Mexican Made Easy

Marcela celebrates Cinco de Mayo in the Season 5 opener. On the menu: spiced chicken coated in chocolate-pasilla sauce; kale-stuffed tamales; chorizo-and-potato flautas; cucumber-strawberry margaritas.

For Mother's Day, Marcela teaches her sister how to make their mom's polvoróns, a sweet Mexican shortbread. Also prepared: tostadas topped with spicy chicken; pork slow-cooked in fresh tomatillo salsa.

Recipes from the Yucatan Peninsula. Included: cochinita pibil, a slow-roasted pork dish marinated in an orange-and-achiote sauce; pickled habanero chiles and red onions; guacamole; guava pound cake.

Pastel Azteca, a one-dish meal layered with Oaxaca cheese, poblano peppers and tortillas, served alongside avocado-and-cilantro dip, and a warm butternut-squash salad

On the menu: steak sandwiches; grilled red potatoes with chipotle butter; cheese-stuffed jalapeños wrapped in bacon; grilled bananas with spiced-chocolate sauce

Marcela and her aunt share family recipes and stories. On the menu: tuna-stuffed chilis; lamb-albóndiga soup; chipotle-sweet-potato casserole; tequila-grapefruit cocktails.

Oaxacan cuisine is prepared. Included: mole negro; marinated cheese with fragrant herbs; tlayuda.

Caldo de res, a Mexican beef soup, is made, along with arroz rojo, pickled vegetables and cajeta gelatin.

A seafood feast is prepared. Included: crab-avocado salad; pan-roasted halibut in corn husks; chipotle-cream shrimp; ahi-tuna quesadillas; honeydew margaritas.

Prepared: smoky salsa made with guajillo chiles; mango-habanero salsa. Also: shrimp-and-cheese enchiladas; grilled sea bass.

Mexican desserts are made. Included: chocolate flan; crepes stuffed with pecans, bananas and cajeta; caramel popcorn balls; Aztec hot chocolate spiced with cinnamon and chili.

The host picks vegetables with her children. Then, they prepare a healthful meal together. On the menu: bean burritos with cauliflower and cheese; ground-beef empanadas; chicken tostadas.

Prepared: salpicon, a shredded-beef salad stacked on grilled tostadas and topped with pineapple salsa; shrimp ceviche; melon-and-mint agua fresca