The Basics

Learning the basics is where all good cooks start. You have to have a good foundation if you are going to have a great structure. So I wanted to take you through the most important basics you will need to make some of the most delicious Mexican meals. Many of these are recipes that people have long asked for from my mom. Luckily, I was able to convince her to share them with you in this book.

These basic recipes include everything from cleaning cactus to making flour tortillas, which as many of you may know can be quite difficult. Fortunately, my mom and I decided to show you step-by-step how we go about making these delightful accompaniments to any meal. Some of these “basics” take more than just a couple of tries to master, as evidenced by my years of practice, but stick with it and you will do just fine!