Most people have either held or been to at least one potluck dinner. Potluck is an easy way to get friends and family together. Mexican culture is very much centered around such gatherings. Anything from weddings to holidays or even Sunday dinners are an excuse to get everyone together.

For those of us who don't live in or come from Mexico, a themes party serves as a good reason to have a potluck dinner. Whenever I get a chance to join in on one, I try to bring something that will feed a bunch of people. I also like to use recipes that can easily be doubled, tripled, or halved, depending on how many people are there. Below I'm including a recipe to go before supper and one to go with. Both are easily doubled or halved.

GUACAMOLE
1/4 cup red onions, chopped fine
1 serrano chile seeded and chopped fine
1 clove garlic, minced
2 ripe haas avocados
1 large, ripe tomato chopped fine
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped fine
1.5 Tbsp lime juice
sea salt to taste

Peel the avocado, remove the pit and chop the flesh into cubes.

Place the avocado in a large bowl and mash roughly with a fork. don't mash it too much, you want a slightly rough consistency.

Add the rest of the ingredients and mix to combine well. Taste the guacamole and adjust seasonings as necessary.

Sometimes I like to add a little chile powder for extra flavor.

PICADILLO
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 lbs lean ground beef
1 tsp chile powder
3 cloves
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 16 oz can chopped tomatoes
2 chipotles en adobo
1/4 cup raisins
4 medium potatoes, diced and boiled
salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbsp slivered almonds

In a skillet heat oil on medium heat. Saute onions until soft, 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 2 minutes more. Add meat and cook, stirring, until cooked through. Add the spices and stir until well mixed.

Add tomatoes, chipotles, raisins and potatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally until liquid reduces and thickens a little. Add salt and pepper to taste and add water if the dish becomes too dry.

Stir in the almonds and serve.

OPTIONAL: If you want to try something different the ground beef can easily be changed to pork, lamb, or a combination of the three.

Also, if you don't want to use potatoes, get a cup of brown rice and cook according to package instructions. Add rice at the same time as the almonds and serve.

Learn more about this author, Brian Vandenbroek.
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