Appetizers

• Chips, salsa and guacamole are a standby for a reason: Everyone loves them. However, there is a whole world of Mexican appetizers beyond that. Rick Bayless, a cook renowned for his Mexican food, has a great recipe for shrimp and avocado cocktail, made with Tabasco and fresh cilantro (rickbayless.com). It can be made in one bowl and chilled until serving with lime wedges.
  How about a cocktail nut mix of spiced piñons, pecans and pumpkin seeds? Quesadillas can be made ahead of time, kept warm in the oven and sliced with a pizza cutter into small wedges. You can fill them with plain cheese, or add a variety of fillings like shredded chicken, green chiles, scallions or black beans.
  
  

The Main Event

• Authentic Mexican main dishes can take hours of preparation with their complex sauces and seasoning. Luckily, modern Mexican cooks have interpreted traditional favorites into easy main dishes that can be ready in a hurry.
  
  Next time you're grilling, try Mexican corn on the cob, grilled and then rolled in cotija, a mild white cheese. For a cozy indoor evening, try Mexican Tinga, shredded chicken and onions simmered in a thick chipotle sauce and served on tostadas. A terrific make-ahead dish is sweet and spicy empanadas (turnovers) filled with cubed apples, spices and steak.
  
  

Delectable Desserts

• Now that you've impressed your guests with your amazing Mexican food, it's time for dessert. Try coffee flan (custard), mango-lime tart or crunchy piñon tiles and coffee.