We all know how it feels. After working at the office or looking after the children all day, it's time for supper. By now you're too exhausted to think of fresh meals ideas and cooking is the last thing you feel like doing. You could order take away (again) or you could prepare the same unappetising meal you make every time you feel this way (scrambled eggs?). There's another option: you could learn to make quick, easy Mexican food with just a few ingredients. If the third option sounds good to you then read on!

You may be wondering how Mexican food could possibly be quick or easy to prepare. After all, we are talking about foreign cuisine, and cooking it at home no less. However, consider the Mexican food you've eaten at restaurants. It usually includes rice, beans, tomatoes, onions, capsicum and cheese. These ingredients are probably somewhere in your kitchen as you read this… so find them and put them together in a new way! With just those ingredients you're off to a great start. Beef and chicken are typical meats used in Mexican food and you can use beans to make vegetarian meals.

There are some ingredients you may not have at home that are common in Mexican meals. Tortillas and salsa can be purchased at the local grocery, but though they are often used in Mexican food you can do without them. Mexican food is seasoned largely with cumin, chilli, garlic, oregano and coriander (in addition to salt and black pepper), which you may not have in your kitchen. You can buy these seasonings according to your preferences and mix them yourself, or you can find a prepared mix at the supermarket or fruit and veg shop. Finally, avocado and sour cream are added in small amounts on serving plates, so if you don't have one or either of these you can do without them (although they do make a yummy addition).

Now that you know the common ingredients used in Mexican food, here are some quick, easy Mexican dishes to try:

1. Frijoles (free-HO-lays), or beans, can be served rice or inside tortillas. To save time, buy tinned pinto or black beans, pour off the excess liquid, and heat them before serving. To make refried beans, mash the beans and add a little oil to help smooth them out.

2. Soft tacos are one of the simplest Mexican foods to prepare. Season your meat or beans to suit your personal preferences, then cook them. Add beans (or meat) to tortillas along with chopped onions and tomatoes (or salsa) and cheese. Avocado and sour cream make the meal extra tasty. You can lessen the amount of work this requires by setting out the meat, vegetables and tortillas and allowing your family to assemble their own tacos!

3. Burritos are very similar to tacos. The key difference is that with a taco you simply roll the tortilla closed, while with a burrito you then fold the open sides after rolling. For this reason, burritos are made using a bigger tortilla than that used to make tacos.

To create your burrito, fill a large tortilla with cooked and seasoned meat or mashed beans. Roll the tortilla closed then fold the open sides in so that none of the fillings are visible. Add salsa to the outside of the burrito.

Tacos and burritos are often served with beans and rice. For variety and authenticity, add rice to the inside of your tacos and burritos. With these easy meals in your arsenal, you'll never have to order Mexican food in as a take away again.