Mexican Theme party food ideas?

[JaneeZee]

My BF's DH is going on contract to Mexico for a couple of years so we are having a send off this weekend.  She has got mains sussed but we are looking for simple dessert ideas & any nibblies you recommend........anyone got any suggestions??

Thanks.

I am also looking for fancy dress ideas.  I thought of going as a pinata to disguise my xs padding around the midriff & then got a bit worried that people might start hitting me with a stick even if I did hand out the lollies!!!

[judydawn]

I had a Mexican dinner party a few years back and served a Mexican layered dip (yum) plus Mexican meatballs with salsa dip. Of course, you have to serve Sangria too.  If you want the recipes, sing out and I'll print them for you JaneeZee

[riv_mum]

Mexican layer dip is delicious!! Highly recommended!
There is a layer dip in one of the cookbooks but not sure which one.

Sorry not much to offer in the way of suggestions though. Dont really know much about mexican food.

[judydawn]

Oh, for dessert there are tortillas with bananas & caramel sauce or sweet tortilla fruit baskets (this one looks gorgeous).

[Thermomixer]

Brain dead at moment - usual suspects of course - guacamole, chili con carne, beans,beans and more beans with chilli,

Chilli and chocolate mousse

I will do some research but just add tomatoes, corn, chilli, chocolate, coriander, avocado to everything

[JaneeZee]

Thanks to all who have given ideas - love the chilli & chocolate mousse idea Tmxr!

[Thermomixer]

Oooooops - forgot to do the research  - on that very long list.

[quirkycooking]

Mexicans generally have a sweet bread called Pan Dulce for special desserts, otherwise they just have fruit after dinner.  The pandulce is a baked yeast bread with a very colourful thin icing over the top. Mexicans don't eat yeast breads much generally, usually just tortillas, which is why Pan Dulce is a special treat.  I'll see if I can get a recipe for you.

If you want a tortilla recipe, here's mine: http://quirkycooking.blogspot.com/2009/02/spelt-tortillas.html
I use spelt, but you can use wheat if you'd rather.

There are of course lots of 'Tex-Mex' (Americanised Mexican) sweets - I'm not sure how authentic they are... such as Nueces a la Mexican (Mexican Nuts) and Dulce a la Mexicana (Mexican brown sugar fudge) and Pasas en Diabladas (Devilled Raisins).  Let me know if you want any of those recipes.

Jo.

[quirkycooking]

P.S. Here's a recipe for Pan Dulce, with photos - should be easy to convert to TMX. 
http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/tortillasandbreads/ss/pandulce.htm

[gertbysea]

Oh I agree with quirky cooking about Pan Dulce. Often this is served with Sapotes. In tropical North Queensland we have a chocolate Sapote which would be ideal.  Very yummy.  Galletas De Nuez or nutty cake is a go-er. Just mix equal amounts of finely chopped pecans with caster sugar, say 250 gms each, with 2 eggs  an drop onto baking sheet. Bake at about 180 for 10-12 minutes. Or just pour it all on a baking sheet and break it up later.

In Mexico they also eat a lot of seafood so any spicy dips are good with prawns. A guacamole would look colourful with prawns. Also Ceviche or raw fish salad is good for a starter.

Hope this helps,
Gretchen

[jo_nz]

P.S. Here's a recipe for Pan Dulce, with photos - should be easy to convert to TMX. 
http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/tortillasandbreads/ss/pandulce.htm

I know this is a pretty old thread, but I was invited to a Mexican dinner the other night and made the Pan Dulce linked here.  It went down very well.  Definitely a sweet/dessert bread and I will make again.  Lovely soft bread with a crunchy sweet topping. The kids enjoyed making the bright coloured topping too.  I made 12, as the recipe suggests, but next time I will make more smaller rolls - they were pretty large! 

Here is my conversion of the measurements:

Ingredients for the Dough
•   110g sugar
•   50g vegetable shortening
•   4 eggs, beaten and at room temperature
•   1 teaspoon salt
•   1 cup lukewarm water
•   one tablespoon or one package of dry yeast
•   640g flour
Ingredients for the Topping
•   100g shortening
•   65g powdered sugar
•   110g granulated sugar
•   150g flour
•   3 teaspoons vanilla extract
•   various food coloring
Place warm water and yeast in a cup to activate.
Cream sugar and shortening until smooth (2 min sp 3).
Add eggs, salt, water and yeast and briefly mix until blended (4 sec, sp 4).
Add flour and knead 2 min interval setting.

The topping I just blitzed until it came together into a dough.
Baked at 180 deg for about 15 minutes, turning the tray once during cooking (just because the back left of my oven cooks faster)

[judydawn]

The colours would have enticed the kids to eat it Jo, good on you for trying something different.

[cookie1]

It sounds nice. I don't know much about Mexican food. I love Tenina's Mexican chocolate tablets. Especially if it is spread out to set on a tray instead of as a tablet. Just snap it into pieces, lovely.