This is a recipe I’ve used for years and years and it always works and is always wonderful. Traditionally these are prepared with cheese fillings, but a cooked meat mixture, or a combination of meat, dried fruits and nuts also works well. When I’m processing a large bag of chile, I always set aside the largest, whole chiles for this dish.

Ingredients

• 4 large or 8 small, New Mexican green chiles, roasted peeled and seeded, with the stems on

• 1/3 to ½ pound cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, cut into sticks

• All-purpose flour

• 3 eggs

• 3 tablespoons flour

• 1 tablespoon water

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• Vegetable oil for frying

• 1 recipe green chile sauce (see following recipe)

Instructions

Make a slit in the side of each chile and carefully stuff it with the cheese sticks. If the chiles tear, secure them with a toothpick. Just be sure to remove it before serving the chile.

Place some of the flour on a plate and roll each of the chiles in the flour until it’s fairly evenly covered. Shake off the excess flour.

Separate the eggs, putting the whites in a large bowl and the yolks in a small one. Whisk the egg yolks with the flour, water, and salt until they’re thick and creamy.

Whip the egg whites until they form soft peaks.

Pour the oil in a saute pan to a depth of 1 ½ to 2 inches, or until it looks like it would reach a little more than halfway up the side of the chiles. Heat the oil to 350 to 375 degrees or until a little of the batter quickly browns when dropped in the oil, about 20 seconds.

Quickly and gently fold the yolks into the whites so that the mixture is an even color but the whites are not broken down. Dip the chiles in the batter, covering them completely and removing any excess.

Slide the chiles, one or two at a time, into the hot oil. As they are browning on one side, carefully spoon some of the hot oil over the top to assist in setting the batter. When they’re browned, gently turn them over and brown the other side, turning only once. Remove them from the oil and drain on a paper towel.

To serve, place the rellenos on a plate and top with some of the green chile sauce. Serve immediately.

Here’s a modern version of the ancient Mayan drink.

Ingredients

•    1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
•    1 tablespoon flour
•    1/3 cup granulated sugar
•    3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•    1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
•    1 teaspoon finely ground New Mexican red chile
•    1 cup water
•    2 cups half-half
•    1 cup milk
•    1 cup whipping cream
•    1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
•    Freshly grated nutmeg
•    6 whole cinnamon sticks

Instructions

Combine the cocoa, flour, sugar cinnamon, cloves and red chile with the water in a large saucepan. Stir or whisk until very blended. Heat the mixture until bubbling and just beginning to simmer. Gradually add the half and half, then the milk in a very fine stream, stirring constantly. Beat with a molina or a whisk. Heat until hot, but do not boil, and keep warm for at least five minutes. Whip the cream with the vanilla. Whip the chocolate again just before serving, until it is very frothy. Top with a dollop of the whipped cream and a pinch of nutmeg. Insert a cinnamon stick into each mug and serve.