Mexican food is always a fiesta!

(Recipe included)

Synonymous with fiestas, gaiety, and color, Mexican food conjures up happy diners being serenaded by strumming mariachi bands under a canopy of stars and purple and pink bougainvillea.

That is how I always pictured it and now that I live here I would say that description is right on. Foods of Mexico are festive, colorful, often healthful, fun and perfect for sharing with friends. Do I hear a party about to start?

I have had some of the best food in the world right here in the Riviera Maya. However, Mexican dishes were not originally devised by chefs with delicate palates. Originally, many dishes were improvised by natives who had simple cooking facilities and no refrigeration. They needed to use foods they had on hand – corn, beans, rice and chilies.

Now, refined by practice and modern conveniences, Mexican dishes have taken on flair without losing their identifiable features – tortillas, chile or tomato sauce, rice, corn and beans in one form or another.

The following is a simple recipe that is perfect for sharing with friends. The more friends you have turn up the more side dishes you add such as rice, beans, guacamole, corn chips, and salad. Don’t forget the margaritas!

Chicken Enchiladas Verde

Sauce: about 20 mini green tomatoes washed and de-stemmed. Boil in water with ½ an onion until their color changes slightly but they are still firm. With a slotted spoon remove them from the water and place in blender. Add more onion if desired and 2-3 green chilies (depending on heat desired). Now, puree. Add chicken soup base and salt to taste. Puree again. Re-heat in a saucepan to let flavors blend.

Layers: Pan fry 1 or 2 corn tortillas at a time on both sides in a little oil until slightly golden but not hard. Remove to paper towels.

Boil chicken and shred.

For serving: Dip tortillas in sauce –place 3 on a plate- put in some chicken and fold over. Add more sauce over top. Then sprinkle on shredded cheese and slivered onion and drizzle cream over the top. Now microwave the whole plate until cheese has melted.

Buen Provecho!

Mia Loveatin has lived in Mexico now for over 5 years and says she really enjoys good food and that is one reason she ended up in the Riviera Maya where some of the best food in the world can be found.

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