Cinco de Mayo Recipes for Your Party

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, and although many Americans think that it is Mexico’s version of our Fourth of July, it is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Cinco de Mayo is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage.  Americans don’t need much of an excuse to have a party.

When planning this post we were going to introduce you to another great margarita recipe, because everyone loves a good marg, right?  Then we started to scroll through our past posts and realized that we could put together a whole menu of easy, tasty and fresh ideas for your Cinco de Mayo party.

Appetizer– Tequila Ceviche.

We shared this post with you last summer, and it became a huge hit in TBP household.  This is often a go-to for us when friends and family are joining us for dinner.  Hosting tip– this is delicious if made ahead of time.  It gives the flavors time to meld together and you time to take care of other pressing matters.

Cocktails!  You can’t have a Cinco de Mayo party without a yummy margarita.  We have some marg suggestions for you.

Skinny Agave Margarita:  This one is a crowd pleaser.  Easy to make and easy to drink.

Jalapeno Popper Margarita:  Need to spice things up a bit?

Watermelon Jalapeno Margarita: Fresh and spicy.  What else is there to say?

Merry Margarita:  We know it’s not Christmas, but this drink will keep your guests merry all year long

Santorita:  This marg is made with mezquila.  You can also substitute your favorite tequila.  It’s an excellent recipe.

 

In keeping with other yummy Mexican beverages we have some margarita alternatives.

Rojo:  This drink is made for the more sophisticated palate.  With a name like Rojo, how can it be left off the list?

Carpano Antica Sangria:  Need a large batch recipe?  This is your friend.  For the busy host, this recipe also can be made ahead of time.

Paloma:  Palomas are more popular in Mexico than margaritas which are more of an American invention.  If you really want to be true to Viva La Mexico, go with the Paloma.

The Paloma is a refreshing alternative tequila cocktail to the typical margarita.

Main Course: We have 3 wonderful choices for you for the main course.

Hatch Tequila Chicken:  This recipe is a little more time consuming, but if you plan ahead you can prep much of this a day ahead in order to make the day of your celebration a breeze.  This chicken is so yummy.  It is well worth the extra effort.

Corralejo Honey Lime Chicken:  This is a great choice, especially if you are in the mood to grill.  This chicken is very versatile.  It can stand alone, be sliced up and served in tacos or fajitas.  This is a TBP family favorite.

Tequila Fish Tacos:  These tacos are very yummy and flavorful.  Fish tacos aren’t for everyone, but we highly recommend this recipe.

Dessert: Tequila Strawberry Lime Ice Cream Pie

This pie recipe will need to be prepped the day before your party.  With its yummy strawberry ice cream, pretzel crust and touch of tequila flavor, your guests will be blown away!

Choose one or choose them all, you can’t go wrong with this line up for your Cinco de Mayo.

 

Disclaimer:  Beverages on this site are meant for adults 21 years of age and older.  We do not condone underage drinking, and never drink and drive.

Santorita!

santoritaIt’s unofficially summer in Texas.  This week in Dallas the temps hit 96 degrees and felt warmer than that with the heat index. When nature is calling for summer, why fight it?  Join in the spirit with a Santorita.

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This delicious drink is a small twist on the typical margarita by using a spirit which is gaining popularity.   Mezquila is a blend of mezcal and tequila. Mezcal is derived from various types of agave plants and  usually has a distinctive smoky character. Tequila is made only from blue agave and comes from specific parts of Mexico.  When blended together you get mezquila.

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Who better to bring you this tasty spirit than Sammy Hagar and Adam Levine?  The two have teamed up to make Santo. Santo is a blend of mezcal and tequila with a touch of smokiness and a soft agave finish.  This smoky flavor makes for an interesting flavor in your margarita.

You all know that Craig has a job where he occasionally gets to meet some super cool people.  These photos are from a Santo kick off party from about a year ago.  When asked if he got pictures with Sammy or Adam, his reply was, “I was standing in the back talking to Adam’s parents.”  Sigh!

 

To make this smoky little number, you need Santo, Cointreau, cocktail ready agave nectar, a whole lime and a half of an orange.  The addition of a little squeezed orange juice to this recipe enhances the smoky flavor of the Santo to give your margarita a richer, smoother taste.  This drink is a great compliment to your next Tex-Mex or Mexican meal.

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Sammy Hagar has a video on youtube making the Santorita, or you can keep reading and get it here.

The Santorita is a delicious twist on the traditional margarita made with the smoky flavor of mezquila.

You can find Santo at most Walmarts that sell spirits, Total Wine, and other fine liquor stores.

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Now we are all set to serve a Santorita at our next pool party. Who knows?  Maybe Sammy and Adam might show up?

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Disclaimer:  Alcoholic beverages shown on this site are meant for adults 21 years of age and older.  We do not condone underage drinking.  Never drink and drive.