3. Population: 108,700,891 (July 2007)

5. Avocado Beans Chilli’s Chocolate/cocoa Coriander/cilantro Cheeses Eqazote (stoneground flour) Corn chips Papaya Sweet potato/camote COMMONINGREDIENTS

6. Traditional Mexican food is high in nutrients and packed with vitamins. It is generally low in fat. Traditionally, Mexican food is tangy and colourful.

7. Delicious soups, salads, rice dishes, burritos, salsa, nachos and tacos all find their place in the rich Mexican cuisine.

8. Mexican food is famous for salsa, no matter which region you are visiting, with tomatoes being the main ingredient.

14. Meatball Soup with Pesto

15. Mexican Lentil Soup

21. Tequila – Mexico’s national spirit!

22. Cozumel Carnival Carnival Week on Cozumel is one of the most colourful and biggest celebrations in Mexico. It is a week full of dance, costumes, parades, music and street carnivals. Workers stop work and school children are heavily involved.

24. The Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, a festival that celebrates the reunion of dead relatives with their families, November 1 & 2.

32. NACHOS Ingredients (serves 4) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large onion, finely chopped 500g beef mince 300g can kidney beans, drained, rinsed 1 teaspoon Mexican chilli powder 35g sachet reduced-salt taco seasoning mix 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1/4 cup water 1/2 cup coriander leaves, chopped 230g packet corn chips 1 cup grated tasty cheese 1/2 cup tomato salsa, mashed avocado and sour cream, to serve

33. Method Preheat oven to 200°C. Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Cook onion for 2 minutes, or until soft. Add mince. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 5 minutes or until browned. Add kidney beans, chilli powder, seasoning, tomato paste and water. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 5 minutes, or until thick. Stir through coriander. Arrange corn chips on a heatproof plate. Top with mince. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 15 minutes, or until hot. Top with salsa, avocado and sour cream. Serve.