Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Every September, Americans across the country celebrate the important role Americans of Hispanic origin have played in creating the country we call home today.  This celebration of Hispanic Heritage runs for a month beginning in the middle of September and running through the middle of October.  Hispanic history, culture, language, traditions, and food are represented in almost every area of American life and in almost every region of the country.  To acknowledge the contributions made by those hailing from Hispanic countries, Hispanic Heritage Week was first established by President Johnson in 1968.  President Reagan expanded the celebration from one week to an entire month in 1988.

Festivities begin on September 15^th which also is also Independence Day in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.   Independence Day in Mexico and Chile, which occur on September 16^th and 18^th respectively, also fall during the designated month.  This year’s theme is “Many Backgrounds, Many Stories, One American Spirit”.

One of the main public celebrations of Hispanic Heritage Month occurs in Washington D.C. where many of our National archive sites and museums will be featuring Hispanic Heritage collections and displays.  These sites include the Library of Congress, the National Archives, the National Gallery of Art, the National Park Service, and the Smithsonian Institute.  The goal of the collections, displays, and presentations is to pay tribute and honor to those Hispanic Americans who influenced and enhanced our country through their positive contributions.

Here at Fill Your Plate, we think one of the best ways to pay homage to Hispanic Heritage is through a celebration of the foods and flavors this culture has infused into our modern day menus.  Here are some delicious dishes designed to celebrate Hispanic cuisine.

Breakfast

• Arizona Quiche
• Hickman’s Jalapeno Bacon Egg Bake
• Zesty Papa Protein Scramble
• Tortilla Quiche

Soups

• Albondigas Meatball Soup
• Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Mexican Pork and Bean Soup
• Ranch Soup

Side Dishes

• Arroz Con Chilie Verde
• Baked Corn Dish
• Mexican Cole Slaw
• Spanish Rice with Bacon
• Angry Hillbilly Sweet Potatoes in Adobo Sauce
• Cha Cha’s Chili Corn Bread
• Calabacitas
• Mexican Summer Squash

Main Dishes

• Black Bean and Goat Burger Chili 
• Chicken Breasts with Cheese and Chilies
• Chili Chicken
• Gilda’s Smothered Burritos
• Old Mexico Style Pozole
• Peachy Pork Picante
• Quick Pork Fajitas
• Tamale Pie
• Tex Mex Chops
• Tostados

Sauces and Condiments

• Cantaloupe Basil Salsa
• Chicken Enchilada Dip
• Corn and Black Bean Salsa
• Jalapeno Pepper Dip

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