Mexican food is one of the easiest types of food to make at home, yet so many of us still go out to enjoy this ethnic food. Well, hopefully after this episode you’ll change your tune. Bring the taste of Mexico into your home with the recipes we share here in this show.

Before that though, we have to learn, What’s Helana Excited About? Even though the summer drink show is behind us, Helana is still searching for delicious beverages. The one she’s excited about this week is the Cucumber Lime Mint Agua Fresca. That’s a mouthful to say, and it sounds like a delicious mouthful as well. Also, Helana points out all the Mexican and Tex Mex food on Simply Recipes that she checked out in preparation for this show. A lot of good recipes there and definitely something to be excited about.

One more follow up from the drink show. Helana found a great link that explains how long you can keep a simple syrup in the fridge, up to a month. More importantly if you add a tablespoon of vodka to your syrup it lasts for 3 months and can last longer. Check out the link or just listen.

The first recipe for this week was not one that Helana could find on the Internet. It’s an old family recipe that Russ’ family makes. It’s requested more than a couple times a year around the Turley house. It’s the Gringo Chicken Enchiladas. Barely recognizable as Mexican food if you looked at the ingredients, but extremely delicious. Below is a picture of Russ’ recipe card from the family recipe collection.

Helana has a couple recipes of her own as well. The first one is for Ceviche. What makes ceviche so interesting is that you don’t cook it with heat. The fish in this recipe is cooked by the acids in the juice of the lime and lemon. Enjoy this recipe with some chips or warm tortillas for a killer appetizer or light main dish. The second recipe that Helana has brought forth for you enjoyment is Spinach & Shrimp Quesadillas. It’s also fairly gringo, but also clearly delicious. It’s an example of a way you can bring together ingredients that are not Mexican in and of themselves, but when combined in a tortilla, mexican-fusion magic happens. Be sure to check out all the different kinds of Mexican cheese that you can use in your cooking. Helana also threw this recipe in at the end of our discussion. It’s another unlikely pairing Mexican flavors and pumpkin in Chipotle Pumpkin Soup.

For the Basic Food Prep Term of the Week we discuss the differences between Mexican and Tex Mex…badly.  Add your distinction between the two types in the comments or on our Facebook page.

Email and comments this week came in from Caroline.  She recommends a Mexican Watermelon: Agua de Sandia .

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