Mollete slices of jalapeño or serrano peppers. It is then grilled in an oven until the cheese melts. The frijoles refritos are "frijol mantequilla" known outside of the region as "pinto beans". The traditional cheeses used were the queso ranchero, asadero or queso menonita. The queso ranchero is most similar to Parmesan with less aging, the asadero is a creamy provolone and the menonita most closely resembles Havarti. "Molletes" in southern Mexico can be served with salsa or "pico de gallo" or topped with sliced ham, chorizo, bacon or mushrooms. "Molletes" are considered a distant cousin of the Italian bruschetta dish.
Mexican cuisine to Mexico characterizing its cuisine more by its relation to popular traditions rather than on particular cooking techniques. Since the 20th century, there have been an interchange of food influences between Mexico and the United States. Mexican cooking was of course still practiced in what is now the Southwest United States after the Mexican–American War, but Diana Kennedy, in her book "The Cuisines of Mexico" (published in 1972), drew a sharp distinction between Mexican food and Tex-Mex. Tex-Mex food was developed from Mexican and Anglo influences, and was traced to the late 19th century in Texas. It still continues to