| Mexican food is very popular in our household since I | | | | chips on your dinner plate. Spoon Rio Grande over top, |
| grew up in the Southwest, just outside of Phoenix, | | | | let set for 5 minutes before serving. |
| Arizona. Once I moved to the East Coast, I brought | | | | Alternative - Microwave flour tortilla for 15 seconds, |
| my love for Mexican food with me. | | | | spoon Rio Grande filling into tortilla and roll up. Serve |
| Once a week, we sit down at the family dinner table | | | | just like a soft-shelled taco with chopped lettuce and |
| and enjoy a Mexican dish. I like to set the mood for our | | | | tomatoes. |
| Mex-Nights by using cotton bandannas as our napkins | | | | Enchilada Casserolevegetable oil (for sauteing) |
| and colorful chili-pepper red dinner dishes. | | | | 1 onion, chopped |
| These recipes take less than 1 hour to make | | | | 1 clove garlic, minced |
| (preparation to table). As a pre-dinner appetizer, you | | | | 5-6 sliced mushrooms |
| could serve some salsa and taco chips. | | | | 1 green pepper, chopped |
| Rio Grande Tacos or Nachos | | | | 1 small can corn |
| 6 cans chili with beans | | | | 1 (1 lb.) can pinto beans |
| 1 jar mild or hot salsa | | | | 1 1/2 cups stewed tomatoes |
| 1 can sliced black olives | | | | 1 Tbsp. chili powder |
| 10 drops Tabasco sauce | | | | 1 tsp. ground cumin |
| 1 block grated Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded | | | | 1/2 cup red wine |
| 1 block Monterey Jack Jalapeno Cheese, shredded | | | | 6-8 corn tortillas |
| 2 tomatoes, chopped | | | | 1/2-1 cup grated Colby Jack Cheese |
| 1 pint sour cream | | | | 1-2 cups cottage cheese and plain yogurt, blended |
| Nachos | | | | Heat oil in a large skillet and saute onion, garlic, |
| In a large baking dish, combine the chili, salsa, olives, | | | | mushrooms, green pepper and corn for 3 minutes. Stir |
| Tabasco and 1/2 of the cheeses. Bake in a preheated | | | | in beans, tomatoes, spices and wine; Simmer for 30 |
| 350 degree oven for 40 minutes. Remove from the | | | | minutes. Put a layer of tortillas in a greased rectangular |
| oven. Spread a layer of sour cream on top. Add | | | | baking dish. Top with a layer of sauce, half of the |
| chopped tomatoes on top of sour cream and finish | | | | grated cheese and half of the cheese-yogurt mixture. |
| with a layer of cheese. Place back in the oven for 5 | | | | Repeat the layers. Bake for 15-20 minutes. |
| minutes to melt cheese. Spread a layer of Nacho | | | | |