Feliz Navidad - A Mexican Christmas Party

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By Lauren DeBellis
Staff Writer

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Feliz Navidad - A Mexican Christmas Party

Feliz Navidad!

A traditional Mexican Christmas is packed with delicious food, sweet treats, festive decor and of course, a candy-packed pinata! With a little planning, it's easy to host your own Mexican Christmas Party. Check out our perfect party plan.

Food and Recipes

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Tamale Pie (Chili) - for a Mexican Fiesta

Recipe from Epicurious.com

Chili for Tamale Pie (See Topping Recipe)

A modern spin on a favorite classic dish that easily feeds a crowd.

Ingredients

4 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil
2 Lbs Boneless Beef Chuck or Rump, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 Whole Onion, chopped
2 Whole Jalapeno Chiles, seeded if desired and finely chopped
4 Cloves Garlic, finely chopped
2 Teaspoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
3 Tablespoon Chili Powder
1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Allspice
1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne
28 Oz Can Crushed Tomatoes in puree
10 Oz Box Frozen Corn
1 1/2 Cup Chopped Pimiento-Stuffed Green Olives
1/3 Cup Chopped Fresh Cilantro

Steps

Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown beef in 4 batches, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes per batch, transferring with a slotted spoon to a bowl.
Add remaining tablespoon oil to pot and sauté onion and jalapeños over moderately high heat, stirring, until onion is softened, about 4 minutes.
Reduce heat to moderate, then add garlic, cocoa powder, salt, and spices and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
Return beef to pot with any juices that have accumulated in bowl and stir in tomatoes, corn, and water. Simmer chili, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until meat is very tender, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours.
Remove from heat and stir in beans, olives, cilantro, and salt to taste. Transfer chili to a shallow 3-quart baking dish.

Tags: Chili, Pie, Spicy, Latin, Spanish Food, Comfort Food

Tamale Pie (Topping) for a Mexican Fiesta

Recipe by Epicurious.com

See recipe for Tamale Pie Chili.

Ingredients

1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
1 Cup Yellow Cornmeal (not coarse)
3 Oz Coarsely Grated Sharp Cheddar (3/4 cup)
1 1/2 Tablespoon Sugar
2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
1/4 Cup Finely Chopped Fresh Cilantro
1 Whole Fresh Jalapeno Chile, seeded and finely chopped
3/4 Cup Milk
3 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled
1 Large Egg, lightly beaten

Steps

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Whisk together flour, cornmeal, cheese, sugar, baking powder, salt, cumin, cilantro, and jalapeño in a large bowl.
Whisk together milk, butter, and egg in a small bowl, then stir into flour mixture until just combined.
Drop batter by large spoonfuls (about 8) over chili, spacing them evenly, and bake in middle of oven 10 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350°F and bake pie until topping is cooked through, about 30 minutes more.

Tags: Chili, Pie, Spicy, Latin, Spanish Food, Comfort Food

Easy Chicken Posole - a Mexican meal for your Fiesta

Recipe from Foodnetwork.com

**Try substituting pork or cod for the chicken in this hearty soup.

Ingredients

2 1/2 Lbs Skinless, Boneless, Chicken Breast Halves
4 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil, divided
1 Whole Onion, chopped
3 Cloves Garlic, minced
2 1/2 Quart Chicken Broth
3 Cup(s) Water
1 Teaspoon Crumbled Dired Oregano
2 Teaspoon Salt
4 Tablespoon Chili Powder, or to taste
3 Cup(s) White Hominy, rinsed and drained
10 Pieces Tostada shells

Steps

Heat 2 tablespoons canola oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts, and cook until no longer pink and juices run clear, about 20 minutes.
Remove from skillet, drain, and cool. When completely cooled, shred chicken with a fork. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons canola oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir onion and garlic until soft and transparent, about 5 minutes.
Return shredded chicken to the skillet. Stir in the chicken broth, water, oregano, salt, and chili powder. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook about 90 minutes. Stir in the hominy and cook until tender, about 15 minutes more.
Taste to adjust seasonings, adding more salt and chili powder, if desired. Serve in soup bowls with 1 tostada shell per serving. Garnish as desired.

Tags: Mexican, Chips, Spicy, Fiesta, Soup

Biscochitos - Traditional Mexican Christmas Cookies

Recipe from Allrecipes.com

These cinnamon-sugar cookies are a favorite Christmas treat.

Ingredients

6 Cup(s) All-Purpose Flour
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
2 Cup(s) Lard
1 1/2 Cup(s) White Sugar
2 Teaspoon Anise Seed
2 Whole Eggs
1/4 Cup Brandy
1/4 Cup White Sugar
1 Tablespoon Ground Cinnamon

Steps

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl, and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the lard and 1 1/2 cups sugar until smooth. Mix in the anise seed, and beat until fluffy. Stir in the eggs one at a time. Add the sifted ingredients and brandy, and stir until well blended.
On a floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/2 or 1/4 inch thickness, and cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. The traditional is fleur-de-lis. Place cookies onto baking sheets. Mix together the 1/4 cup of sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over the tops of the cookies.
Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bottoms are lightly browned.

Tags: Cookies, Light, Dessert, Milk And Cookies

Drinks

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Mexican Hot Chocolate

Recipe from Allrecipes.com

Serve this spicy twist on winter's favorite indulgence with whipped cream.

Ingredients

3 Oz Mexican Chocolate or Bittersweet (tablet or cone)
3 Cup(s) Milk
2 Tablespoon Sugar
1 Pinch Salt
1 Cup Miniature Marshmallows, for serving
6 Pieces Cinnamon Sticks (Mexican canela), for serving

Steps

Using a sharp knife, break up the chocolate into smaller pieces.
In a saucepan, combine the chopped chocolate, milk, sugar, and salt over medium-low flame.
Heat and stir until the chocolate is completely melted and milk is very hot, but not boiling, about 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat and froth the chocolate milk with a mini whisk or molinillo.
Divide the hot chocolate among big mugs, top each with a few marshmallows, and serve with the cinnamon sticks as stirrers.

Tags: Hot Drink, Cinnamon, Chocolate, Christmas Drink

Decorations

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Decorations for a Mexican Christmas Party

Walk into any Mexican home during the holidays and it'll be bursting with bold red Noche Buenas, better known as Poinsettias.

Another very imporant tradition is displaying El Nacimento, or the Navity Scene. If you don't already own one, you can find them at department stores like Macys and Fortunoff.