where do I find decent Mexican food around here?

oh. my. gahd...
Stella Marie, I may short out my keyboard drolling over that picture--those look so good!

Thank you to everyone for all the freely shared recipes, buying tips and recommendations.   Hoping my partner and I will be near a Mexifresh oneday, too, as their menu (linked in a separate thread) looks like a dream. 

oh, oh,  oh....i almost forgot about the beans i bought.  i was at the store and i saw heinz "mean beanz" in mexican "flavor".  i got them home, opened the can and wouldn't you know it....they were freakin' baked beans with what they considered "mexican" spices.  i DO NOT recommend those either.  i should just freakin' make my own.  i made my own rice...and that was the only thing i ate on my plate.  it was a throughly disappointing night for me......

your whole post had me laughing hysterically. I think it was the "Mean Beanz" comment. I will NEVER buy these... even out of curiosity!

I was in a book shop recently and found a "Mexican Recipes" book for £2.49. I make most of my stuff from scratch... even though the El Paso section is huge, I just don't want to be disappointed. So even if I can't make the food, I can look at the pictures... yum!

your whole post had me laughing hysterically. I think it was the "Mean Beanz" comment. I will NEVER buy these... even out of curiosity!

hahahaha...i shoulda looked at the label a little closer....but oh well.  i learned my lesson...the hard way.

i bought my last mexican item at the store today.  i got the discovery brand fajita mix.  if this stuff is crap....i give up trying to find the easy way out.  i'll stay in the kitchen all damn day if i have to....anything to get some good mexican food.  i do enjoy some homemade tortillas...hmm...maybe i'll do that this weekend.....

I am still trying to figure out the best ingredients for flour tortillas. There are just way too many permutations of flours  and shortenings to try.

I like strong/bread flour and have tried Pura.

I made a cake last week with self-raising flour and was totally put off it! maybe it will be good with tortillas?

I am still trying to figure out the best ingredients for flour tortillas. There are just way too many permutations of flours  and shortenings to try.

I like strong/bread flour and have tried Pura.

I made a cake last week with self-raising flour and was totally put off it! maybe it will be good with tortillas?

oh crap...i didn't even think about all the different flours to choose from.  i have walked by the flour section in several different stores and thought to myself "what the hell is half of this stuff for?  and how am i supposed to know what is good for what?"  needless to say i haven't tried it yet.  well...see....there is another reason for me to go to the store tomorrow.  i can always come up with some reason or another to go buy more food.....

yeah when I got here I wanted to find some nice containers to put my food staples like my family has always done... rice sugar and flour. Before Christmas I couldn't find ANYTHING suitable... well yes, plenty of "tea" "sugar" and "coffee" jars/containers but not what I wanted exactly.

I asked my friend and said do British people NOT use storage containers? (I am also straight from a few years in Kenya where critters would get into anything not contained)

He said most people just roll the bag up and put it in the cupboard. For space reasons I am guessing but then I've also noticed all the types of sugars and flours so of course it makes sense to not have containers!

I do remember the "simple" days of reaching for the Gold Medal "all purpose flour" and C&H granulated sugar just as my family has always done. 

but to keep this on topic... I buy lots of spices and mix my own for "Mexican" flavor. Cumin, chili powder usually for most bases but I am going through the jars pretty fast! I bought some dried Jalapeno to try. Corriander is the same as cilantro which you can buy fresh at the store to grow even!

A good way to make refried beans with that certain flavor the mexican restaurants tend to have is to cook (boil) a pot of pinto beans as instructed.  In a skillet or frying pan, use the grease leftover from cooking several pieces of bacon, mash and stir the beans in the hot bacon grease until they are as thick as you want.  You don't need to drain the water from the beans before pouring them in the skillet.  I know it's not the healthiest recipe but it's sooo good.   

Another tip for cutting the acidity of tomatoes-sprinkle a little baking soda on top when done cooking. Works for me!

you have to make your own via old el paso kits or dream about it - that's about all you can do. I have yet to find decent mexican food, it's all too spanish

you have to make your own via old el paso kits or dream about it - that's about all you can do. I have yet to find decent mexican food, it's all too spanish

I was craving chorizo and eggs last week. I could find chorizo but it is the Spanish sausage rather than the crumbly one that tastes soooo good with eggs and a fresh tortilla. In CA, I used to buy "soyrizo" flavor exactly the same and mixed the same.

mmm, I could go for that right now. 

keep looking!
we have a deli here in my little town that sells the loose mince-like chorizo like we used to get in California.   

I really need to stop reading this thread. Last night it caused me to have intense cravings for El Pollo Loco, which CANNOT be satisfied anywhere close to where I live! 

You can find chorizo sausage meat in some butchers... you just have to look... that or make your own using ground pork and the right spices...

I've made chorizo myself, but the pork i used was too lean... the chorizo was really dry and horrible.  My advice, if making it yourself, would be to use good fatty meat!

I really need to stop reading this thread. Last night it caused me to have intense cravings for El Pollo Loco, which CANNOT be satisfied anywhere close to where I live! 

El Pollo Loco is delicious, I know what some...