"Dawn" > wrote in message
...
> All,
>
> I'm having a casual New Year's Day dinner for 6, and as several of the
> guests are from the southwest I was planning tamales as one of the
> dishes. Now I'm stumped for the rest of the meal, because half the
> people at the table will be on a low-carb diet and that means no beans,
> rice, tortillas, etc. that traditionally accompany mexican fare. Even
> the tamales are pushing it, but hey, it is the New Year.
>
> I'm thinking of adding spanish style roasted cornish hens to the menu
> (baked with tomato, olives, ham) but after that I'm stumped.
>
> Has anyone got ideas for vegetables that fit the spanish-mexican theme,
> or other side dishes that aren't starchy?

How about "Rajas de Chile Poblano" roasted peeled poblanos cut into 1/4 inch
strip with sautéed onions and garlic that is simmered in crema (substitute
crème fraiche or heavy cream) along with dried herbs etc. The recipe is
from "Authentic Mexican" if you are interested. A more elegant alternative
to that would be a roasted poblano and crema soup.

Kate