Authentic Mexican cooking is nothing like the poor quality, Tex-mex offerings of the fast food outlets in this country. It is an ancient cuisine, full of vibrant flavours, textures and colours with its tastes of chilli, coriander and peppers which suit the modern palate very well. With more than 300 recipes Elisabeth Lambert Ortiz- the expert on Latin American cooking - brings the true flavour of Mexican cooking into your kitchen. The familiar items of avocados, tomatoes, corn, pork and beans are transformed into unexpected combinations that evoke the rich heritage of Mexico. In the lively headnotes to each recipe she explores the fascinating history of this cuisine, from original Aztec and Mayan cooking of pre-colonial civilizations to the cooking that developed after the Spanish conquest.