Help! need Mexican snack or dessert

[leonie]

Okay, I found a Mexican grocery store in the yellow pages, but it’s a little bit a drive–not too bad–20 minutes each way. But, since it’s tonight, I don’t have much time to get things together along with all my regular work…

We live in a suburb south of Indianapolis. Our event is North east of Indy.

We usually shop at Walmart, but it’s all just prepackaged kits and salsa. But, maybe one of the other groceries might have something.Maybe Kroger’s?

I didn’t think about calling a Mexican restaurant and arranging to pick something up…sure, Taco bell doesn’t count?

I was going to try to stay away from salsa and chips because I figure a lot of people will be bringing that.

If I stick a tortilla chip on top of a brownie, would that work?

I’m such a lousy cook…

 

[basilisk]

What about flan? Mmmmmmm… good flan is a real treat! For those who don’t know, it’s a caramel custard.

About the cream cheese and chili idea… if this is an authentic Mexican festival, that’s going to be looked at as “gringo.” Not trying to insult anyone, just if you want it to be really authentic and something that Mexicans will like and remember from growing up, Hormel chili nuked with a block of Philly ain’t gonna be it.

Finding a Mexican bakery or grocer is your best bet. Ask them what they would bring if they were going!

I say this as a gringa whose dad married into an ethnically Mexican, but fully American, family.

 

[1ke]

Burbs–

YOU live in Chicago.

I live in a rural community. Yes, there are Hispanics and some Mexican grocery stores in the area-- a bit of a drive-- but not the kind of variety you will find in a large city.

 

[yellowbird]

If I stick a tortilla chip on top of a brownie, would that work?

Works for me! I like salty/sweet combos. What about frosting the brownies with food coloring green & organge frosting? (Mexican flag?)

 

[leonie]

I doubt there will be anyone of Mexican heritage at the party. It’s a Regnum Christi event geared towards kids. They like to honor their founder who was from Mexico.

 

[basilisk]

I doubt there will be anyone of Mexican heritage at the party. It’s a Regnum Christi event geared towards kids. They like to honor their founder who was from Mexico.

Ah, well then… no worries! Might be fun to get something more authentic just for the cultural experience, though, if you can swing it! Not anything with mole though. That’s too intense for any first timer, and I personally hate the stuff. But my midwest/New England-bred dad LOVES it. My stepmom cooks it for him sometimes, and even she doesn’t really like it that much.

The flan I suggested is a mild flavor. It’s really yummy.

 

[nicolep]

I doubt there will be anyone of Mexican heritage at the party. It’s a Regnum Christi event geared towards kids. They like to honor their founder who was from Mexico.

I live on the south side of Indianapolis. There are Mexican grocery stores all over the place, but not necessarily as close at the neighborhood Kroger. I realize time is a pinch so getting to one might be an issue.

This one is on the north side of Indy. Maybe you could run in there are your way to the event.

Tienda Morelos
7862 Michigan Rd
Indianapolis, IN 46268 Map

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Burbs–

YOU live in Chicago.

I live in a rural community. Yes, there are Hispanics and some Mexican grocery stores in the area-- a bit of a drive-- but not the kind of variety you will find in a large city.

No. I live in the far southwest suburbs of Chicago, somewhere almost of the border of what starts Central Illinois.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Works for me! I like salty/sweet combos. What about frosting the brownies with food coloring green & organge frosting? (Mexican flag?)

How about a brownie mix with a little cinnamon thrown in, and a mocha/ choco/ cinnamon frosting? It’d be like something I ate for dessert in a a very authentic Mexican restaurant, not ChiChi’s or Cipotle. You could even just get a tub of light chocolate frosting and then sprinkle in a little cinnamon, and a little instant coffee.

 

[ack]

Ah, this makes more sense.

Go to your local grocery store’s freezer section and see if they have Goya fried plantains in a sugar sauce. This isn’t exactly Mexican, but it’s exotic and tasty enough, and the Tex-Mex stuff isn’t exactly Mexican either… (plus, even my grocery store in Cleveland stocked this item, where few Hispanics live.)

Or, pick up a dessert at a Mexican restaurant (Mexican cakes are incredibly tasty.)

I doubt there will be anyone of Mexican heritage at the party. It’s a Regnum Christi event geared towards kids. They like to honor their founder who was from Mexico.

 

[ack]

True, but doesn’t Chicago have the biggest and most high-profile Mexican community in the US, aside from CA and the southwest? (It seems like it, judging by the famous Mexican musicians who got their start there.)

Once you’re away from the Chicago area, finding a Mexican community in the midwest becomes very difficult, especially as you approach eastern IN and OH.

No. I live in the far southwest suburbs of Chicago, somewhere almost of the border of what starts Central Illinois.

 

[puzzleannie]

buy brownies or chocolate cupcakes from the bakery, get a bag of Christmas MnMs–green, white and red, and sprinkle them on top, or push them into the brownies a tad

 

[kage_ar]

Take flour tortillas, cut them into strips. Now, give a light spray of oil. Coat them in cinnamon and sugar. Put on a cookie sheet and bake until crispy.

I second the idea of brownies with cinnamon on top !!

 

[bluerose]

Works for me! I like salty/sweet combos. What about frosting the brownies with food coloring green & organge frosting? (Mexican flag?)

It’s the IRISH flag that’s green, white and orange. The Mexican flag is green, white and RED (with an eagle in the middle!) Very Christmas-y!

Depending on how diverse the produce section is in your local grocery store, you can make a fruit platter with papaya, mango, pineapple and jicama. Cut some limes into wedges and get some mild red chile powder and–yes–spritz some lime juice and sprinkle some chile powder on the fruit and THAT is a real Mexican treat!

Putting lime and red chile on just about anything makes it Mexican. This is from a gal who used to attend a Catholic all-girls school on the border where we used to go down to the corner store and buy a bag of Lay’s potato chips and the proprietor would include a Ziploc bag with a lime wedge and a small packet of red chile powder to put on the chips!

 

[basilisk]

bluerose… that brings back memories! My brother and his friends used to get “pepinos” from the ice cream truck. A cup full of diced cucumbers sprinkled with lime, salt, and chili powder.

I used to sit there eating my Sidewalk Sundae telling them they were crazy.

 

[SeekerJen]

About the cream cheese and chili idea… if this is an authentic Mexican festival, that’s going to be looked at as “gringo.” Not trying to insult anyone, just if you want it to be really authentic and something that Mexicans will like and remember from growing up, Hormel chili nuked with a block of Philly ain’t gonna be it.

My dad is first-generation Mexican-American (his parents were legal immigrants). I don’t think I ever even had the cream cheese-chili thing until I was out of undergrad. We have friends now who serve it at their home, and it’s fine, but definitely not Mexican.

I don’t know how substantial this snack is supposed to be, but since it’s close to Christmas, one thing that I promise is authentic for Mexican Christmas celebrations is the tamale. If you’ve never had one, they consist of masa (corn dough) wrapped around a filling (usually ancho chile-spiced pork, although I’ve had them with chicken and even a sweet one with pineapple and raisin), which is then wrapped in a corn husk and steamed. Since our family no longer makes our own, we’ve started purchasing them. We’ve got a couple of tamalerias in Detroit where we buy ours, but a decent Mexican restaurant might have them on the menu as well.

They sound kind of strange, but all of my gringa mother’s family loves them and so do my WASP in-laws.

 

[kage_ar]

Mmmmmm tamales!!!

 

[bluerose]

bluerose… that brings back memories! My brother and his friends used to get “pepinos” from the ice cream truck. A cup full of diced cucumbers sprinkled with lime, salt, and chili powder.

I used to sit there eating my Sidewalk Sundae telling them they were crazy.

Up until a few months ago, there was a place called Paletas Michoacan (translated: Ice Pops Michoacan–it’s a state in Mexico) in El Paso that featured–I kid you not–ice pops (paletas) in such diverse flavors as pepino y chile (cucumber and chile) and tamarindo (tamarind… trust me, it’s an acquired taste)! They either closed down or moved to a new location (and I hope I find it again!) because they had the best ice pops, all natural–pineapple, cantaloupe, strawberry, watermelon, lime, papaya, mango, coconut, pecan, Mexican chocolate and the list goes on!

They also sold elote (corn) in a cup with grated Parmesan cheese, red chile powder and lime juice sprinkled on it.

I’ve gotta find that place!

 

[SeekerJen]

Up until a few months ago, there was a place called Paletas Michoacan (translated: Ice Pops Michoacan–it’s a state in Mexico) in El Paso that featured–I kid you not–ice pops (paletas) in such diverse flavors as pepino y chile (cucumber and chile) and tamarindo (tamarind… trust me, it’s an acquired taste)! They either closed down or moved to a new location (and I hope I find it again!) because they had the best ice pops, all natural–pineapple, cantaloupe, strawberry, watermelon, lime, papaya, mango, coconut, pecan, Mexican chocolate and the list goes on!

They also sold elote (corn) in a cup with grated Parmesan cheese, red chile powder and lime juice sprinkled on it.

I’ve gotta find that place!

Oh yum. I’m already hungry and you just made it so much worse.

 

[yellowbird]

It’s the IRISH flag that’s green, white and orange. The Mexican flag is green, white and RED (with an eagle in the middle!) Very Christmas-y!

Oh sure… and soon you’ll be trying to tell me that this cute little guy isn’t Mexican? :irish2:

(kidding! )