I love to throw a party. Family in town, the holidays, it’s staying light later … you name it, I’ve probably created a reason to have a party for it. Next up, Cinco de Mayo! I am a huge fan of Mexican food, so this gives me an excuse to make dishes right up my taste buds alley.
It’s always fun to serve different themed cocktails that suit the parties’ theme. Grace Pulley’s Pomegranate Margarita is a twist on the traditional margarita. “Love pomegranates… [and] the juice was great for one of my favorite drinks,” explains Grace. Don’t have fresh pomegranates? No problem, a little bit of store bought juice will work just fine. Once I tried pomegranate in a margarita, this became my new favorite drink.
Burgers are big in my household. And, Linda Dalton’s Cinco de Mayo Burger is perfect for a party! This burger has a slight kick to it that I really like. And using corn tortillas as a bun? Who would have thought! “This is certainly not an authentic Mexican dish,” says Linda, “but muy delicioso!” Yummy indeed. Adjust the heat to suit your taste. For me, the spicier the better.
Speaking of spicy, Missy Wimpelberg’s Guacamole Recipe is NOT for the faint of heart, but it sure is delicious. “If you like your guacamole with a little kick, this is the one for you,” says Missy. “Little kick” may be an understatement. I’d let your guests know about the heat factor. I bet they are going to love the fresh taste of the lime juice and Serrano pepper. Next time I make this guacamole, I’m doubling the recipe.
No fiesta is complete without chips and salsa. Juliann Esquivel’s Mexican Red Table Salsa (Salsa Roja de Mesa Mejicana) is a very traditional salsa recipe that dates back for generations and will add something special to your Mexican fiesta. “This salsa dates back to my great grandmother’s time – I am sure even further back,” says Juliann. If a recipe has withstood time, it must be good (and this one is!).
Shawn Chant’s Salsa Fresca is another great recipe. “[This is best] refrigerated for at least an hour so the flavors can meld,” explains Shawn. I can’t imagine anyone NOT liking this. With a medium kick and lots of fresh veggies, this salsa is a crowd pleaser.
Wings are a staple at my parties and I like to switch up the flavors based on the theme. This year, I’ll be adding Sandy Mika’s Tequila Lime Sauce to my wings. “I decided to play around because I didn’t care for [another] recipe my husband was using,” explains Sandy. Sandy developed a sauce with wonderful flavor. Besides wings, you could top other meats with this tasty sauce. Finger-licking good!
Planing a party can be time consuming, but planning the menu doesn’t need to be! These recipes are easy to throw together, giving you more time with guests (which is really what the nights about!). I’m curious, what type of parties are you getting ready to throw? And more importantly what’s going to be on your menu?!