Refried beans are not served with every meal in Mexico.  Sometimes you get black beans.  All kidding aside, regional dishes are as varied as the landscape, from the rich moles of Puebla and Oaxaca, to the abundant seafood at the coast.  Here is more information about  popular Mexican dishes that some areas are known for.

What on earth are you supposed to do with those dried up, leathery red chile pods?  Turn them into a chile paste that you can use to flavor sauces and soups, that's what.  Check out this chile tutorial that shows you exactly how to do this, step-by-step with pictures to guide you along the way.

Stock up your kitchen with a few Mexican food staples, and you can be ready to make delicious meal whenever you want. Check out this list of Mexican Pantry Items to get you started. The items on this list should round out your regular supplies so that you can have items on hand to make your favorite Mexican dish at any time. Print it out and bring it grocery shopping so you don't forget anything.

_{Grocery Store Image © 2008 Chelsie Kenyon licensed to About.com}

If you can get your hands on some fresh green chiles, you can make some delicious and tangy Chile Sauce. This sauce can be used for enchiladas, chile verde or in a taco or a burrito. Homemade green chile sauce can be fine-tuned to your liking because you can choose chiles that suit your taste and desired heat level.