Mexican recipe collection

Mexican wedding cakes are always a holiday favorite but this recipe takes it up a notch or two, writes Mary Wilhelm of Sparta.

Susan's Corn Muffins: tender corn muffins enriched with sour cream and butter, studded with Mexicorn and chopped bacon. Savory-sweet, breakfast-ready, makes a dozen.

Sweet corn and halibut tamales wrapped in fresh corn husks with fresh-cut kernels, cilantro, red bell pepper and a whisper of cornmeal. A lighter, coastal take on traditional tamales that cooks in just 20 minutes.

Warm sweet corn salsa with butter, jalapeno, cilantro, tomato, and rice vinegar. A light butter sauce salsa made with fresh corn kernels, perfect over chicken or lobster.

Taco hotdish is a Midwest casserole layered with crushed taco chips, seasoned ground beef, tomato soup, cottage cheese, and cheddar. Topped with fresh lettuce and tomatoes after baking.

Taco lentils simmer green lentils until tender, then bake them in a smoky pureed ancho chile and tomato sauce spiced with cumin and chili. A high-protein, high-fiber vegan stand-in for taco meat.

Make-ahead taco meat with ground beef, onion, cumin, and tomato sauce. A freezer-friendly batch base for taco nights, burritos, nachos, and quick weeknight bowls.

Taco pie with seasoned ground beef, green chiles, and a Bisquick custard crust that bakes right in the pan. A retro Tex-Mex casserole topped with melted Monterey Jack and fresh tomatoes.

Taco pie quiche layers seasoned ground beef, green chiles, and Monterey Jack under a creamy half-and-half custard in a flaky crust. A Tex-Mex spin on quiche that doubles as brunch or dinner.

Taco pockets: ground turkey patties seasoned with cumin, chili powder, and cayenne, wrapped in flour tortillas with lettuce, tomato, and Monterey Jack, then cut corner-to-corner into triangle pockets that do not fall apart.

Homemade taco seasoning from pantry spices like cumin, chili powder, and paprika, with no fillers or preservatives. Control the salt and heat yourself and skip the packet for fresher, bolder flavor.

Tamale dough made with pureed chili colorado, corn kernels, and hominy for deeper flavor than plain masa. Pliable, spoonable, ready to wrap in corn husks.

A quick and succulent pie that everyone will love with dinner! Perfect for that first dinner party you were invited to.

Tandoori roasted whole chicken marinated in saffron-lemon juice and spiced yogurt with coriander, cumin, ginger, and garlic. Oven-roasted for a golden, aromatic crust.

Mexican black bean soup with a secret hit of Mexican chocolate, serrano chile, and finished with red wine vinegar and olive oil. Authentic depth from a long slow simmer.

Taco chicken grill marinates oven-baked chicken in a tangy taco-spiced barbecue sauce with molasses and tomato, then finishes over coals with melted Monterey Jack. Two-stage cooking for fall-off-the-bone tender meat with a smoky crust.