Traditional Meals in Mexico
      The Mexican dishes are  very  diverse  and  extremely  delicious.  The
influence of the Spanish and Indian cultures can be felt in them. The  roots
of the Mexican cuisine go right into the depth of the Indian Maya and  Aztec
cultures. It is  the  Mayas  and  the  Aztecs  who  have  made  the  Spanish
conquistadors  aware  of  tomatoes,  avocados,  peanuts,  squash  (vegetable
marrows), sweet and white  potatoes,  pineapples,  papaya,  vanilla,  cocoa,
certain string bean and Chili pepper varieties.
      One good turn deserves another: the  Spaniards  have  brought  cattle,
sheep, chickens, wheat,  rice,  nuts,  oil,  garlic,  cinnamon,  some  other
spices and fruit to the Americas. The missioner nuns living in  Mexico  were
entrusted the responsibility for the development  and  distribution  of  new
dishes. For their cooking they used the ingredients typical  of  the  Indian
as well as Spanish cuisine.
      Step by step the Mexican  cuisine  was  winning  its  ever  increasing
popularity, and the Latin  American  —  Indian  cooks  were  adapting  their
traditional  meals  to  the  European   palate   and   the   European-origin
ingredients. The Mexican cuisine is characterized with the  ingredients  and
dishes that have already become classics: Chili  pepper,  tortillas,  tacos,
rice and string beans. And it is undoubtedly tequila that rates first  among
the spirits!
      It goes without saying that  the  only  word  describing  the  Mexican
Cuisine is chili, and especially chili peppers.  It makes no difference  are
they either unbroken or cut into pieces, either  pickled  or  fresh,  either
tinned or dried, chili peppers are integral part of the Mexican dishes.
      Chili seasoning is a clue to understanding  of  unique  taste  of  the
Mexican cuisine.
      Mexican legend about  chili  says  that  it  protects  from  cold  and
malaria, is good for digestion, cleanses blood and raises immunity.
      Tortilla substitutes for bread in Mexico.  It  may  be  fried,  baked,
sauced or with different fillings (for example, with jelly).  You  may  also
eat it in itself. Tortilla is often used for tacos.
      Taco is the most popular appetizer in Mexico. The principal ingredient
is a crisp corn cake, fried in the form of U. Taco  shells  as  a  rule  are
filled with meat and seasoning or with string bean. Then it is  topped  with
cut lettuce, onion, tomatoes and grated cheese. All this  is  enriched  with
red or green chili sauce. Variants of cooking taco sauce are  endless.  Taco
sauce cooked of tomatoes, onion, chili pepper, garlic  and  other  seasoning
creates a unique taste of the Mexican cuisine.
      Rice and string beans is considered to be the most traditional Mexican
garnish.
      String beans usually are kneaded or whipped to fill taco. As a garnish
string beans may be served in whole. Fried string beans are a  string  beans
mash, fried in oil.
      Rice is another popular garnish for majority of  the  Mexican  dishes.
“Mexican rice” may be cooked by different ways.  Every  Mexican  family  has
its own recipe, inherited from the ancestors.
      It goes without saying that Tequila is the most popular Mexican strong
drink. A half of lemon segment and a saucer with salt  is  served  for  pure
tequila. The lemon is put between thumb and forefinger. A pinch of  salt  is
put on joint of thumb. At first you take a little salt, then you take a  sip
of tequila and in the end you take the lemon.
      One of the favorite drinks made of tequila is Margarita,  prepared  on
the basis of lemon. It is served in cold goblet. Brims of the goblet  should
be  sprinkled  with  salt.  Cocktail  “Daiquiri”  may  be   alternative   of
“Margarita”. This drink is usually served almost frozen.
      Besides, liqueur with a smell of coffee is very spread in Mexico.   It
is also popular both in cocktails and in desserts.