Monday, December 8, 2025

La casa chica: The rise and fall of Mexico’s institution of second families

La casa chica, the secondary home for one's mistress and illegitimate children, was once a male prerogative. Nowadays, however, it's a tradition in decline across gender lines.
car bomb in Michoacán

Car bomb targeting community police station kills 6 in Michoacán

0
The explosion of a car bomb outside a community police station in the town of Coahuayana, Michoacán, on Saturday killed six people, including at least three police officers.
Tlajomulco, Jalisco, México, 3 de agosto de 2025. La doctora Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, presidenta Constitucional de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos en la inauguración de la primera etapa del Hospital Regional ISSSTE Tlajomulco, Jalisco.

NYT names Sheinbaum among the most stylish people of 2025

1
The NYT highlighted Sheinbaum's stance against major brands that copy artisans' work without credit or fair compensation, connecting her wardrobe choices to her defense of cultural property.
Headshot of a smiling woman, artist Tamanna Bembenek. She is standing in a black sweater with a black-and-white geometric pattern on the shoulders. She has long light-brown hair. She is standing against a dark gray textured background.

MND’s co-owner’s art exhibition, ‘A Pilgrimage Across Cultures’ opens in San Miguel de Allende

1
Artist and MND co-owner Tamanna Bembenek shares her journey of slowing down, healing and rediscovering creativity through art in her new exhibit in San Miguel de Allende.
car bomb in Michoacán

Car bomb targeting community police station kills 6 in Michoacán

0
The explosion of a car bomb outside a community police station in the town of Coahuayana, Michoacán, on Saturday killed six people, including at least three police officers.
Tlajomulco, Jalisco, México, 3 de agosto de 2025. La doctora Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, presidenta Constitucional de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos en la inauguración de la primera etapa del Hospital Regional ISSSTE Tlajomulco, Jalisco.

NYT names Sheinbaum among the most stylish people of 2025

1
The NYT highlighted Sheinbaum's stance against major brands that copy artisans' work without credit or fair compensation, connecting her wardrobe choices to her defense of cultural property.
Headshot of a smiling woman, artist Tamanna Bembenek. She is standing in a black sweater with a black-and-white geometric pattern on the shoulders. She has long light-brown hair. She is standing against a dark gray textured background.

MND’s co-owner’s art exhibition, ‘A Pilgrimage Across Cultures’ opens in San Miguel de Allende

1
Artist and MND co-owner Tamanna Bembenek shares her journey of slowing down, healing and rediscovering creativity through art in her new exhibit in San Miguel de Allende.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity
road to El Triunfo

Mexico’s landscapes make every mile count

1
Mexico's roadside landscapes are spectacular and ever-changing. No matter what part of the country you choose to drive in, you'll be treated to a shifting, chaotic series of beautiful landscapes.

El Jalapeño: FIFA awards Donald Trump Golden Boot before 2026 World Cup even begins

0
Fresh off winning the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, U.S. President Trump has been awarded a fresh honor by World Cup organizers.

MND Tutor | Amaranto

0
Learn about a Mexican superfood that's been into space, as MND Tutor takes a look at one of the best stories of the past week.
Close-up of green corn stalks and tassels in a field under a cloudy sky, illustrating the modern result of the evolution of corn from teosinte.

Ancient genetic engineers: How Mexico’s Mesoamericans bred a tiny plant into corn

3
Science still doesn't know which of Mexico's ancient peoples discovered how to breed the tiny teosinte plant into what's still a major food staple for the nation today.
Mérida

What makes Mérida Mexico’s cutest city: 8 architectural secrets revealed

1
Mérida, the capital city of the state of Yucatán, is one of the most charming cities in Mexico, thanks to its pleasing mix of Indigenous and Colonial architectural styles and its signature decorative accents.
Sheinbaum holds up a small ribbon with the word Mexico at the World Cup draw on Dec. 5

Mexico’s week in review: Sheinbaum draws Mexico’s World Cup fate — and Trump’s praise

0
This week, President Sheinbaum expanded her fan base — including a not-so-secret admirer in U.S. President Donald Trump — during her first U.S. visit as Mexico's president on Friday.
Water drips from an outdoor spigot

Confidently Wrong about Water in Mexico: A new podcast from our CEO

2
Is it still necessary to avoid drinking tap water? What do water shortages mean for the construction of new homes? Travis Bembenek covers these questions and more in a new MND podcast.
Los Cabos coastline

Everything in store for Los Cabos in 2026

2
Los Cabos will continue to grow in 2026, Los Cabos Tourism Board head Rodrigo Esponda explains, thanks to new hotels, increased connectivity and other improvements to the destination in the coming year.
News quiz

The MND News Quiz of the Week: December 6th

0
Circuses, conservation and crackdowns: Have you been following the news this week?
Yuri Knorozov at his desk

How a Soviet genius cracked the uncrackable Maya code

5
How could a Russian who had never even visited Mexico become the first person since the ancient Maya to underderstand their written language? It all started with a few Mayan codices stolen by the Nazis.
President Sheinbaum on stage next to Trump and Carney, holding a paper reading Mexico

Sheinbaum joins US President Trump and Canada PM Carney at the FIFA World Cup...

15
The draw results are now in: Group assignments are set and Mexico will kick off the World Cup with a June 11 game against South Africa.
Farmer with a box full of fruits and vegetables

Mexican ag experts: Your insights are needed

0
Wikifarmer is encouraging Mexican farmers to take its new survey as part of efforts to gather up-to-date information on agriculture in the country, including pricing changes and the effects of climate change.
road to El Triunfo

Mexico’s landscapes make every mile count

1
Mexico's roadside landscapes are spectacular and ever-changing. No matter what part of the country you choose to drive in, you'll be treated to a shifting, chaotic series of beautiful landscapes.

El Jalapeño: FIFA awards Donald Trump Golden Boot before 2026 World Cup even begins

0
Fresh off winning the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, U.S. President Trump has been awarded a fresh honor by World Cup organizers.

MND Tutor | Amaranto

0
Learn about a Mexican superfood that's been into space, as MND Tutor takes a look at one of the best stories of the past week.
Close-up of green corn stalks and tassels in a field under a cloudy sky, illustrating the modern result of the evolution of corn from teosinte.

Ancient genetic engineers: How Mexico’s Mesoamericans bred a tiny plant into corn

3
Science still doesn't know which of Mexico's ancient peoples discovered how to breed the tiny teosinte plant into what's still a major food staple for the nation today.
Mérida

What makes Mérida Mexico’s cutest city: 8 architectural secrets revealed

1
Mérida, the capital city of the state of Yucatán, is one of the most charming cities in Mexico, thanks to its pleasing mix of Indigenous and Colonial architectural styles and its signature decorative accents.
Sheinbaum holds up a small ribbon with the word Mexico at the World Cup draw on Dec. 5

Mexico’s week in review: Sheinbaum draws Mexico’s World Cup fate — and Trump’s praise

0
This week, President Sheinbaum expanded her fan base — including a not-so-secret admirer in U.S. President Donald Trump — during her first U.S. visit as Mexico's president on Friday.
Sheinbaum at Business COuncil luncheon 2025

Mexico’s business elite presents President Sheinbaum with a US $40 billion...

0
The proposal came during the president's annual end-of-the-year luncheon with the Mexican Buiness Council (CMN), the atmosphere of which was reportedly warm and positive.
Water drips from an outdoor spigot

Confidently Wrong about Water in Mexico: A new podcast from our CEO

2
Is it still necessary to avoid drinking tap water? What do water shortages mean for the construction of new homes? Travis Bembenek covers these questions and more in a new MND podcast.
Travis Bembenek sits at a desk recording a podcast while wearing a Mexico News Daily T-shirt

A few words about the new MND Merch and MND culture: A perspective from...

7
You asked, MND delivers: CEO Travis Bembenek introduces MND Merch, so readers can rep the MND mission across Mexico and beyond.
Facade of the new US Embassy in Mexico City. The front of the building is made with pink Mexican cantera stone arranged in rectangles of different sizes and faces a wide courtyard.

Facts and figures about the newly opened US Embassy in CDMX: A perspective from...

13
Our CEO Travis Bembenek took a tour of the new United States Embassy in Mexico City, a state-of-the-art diplomatic complex featuring two gyms, a basketball court and an on-site medical clinic.
US soldiers walk along a rust-colored Mexico border wall

Should the US help Mexico beat the cartels? A perspective from our CEO

50
Are U.S. bombs what Mexico needs to end cartels once and for all? Mexico News Daily CEO Travis Bembenek looks at what kinds of aid might actually be effective.
the Angel of Independence in Mexico City

Foreign direct investment in Mexico climbs to record US $40.9B, already surpassing all of...

0
New investment contributed to around 16% of total FDI in Mexico in the first nine months of the year, with the remainder of the money coming from reinvestment of profits and payments by foreign companies with an existing presence in Mexico.
2 guys from jalisco

Jalisco announces a new chip design park to strengthen Mexico’s semiconductor industry

0
The chip design plant will give a boost to the Mexican government's Kutsari project to coordinate efforts among the public, private and academic sectors to strengthen the industry.
chip

US chip lobby urges tariff-free treatment for North American semiconductors under USMCA

1
As Mexican semiconductor exports decline, the Washington, D.C.-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) is urging the Trump administration to ensure that rules of origin strengthen regional competitiveness.
MXN - Mexican Peso
USD
18.25
CAD
13.17
EUR
21.24
dollar-peso

The Mexican peso hits its strongest level of the year

0
At Thursday's close, a dollar would cost you 18.23 pesos, the cheapest it's been since July 23, 2024, Expectations that the U.S. Fed will cut intereest rates fueled the peso's performance.
Farmer with a box full of fruits and vegetables

Mexican ag experts: Your insights are needed

0
Wikifarmer is encouraging Mexican farmers to take its new survey as part of efforts to gather up-to-date information on agriculture in the country, including pricing changes and the effects of climate change.
MXN - Mexican Peso
USD
18.25
CAD
13.17
EUR
21.24

Interior minister celebrates Mexico’s new water law: Friday’s mañanera recapped

0
While Sheinbaum was in D.C., Interior Minister Rodríguez discussed the country's newly approved water law, biometric CURP and other topics at Friday's morning presser.
President Sheinbaum gestures from behind the podium of her morning press conference

Sheinbaum backs free trade throughout the Americas: Thursday’s mañanera recapped

1
President Sheinbaum advocated for expanding the USMCA to include Central and South America on Thursday ahead of her first presidential trip to Washington.
Enrique Alfaro

Former Jalisco governor kicks off his second career as a pro...

0
High Mexican officials who set down some roots in Spain include former presidents Peña Nieto and Salinas de Gortari. But ex-Gov. Alfaro is the only one who went to coach pro soccer.
Man with two women

La casa chica: The rise and fall of Mexico’s institution of second families

8
La casa chica, the secondary home for one's mistress and illegitimate children, was once a male prerogative. Nowadays, however, it's a tradition in decline across gender lines.
A woman wearing headphones sits at a desk across from a white, anthropomorphic AI robot. The robot points toward a large holographic screen displaying an open mouth labeled "boca."

AI won’t solve your language problems: A take on using AI for language translation

12
Using AI chatbots to practice your Spanish? Thinking about it? Former language teacher Sarah DeVries lays out what to know about using AI for language learning.
A smiling Mexican couple with two kids and a spaniel lean out of a small new car

Mexico’s middle class: Who are they and what do their lives look like?

13
Mexicans from across the country share their perspectives on what a middle-class income and lifestyle look like today in Mexico.
road to El Triunfo

Mexico’s landscapes make every mile count

1
Mexico's roadside landscapes are spectacular and ever-changing. No matter what part of the country you choose to drive in, you'll be treated to a shifting, chaotic series of beautiful landscapes.
Mérida

What makes Mérida Mexico’s cutest city: 8 architectural secrets revealed

1
Mérida, the capital city of the state of Yucatán, is one of the most charming cities in Mexico, thanks to its pleasing mix of Indigenous and Colonial architectural styles and its signature decorative accents.
Los Cabos coastline

Everything in store for Los Cabos in 2026

2
Los Cabos will continue to grow in 2026, Los Cabos Tourism Board head Rodrigo Esponda explains, thanks to new hotels, increased connectivity and other improvements to the destination in the coming year.
A woman wearing headphones sits at a desk across from a white, anthropomorphic AI robot. The robot points toward a large holographic screen displaying an open mouth labeled "boca."

AI won’t solve your language problems: A take on using AI for language translation

12
Using AI chatbots to practice your Spanish? Thinking about it? Former language teacher Sarah DeVries lays out what to know about using AI for language learning.
A smiling Mexican couple with two kids and a spaniel lean out of a small new car

Mexico’s middle class: Who are they and what do their lives look like?

13
Mexicans from across the country share their perspectives on what a middle-class income and lifestyle look like today in Mexico.
Travis Bembenek sits at a desk recording a podcast while wearing a Mexico News Daily T-shirt

A few words about the new MND Merch and MND culture: A perspective from...

7
You asked, MND delivers: CEO Travis Bembenek introduces MND Merch, so readers can rep the MND mission across Mexico and beyond.
Facade of the new US Embassy in Mexico City. The front of the building is made with pink Mexican cantera stone arranged in rectangles of different sizes and faces a wide courtyard.

Facts and figures about the newly opened US Embassy in CDMX: A perspective from...

13
Our CEO Travis Bembenek took a tour of the new United States Embassy in Mexico City, a state-of-the-art diplomatic complex featuring two gyms, a basketball court and an on-site medical clinic.
A team of architects and engineers reviews blueprints on a stack of concrete blocks at a home building construction site in Mexico.

Investing from scratch: When your dream is building property in Mexico 

0
Building a home in Mexico can be a dream come true or a nightmare, depending on how well you understand the geography where you're building, Mexican law and your rights and obligations.
A small house in a forest

Sustainability meets investment at these Mexican real estate projects

0
Investing in real estate in Mexico doesn't just mean beachside condos, as these amazing sustainable developments prove.

MND Tutor | Amaranto

0
Learn about a Mexican superfood that's been into space, as MND Tutor takes a look at one of the best stories of the past week.
Painting of the Cortés led conquest of Mexico.

Between Columbus and Cortés — How Spain encountered Mexico

10
Hernán Cortés wasn't the first Spanish leader of an expedition to Mexico. Two previous ones had already set sail from Havana in the early years of the 16th century, after Columbus' voyages had introduced the Spanish to the Americas.
A community parade in San Miguel Allende

MND Local: San Miguel de Allende community roundup

1
Art, celebration and Christmas cheer: San Miguel de Allende has it in spades this month.
Cirque du Soleil LUDO

Cirque du Soleil prepares a permanent aquatic mega-show on the Riviera Nayarit

1
The coming show and venue are all about water: the 696-seat venue combines a 360-degree aquatic stage, a wrap-around “human aquarium” and a submersible platform.
Mérida

What makes Mérida Mexico’s cutest city: 8 architectural secrets revealed

1
Mérida, the capital city of the state of Yucatán, is one of the most charming cities in Mexico, thanks to its pleasing mix of Indigenous and Colonial architectural styles and its signature decorative accents.
Los Cabos coastline

Everything in store for Los Cabos in 2026

2
Los Cabos will continue to grow in 2026, Los Cabos Tourism Board head Rodrigo Esponda explains, thanks to new hotels, increased connectivity and other improvements to the destination in the coming year.
Farmer with a box full of fruits and vegetables

Mexican ag experts: Your insights are needed

0
Wikifarmer is encouraging Mexican farmers to take its new survey as part of efforts to gather up-to-date information on agriculture in the country, including pricing changes and the effects of climate change.
Amaranth-based alegría bar

From Mexico to the world: amaranth, the tiny seed that traveled to space

4
It took a Mexican astronaut to carry amaranth seeds into space. But here on Earth, it has been a source of nutrition for thousands of years; in alegría bars, gluten-free flours and myriad other ways.
Ricardo Monreal stands at a podium in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies (congress chambers) surrounded by dozens of supporters with their fists raised in the air

Highway blockades return as Congress races to approve the new General Water Law

3
The lower house passed the bill in marathon 24-hour session as protesting farmers reactivated blockades they had dismantled after reaching an agreement with the government last week.
The Rio Grande or Rio Bravo flows through Big Bend National Park in Texas

US blames Texas crop losses on Mexico’s missed water deliveries

6
Mexico still owes nearly half the water that it was treaty-bound to deliver between 2020 and 2025. As drought persists in northern Mexico, will it be able to catch up?
Oceanman in Cozumel

I entered the Oceanman in Cozumel with less than a month to train and...

2
What could happen if you tried an endurance swimming race without a proper training schedule? One Riviera Maya resident decided to find out.
A medical device at a Los Cabos hospital

A guide to medical tourism in Los Cabos

2
These Baja California Sur hospitals are modern and clean and cost a fraction of the price of those at home, worth considering for an upcoming procedure.
Headshot of a smiling woman, artist Tamanna Bembenek. She is standing in a black sweater with a black-and-white geometric pattern on the shoulders. She has long light-brown hair. She is standing against a dark gray textured background.

MND’s co-owner’s art exhibition, ‘A Pilgrimage Across Cultures’ opens in San Miguel de Allende

1
Artist and MND co-owner Tamanna Bembenek shares her journey of slowing down, healing and rediscovering creativity through art in her new exhibit in San Miguel de Allende.

MND Tutor | Amaranto

0
Learn about a Mexican superfood that's been into space, as MND Tutor takes a look at one of the best stories of the past week.
Painting of the Cortés led conquest of Mexico.

Between Columbus and Cortés — How Spain encountered Mexico

10
Hernán Cortés wasn't the first Spanish leader of an expedition to Mexico. Two previous ones had already set sail from Havana in the early years of the 16th century, after Columbus' voyages had introduced the Spanish to the Americas.
Tlajomulco, Jalisco, México, 3 de agosto de 2025. La doctora Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, presidenta Constitucional de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos en la inauguración de la primera etapa del Hospital Regional ISSSTE Tlajomulco, Jalisco.

NYT names Sheinbaum among the most stylish people of 2025

1
The NYT highlighted Sheinbaum's stance against major brands that copy artisans' work without credit or fair compensation, connecting her wardrobe choices to her defense of cultural property.
A community parade in San Miguel Allende

MND Local: San Miguel de Allende community roundup

1
Art, celebration and Christmas cheer: San Miguel de Allende has it in spades this month.
Cirque du Soleil LUDO

Cirque du Soleil prepares a permanent aquatic mega-show on the Riviera Nayarit

1
The coming show and venue are all about water: the 696-seat venue combines a 360-degree aquatic stage, a wrap-around “human aquarium” and a submersible platform.
car bomb in Michoacán

Car bomb targeting community police station kills 6 in Michoacán

0
The explosion of a car bomb outside a community police station in the town of Coahuayana, Michoacán, on Saturday killed six people, including at least three police officers.
Sheinbaum holds up a small ribbon with the word Mexico at the World Cup draw on Dec. 5

Mexico’s week in review: Sheinbaum draws Mexico’s World Cup fate — and Trump’s praise

0
This week, President Sheinbaum expanded her fan base — including a not-so-secret admirer in U.S. President Donald Trump — during her first U.S. visit as Mexico's president on Friday.
President Sheinbaum on stage next to Trump and Carney, holding a paper reading Mexico

Sheinbaum joins US President Trump and Canada PM Carney at the FIFA World Cup...

15
The draw results are now in: Group assignments are set and Mexico will kick off the World Cup with a June 11 game against South Africa.
farmers proterst at night

Protesting farmers stand down after Senate quickly approves water law

0
But the drama may resurface, because the government fears — and the farmers threaten — more disruptive protests pending implementation.
San Miguel de Allende real estate listing

Why your real estate agent in Mexico still gets a commission when you find...

3
Your real estate agent gets a 5% commission when you sell your home in Mexico, even if you found the buyer. Here's an in-depth look at why they deserve every penny or peso.
A team of architects and engineers reviews blueprints on a stack of concrete blocks at a home building construction site in Mexico.

Investing from scratch: When your dream is building property in Mexico 

0
Building a home in Mexico can be a dream come true or a nightmare, depending on how well you understand the geography where you're building, Mexican law and your rights and obligations.
A small house in a forest

Sustainability meets investment at these Mexican real estate projects

0
Investing in real estate in Mexico doesn't just mean beachside condos, as these amazing sustainable developments prove.
Water drips from an outdoor spigot

Confidently Wrong about Water in Mexico: A new podcast from our CEO

2
Is it still necessary to avoid drinking tap water? What do water shortages mean for the construction of new homes? Travis Bembenek covers these questions and more in a new MND podcast.
Ricardo Monreal stands at a podium in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies (congress chambers) surrounded by dozens of supporters with their fists raised in the air

Highway blockades return as Congress races to approve the new General Water Law

3
The lower house passed the bill in marathon 24-hour session as protesting farmers reactivated blockades they had dismantled after reaching an agreement with the government last week.
The Rio Grande or Rio Bravo flows through Big Bend National Park in Texas

US blames Texas crop losses on Mexico’s missed water deliveries

6
Mexico still owes nearly half the water that it was treaty-bound to deliver between 2020 and 2025. As drought persists in northern Mexico, will it be able to catch up?
Dr. Molina

One doctor’s mission to provide affordable care in Zihuatanejo

2
Everyone should have a doctor who cares as much as Dr. Molina, a woman on a mission in one of Zihuatanejo's poorest neighborhoods.
Oceanman in Cozumel

I entered the Oceanman in Cozumel with less than a month to train and...

2
What could happen if you tried an endurance swimming race without a proper training schedule? One Riviera Maya resident decided to find out.
A medical device at a Los Cabos hospital

A guide to medical tourism in Los Cabos

2
These Baja California Sur hospitals are modern and clean and cost a fraction of the price of those at home, worth considering for an upcoming procedure.
the Angel of Independence in Mexico City

Foreign direct investment in Mexico climbs to record US $40.9B, already surpassing all of...

0
New investment contributed to around 16% of total FDI in Mexico in the first nine months of the year, with the remainder of the money coming from reinvestment of profits and payments by foreign companies with an existing presence in Mexico.
2 guys from jalisco

Jalisco announces a new chip design park to strengthen Mexico’s semiconductor industry

0
The chip design plant will give a boost to the Mexican government's Kutsari project to coordinate efforts among the public, private and academic sectors to strengthen the industry.
chip

US chip lobby urges tariff-free treatment for North American semiconductors under USMCA

1
As Mexican semiconductor exports decline, the Washington, D.C.-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) is urging the Trump administration to ensure that rules of origin strengthen regional competitiveness.
Yuri Knorozov at his desk

How a Soviet genius cracked the uncrackable Maya code

5
How could a Russian who had never even visited Mexico become the first person since the ancient Maya to underderstand their written language? It all started with a few Mayan codices stolen by the Nazis.
President Sheinbaum on stage next to Trump and Carney, holding a paper reading Mexico

Sheinbaum joins US President Trump and Canada PM Carney at the FIFA World Cup...

15
The draw results are now in: Group assignments are set and Mexico will kick off the World Cup with a June 11 game against South Africa.
Farmer with a box full of fruits and vegetables

Mexican ag experts: Your insights are needed

0
Wikifarmer is encouraging Mexican farmers to take its new survey as part of efforts to gather up-to-date information on agriculture in the country, including pricing changes and the effects of climate change.

El Jalapeño: Whales gather off the coast of Mexico as annual human watching season...

5
Human-watching season turns office life into a hilarious safari spectacle in this week's El Jalapeño, Mexico's premier fake news outlet.
Close-up of green corn stalks and tassels in a field under a cloudy sky, illustrating the modern result of the evolution of corn from teosinte.

Ancient genetic engineers: How Mexico’s Mesoamericans bred a tiny plant into corn

3
Science still doesn't know which of Mexico's ancient peoples discovered how to breed the tiny teosinte plant into what's still a major food staple for the nation today.
Farmer with a box full of fruits and vegetables

Mexican ag experts: Your insights are needed

0
Wikifarmer is encouraging Mexican farmers to take its new survey as part of efforts to gather up-to-date information on agriculture in the country, including pricing changes and the effects of climate change.
Amaranth-based alegría bar

From Mexico to the world: amaranth, the tiny seed that traveled to space

4
It took a Mexican astronaut to carry amaranth seeds into space. But here on Earth, it has been a source of nutrition for thousands of years; in alegría bars, gluten-free flours and myriad other ways.
Christmas plate in Mexico

What to cook this December

0
Mexico has its share of iconic seasonal dishes that no holiday table should be without. Writer Bel Woodhouse shares her favorite recipes as well as a few tips for those preparing these dishes for the first time.