1,000 Mexican Recipes is a classic bible of Mexican cooking. As one enthusiastic reviewer wrote, "If you can't find it here, you won't find it anywhere!" There are indeed cookbooks within cookbooks for the Mexican cuisine sophisticated palates. As with any ethnic work, much lore and history is interwoven with the thousand recipes, so you get a cultural and geographic education along with the inspiring presentations of imaginative Mexican delicacies. Thereare not just recipes but whole chapters devoted to Salsas, Appetizers, Enchiladas Tamales and Tortillas, Salads, Soups, Poultry, Meats, Fish, Vegetables, Beans Rice and Pasta, Eggs, Breads, Desserts and Beverages. There is also a Mexican Cooking Glossary and mail order sources for ingredients listed. This is a hefty book, 644 pages, packed with both familiar and obscure Mexican foods and preparation tips. For anyone who is a serious Mexican foods fan or cook, 1,000 Mexican Recipes is a must. Even the lovely illustration on the cover has a key inside that explains what each item or food is! Now that is what I call making ethnic cooking and foods accessible! Some of the more unusual sounding recipes included Cactus Salad with Tuna (page 202), Tamales in Bana Leaves, Oaxacan Style (p. 153), and Chicken, Ticul Style (p. 288) which contains black beans, Yucatan tomato sauce, pickled red onions, Yucatan habanero sauce, fried plaintains, fried whole tortillas, chicken, and cotija, or feta cheese!