Week Two: Mexican & Latin — The Recipes

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Mole Negro Carnitas Mole Enchiladas Citrus Pork Black Bean Tacos Shrimp Fajitas Tres Leches Churros Flan Pickled Onions Salsa Guacamole

Start with the mole negro — it takes about two hours but yields 8–9 cups, enough to carry the carnitas and the enchiladas with plenty left to freeze. Shop the grocery list in one trip, make the pickled red onions that same day (they get better overnight), and the rest of the week falls into place.

The desserts — churros, flan, and tres leches bread pudding — are complex but rewarding. The good news: if the pork shoulder and mole negro are cooked early in the week, three of the dinners (fajitas, tacos, enchiladas) can be thrown together very quickly on a weeknight. Front-load the hard work and coast through the rest.

A few pairing notes: the guacamole belongs with the fajitas and the tacos. Save the roasted chile salsa for chips, the carnitas, or the citrus pork. The pickled red onions are the most flexible thing on the table — they complement everything and get better every day they sit.

And if a jar of mole and a jar of salsa find their way into your cart instead? Totally acceptable. At least make the pickled onions. And make the kids make the guac — it’s so easy there’s really no excuse not to.

Week 2 Grocery List · From Scratch Everything for all twelve recipes — including the mole negro and roasted chile salsa made at home. Organized by aisle, check items off as you shop. Open list → Week 2 Grocery List · Shortcut The same week, but with store-bought mole and salsa to save a step. Fewer ingredients, less prep — no judgment. Open list →

The Sauce make first

Mole Negro Tomatillos, pasilla & ancho chiles, plantain, dark chocolate — the shared sauce of the week. Yields 8–9 cups Complex Shared sauce →

The Dinners 5 recipes

Pulled Pork Carnitas Braise once, crisp twice — served with mole negro and rice. Serves 6–8 Easy Uses mole negro → Chicken Mole Enchiladas Corn tortillas, shared mole negro, crema finish. Serves 4–6 Medium Uses mole negro → Citrus Roasted Pork & Sweet Potato Orange & lime braised, one pan, five ingredients. Serves 4–6 Easy → Black Bean & Sweet Potato Tacos Plant-based, one-pan roast, under 30 minutes. Serves 4 Easy → Spicy Shrimp Fajitas Bold citrus-soy marinade, cast iron, 20-minute cook. Serves 4 Medium →

The Desserts 3 recipes

Tres Leches Bread Pudding Three-milk soak, make-ahead, cinnamon cream finish. Serves 9 Medium → Quick Churros & Chocolate Sauce Choux dough, cinnamon sugar, dark chocolate dipping sauce. Serves 4 Easy → Flan with Rich Caramel Sauce Silky custard, heavy syrup caramel, water bath, unmold the day before. Serves 8 Medium →

The Extras 3 condiments

Pickled Red Onions Quick-pickled, apple cider vinegar — make day one, use all week. Yields 1 pint Easy → Roasted Chile Salsa Pasilla & arbol chiles, toasted garlic, tomatillo, blended smooth. Yields ~2 cups Medium → Guacamole Ripe avocado, lime, cilantro — serve immediately. Yields ~2 cups Easy →