked black beans, add some cooked rice, shredded cheddar cheese, and salsa (whatever heat level you prefer). Cook in the microwave until heated through. Stir and serve.

Spicy Chili Corn

Take a bag of thawed corn (or a couple of cans) and add 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon cumin, 1 tablespoon butter or margarine, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon of diced jalapeno peppers. Cook in the microwave until heated through. Stir and serve.

Avocado Salad

Dice or chunk a couple of avocados, onions, and tomatoes. Put in a bowl, sprinkle with a little salt, and squirt some fresh lime juice on top.

[chel0524]

Marie - that spicy chili corn sounds great!

[Marie_M]

It's really good chel! :)

If you have leftovers of it, you can just dump it in a pot of chili or stuff it in some burritos. Very versatile dish!

[Rebekah]

Pico de gallo is great to use as a dip, on fajitas, rice, baraccho beans, etc.
Just chop up some tomatoes, onions, jalepenos and cilantro (a little cilantro goes a long way, especially if you are like me and don't typically care for the taste). Add a little lime or lemon juice to it--delicious!

Mango or peach salsa is good, too.

You can buy some queso blanco to use as the cheese.

Don't forget that you can buy flour chips as well as corn chips. Tortillas are especially tasty served warm.

For dessert how about some flan? You can buy prepackaged. Or just a fruit tray for a lighter touch. Or flour tortillas served with butter and a dash of honey? Mexican hot cocoa is good, too. Usually this involves adding cinnamon to the hot cocoa for a little twist. Very tasty. Goya, Ceres or Looza brand fruit nectar and juices are a tasty way to have something fun to sip.

Beans don't have to be refried. You can make barracho beans (I know I spelled that wrong). It is like a bean "soup." You can also buy black beans and serve those. Do you have Goya brand where you are? Very tasty. How about a chicken tortilla soup? There are some good recipes for this online.

[wife]

Yummy!! We love Mexican night. I used to make rice but I haven't and my kids love it, so I guess I should start again...LOL

[chel0524]

Lots of good ideas!

[Biblecat2]

I'll have to try the tortillas with a dash of honey! I usually use a very hot griddle and flip the tortillas until lightly brown. Sometimes with a little butter after the griddle, but I like Rebekah's idea with a dash of honey.

[wife]

I fry up the tortillas (sometimes I bake them) and then sprinkle cinnamon sugar on them. yummy