Bienvenidos a Mexico! (Welcome to Mexico)

Mexico is a large country located at the southern border of the United States. It is about three times the size of Texas, and has a population of almost 105 million! The country is divided into 31 separate states, each with its own unique personality.

The staple ingredients in the Mexican diet are corn, beans, and chiles. Meals are well balanced and very nutritious. Most recipes can be reproduced using very inexpensive ingredients. Mexicans focus on how a meal tastes more than what is in it.

Here are some of the traditional foods that make up the basics of Mexican cuisine:

• Tortilla—this flat bread is served at every meal—it goes great with eggs (huevos rancheros) for breakfast or stuffed with meat and vegetables (fajitas) for dinner. A lot of traditional Mexican recipes use tortillas, such as enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, and fajitas.
• Salsa—Mexicans use salsa like we use ketchup. It accompanies every meal and is a way to add intense flavor. Mexican salsa isn’t the same as the kind we have here. Our mixture of onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and jalepeños is called pico de gallo there.
• Tortas—These are the Mexican version of the sandwich. Large rolls are generously filled with grilled meats (carne asada) and vegetables.
• Mole—A spicy sauce that is mostly used to fill tamales. In some parts of Mexico, unsweetened chocolate is used as a flavoring; it actually makes the mole seem spicier. These sauces are most commonly served with chicken.

Mexican flavors differ from coast to coast of the country. For example, in Veracruz, an area on the southern border of the Gulf Coast, you will find a lot more dishes with fish than in Mexico City, which is inland. In Oaxaca, they grow a lot of coffee and they like it strong there. They have drinks that will keep you awake for hours! In the Yucatan, a more tropical climate, you will find a lot more fruits. They flavor their sauces with fruits and use fewer chiles than the other areas.

Just like we have fruit punch and Kool-Aid in the United States, Mexicans have ways to flavor water too. They add water, rice, cinnamon, and vanilla for agua de arroz, also called horchata; or water, pineapple, and sugar for agua de pina. These drinks are refreshing and healthier than our “sports drinks.”

You may have heard about Cinco de Mayo and wondered what it was all about. Well, on May 5,1862, the French army invaded Mexico expecting an easy victory. To their surprise, they were defeated in only two hours by the much smaller Mexican army. Today Mexicans celebrate this victory with a large fiesta or party. There is music, dancing, and a lot of food.

All in all, Mexico is a very diverse country with many rich and varied flavors. So try some new recipes, put on a sombrero, and have a fiesta this Cinco de Mayo.

Please have Adult Supervision while making these recipes, and enjoy!!

• Vegetable Fajitas
• Whole Wheat Quesadillas
• Chicken and Red Chile Tamales
• Huevos Rancheros
• Salsa Fresca

Cinco de Mayo Celebration Fun:

• Dulce de Leche
• Make your own Piñata

Try a Mexico Word Search Puzzle:

• Elementary K-2
• Elementary 3-5
• Middle School
• High School