AUSCC

The food of the Central American country, Mexico, is rich in history, flavour, contract, texture and colour. Mexicans particularly the more affluent ones eat a varied diet of fresh meats, fish, shellfish, fowl, vegetables and fruits. Due to necessity, most foods are field fresh and never older than a couple days. also due to cost considerations, pesticides and herbicides are used very little and both fruits and vegetables are harvested ripe or very close to ripeness. Mexicans only eat seasonal fruits and vegetables, never looking for anything out of season which would more than likely have to be imported from thousands of miles away. Almost all food consumed locally, except in Mexico City, the capital, is grown in Mexico

Authentic Mexican cuisine should not be confused with North American Mexican-style fast food. While dishes sold at places like Taco Bell mimic Mexican dishes it is not to be considered authentic Mexican cuisine.

Authentic Mexican Appetisers

1.Empanadas. Empanada is one of the most popularly known Mexican or South American snack food. It is a pastry crust or meat pie with a filling of beef and vegetables, ham and cheese. Other foods usually prepared in an oven, or sometimes fried can also be used as filling.

2.Quesadilla. This is a Mexican snack food made with cheese on a folded corn or wheat tortilla and prepared until the cheese is melted. Other ingredients like chicken, beef, ham or vegetables can be included in quesadillas as well. The word quesadilla is derived from the Spanish word literally translating to mean either cheese tortilla or cheesecake.

Authentic Mexican Entrées

1.Carnitas. This is a very popular Mexican dish that consists of braised pork and can be eaten by itself or with tortillas, guacamole and salsa. Carnitas are used as a filling in tacos, taquitos and burritos. The pork is first simmered in boiling oil for a long time to make it really soft and then braised in the oven to make it crispy.

2.Tamales. Tamale or Tamales are made from masa dough filled with meat, vegetables and spices, or fruit and wrapped in a corn husk or banana leaf and steamed until hot.

Authentic Mexican Dessert

1.Tres Leches Cake. Pastel de Tres Leches or Three Milk Cake is a butter cake flavoured with vanilla. It is soaked in a mixture of three different milk products, hence Tres Leches. The three milks, when mixed together, create the right sweetness, density and texture of a rich cake, making it moist but not mushy.

Chicken breasts, especially boneless, skinless chicken breasts, are perhaps the most common cut of meat sold in The United States these days. they are quick, easy, low fat and universally popular. However, when not cooked the right way chicken breasts may be dry, hard and stringy. So in order to cook succulent and tender chicken breasts that are not dry and stringy, but moist and flavourful, you should use the right cooking techniques.

Thought chicken breasts can be the primary item in a meal, it is also great to have cooked chicken breasts on hand for recipes like: Chicken Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad, Creamy Mexican Crock-pot Chicken, Santa Fe Chicken and sandwiches.

Baking Chicken Breasts

There are two basic methods for cooking. They include Dry heat techniques and moist heat methods. Dry heat methods include baking, roasting, grilling, sautéing and deep frying, while moist heat methods include micro-waving, poaching, baking in parchment, steaming, and slow cooking.

What Pan is Best for Baking Baked Chicken Recipes?

Chicken breasts should be baked in a shallow pan, which should be large enough so the parts do not touch. This allows the chicken breasts to cook and brown evenly. In some recipes, the chicken breasts is required to be turned once throughout the cooking duration.

How Long Should Chicken Breasts be Baked?

Chicken needs to be cooked to reach an internal temperature of 165ºF at its thickest point for at least fifteen seconds. What this means is that it takes between twenty and forty-five minutes to bake chicken breast. Remember that chicken continues cooking after it is removed from the heat. The internal temperature will rise about five or ten degrees in the first few minutes after it is taken from the heat. If the chicken breast has the bone in, it will require more time.

Chicken is generally baked at about 350ºF. However, the exact time is dependent on how large the chicken is, the baking temperature and whether the breast is skinless and boneless or with skin and bone. Undercooked chicken could give you salmonella poisoning so always make sure it is cooked entirely.

Seasonings for Baked Chicken Breast

Rub some salt and pepper on to the chicken breasts or you can use poultry seasonings which is a mixture of spices that compliment chicken. You can also flavour chicken breasts with lemon and garlic or honey and mustard. You can bake potatoes and vegetables with the chicken or have a look at your favourite chicken breast recipes for more ideas.