For Mexicans, corn has been their true staple food for hundreds of years. The tortilla is Mexico's bread. It is usually made from corn, but in northern regions is made from wheat flour. Natives attach a mystical importance to corn. Mexicans eat 3 meals a day: breakfast (desayuno), lunch (almuerzo) or dinner (comida), and supper (cena). Each meal includes 1 or more of the 3 national foods. The first is the tortilla, which is a round corn flour patty. When wrapped around food this becomes a taco. Another popular food is beans, prepared by boiling or frying before being used as a filling. Spicy-hot peppers called chilies, or jalapenos are also commonly eaten.	Did you know? Chicle, a milky sap extracted from a tree found throughout Yucatán peninsula, launched the worldwide chewing gum industry
Meals are considered a way of socializing with family or friends. Families tend to meet for a meal at least once a day. Those who can return home from work join the rest of the family at lunch time. In Mexico, lunch usually lasts more than an hour. As a tradition and courtesy after finishing a meal, a well-off Mexican usually leaves a small portion of food on the plate. Leaving an empty plate after eating is considered impolite.
Here is a recipe to try: Red Enchiladas (Enchiladas Rojas) Ingredients 18 tortillas 8 dried red chilies 1 onion 2 garlic cloves 1.5 cups of cheddar cheese 2 black pepper seeds 1 cinnamon stick 2 cloves radishes 1 head of lettuce cooking oil salt Preparation Dice onion and shred cheese. For the sauce, clean and rinse chilies, grind together with cloves, cinnamon, garlic, pepper and salt. Fry tortillas and dip in sauce prepared above, fill with cheese, roll, stack on a tray and garnish with lettuce.	Did you know? Chocolate, which comes from a bean of the cacao tree, was known as the drink of the gods, because by law only the nobility could drink it.