How to have a very Mexican Valentine's Day

How to have a Very Mexican Valentine's Day

Want to do something fun and different this Valentine's Day? Forget chocolates, flowers, teddy bears and expensive outings, plan a Mexican fiesta in your very own home! Best of all you can celebrate with your partner, friends or both!

Think Cabo and Cancun and have a Mexican fiesta with nachos, tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, burritos and tequila. Australia has placed its own take on Mexican food whilst Mexican food consists mostly of beans and corn, at your Mexican fiesta you can have it any way!

For your fiesta wear bathers or a cute dress, a sombrero and decorate the house with red, white and green (Mexico flag colours), a plastic, inflatable or real cactus and even a piñata. You could even choose to play salsa music and grab some maracas.

For entree you can serve corn chips and dipping salsa or nachos and you can choose one, or a collection of Mexican dishes for mains like tacos, fajitas, enchiladas or burritos. Don't forget the sides of refried beans, tomato rice, cheese, lettuce, olives, tomatoes, guacamole salsa and sour cream.

The options are endless in regards to drinks- Tequila is very popular in Mexico, but if that's not your thing try making your own margaritas or punch! Serve all drinks with ice and a slice of lime.

Chances are no one will have room for dessert, so the best thing is a fresh tropical fruit platter or salad. Think mangos, guavas, pomegranate, papayas, coconut, custard apple, pineapple, melon and bananas.

Mexican food is best when served with Mexican sides; think refried beans, tomato rice, cheese, lettuce, olives, tomatoes, guacamole, salsa and sour cream.

To make Mexican rice, you can just add taco seasoning to your normal rice recipe and add some lemon juice to your guacamole to stop the avocado browning.

Beef Tacos

Tacos are most commonly made with minced beef, although, you can substitute with refried beans or chicken.

Ingredients

Tablespoon of oil
1 diced onion
500g Minced Beef
1 grated carrot
1 grated zucchini
Taco Seasoning
½ cup water
10 Taco Shells

Method
1. Heat oil and add onions, cook until brown. Then, add mince, cook until browned. Be sure to break up the mince as it cooks.
2. Add grated carrot and zucchini, stir.
3. Add the taco seasoning and water and let the mince simmer until the sauce thickens, approximately 5-10 minutes. Stirring occasionally.
4. Heat the taco shells as per the packet, either in the microwave or oven.
5. Fill the taco shells with the mince and let your guests add their own tomato, lettuce, salsa, cheese and guacamole.

Note: If you wanted to have burritos just substitute the hard taco shells for soft tortillas.

Fajitas

Fajitas can be made with both beef and chicken or just one meat or you could also choose to have prawns and other seafood rather than meat. Have a play with the recipe and decide which you like better.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon of Oil
2 sliced onions
250g beef strips
250g chicken strips
2 sliced capsicums (green and red)
1 tablespoon of lime juice
Fajita seasoning
12 Tortillas

Method
1. Heat oil and add onion to brown.
2. Add sliced beef and chicken and stir until cooked.
3. Add sliced capsicums, seasoning and lime juice.
4. Warm Tortillas, as per the packets instructions.

5. Serve meat and tortillas separately and allow guests to make their own fajitas with all the sides handy!

Enchiladas

Enchiladas can be made with either chicken strips, refried beans or minced meat.

Ingredients

Tablespoon of oil
1 diced onion
3 sliced/diced chicken breasts or thighs
1 grated carrot
1 grated zucchini
Taco/Burrito/Enchilada Seasoning
Salsa
Cheese
10 Tortillas (corn or flour)

Method
1. Heat oil and add onions, cook until brown. 2. Add chicken, stir until cooked, make sure there is no pink colour to the chicken.
2. Add grated carrot and zucchini. Stir.
3. Add the seasoning and cook for a further 2 minutes. Stirring.
4. Heat the tortillas as per the packet.
5. Lay out the tortillas and add a few strips of the meat. Fold up the bottom first, then fold in the sides and place on an oven-proof dish. Sprinkle all enchiladas with salsa and cheese and bake at 180 degrees for 10 minutes, or until cheese melts.
Serve with a side salad and Mexican sides.

For more recipes visit:
www.femail.com.au/mexican-turkey.htm
www.femail.com.au/chilli-calypso-salsa.htm
www.girl.com.au/bean-nachos.htm