How To Have A Cinco de Mayo Feast To Remember
How To Have A Cinco de Mayo Feast To Remember
1. My number one rule: A good party always starts with a good drink. Make crowd-pleaser drinks such as agave margaritas or try this Hibiscus Pineapple Cocktail {recipe below}. Or go crazy and make both. I like to have them readymade by the pitcher for when guests arrive.
2. Always have guacamole and chips or a queso fundido as starters. You want to keep your guests happy while you finish setting up or finish prepping.
3. Your main dish should be kept simple. Try some skirt steak carne-asada style, or make these homemade carnitas ahead of time for some delicious tacos.
4. Offer your guests an abundance of swoon-worthy condiments. On top of your traditional toppings {cilantro, sliced avocado, fresh salsa, limes}, pickle some pretty watermelon radishes and/or make homemade escabeche.
5. When I entertain during the warm months, I love to grill fresh fruit {peaches or pineapples} and I finish the fruit with a dollop of Nutella. It's super simple and semi-healthy. Another crowd-pleaser make-ahead dessert are my favorite grapefruit sorbet cups -- so refreshing! For something more traditional, make homemade churros.
6. Finally, presentation does matter. Use your favorite bowls and platters, and refrain from using paper plates {for outdoor parties a good alternative is to use melamine plates}. Also, equally important is to use cloth napkins, or because Mexcian food can be messy, I sometimes like to use simple Ikea kitchen dish towels as napkins.
Just 6 easy steps to having a memorable Cinco de Mayo Celebration. We love our Mexican food and it seems like every year, without really planning ahead, we end up celebrating the holiday with a Mexican feast. We usually grill flank steak carne-asada style or make homemade carnitas, a corn salad, and always part of this holiday ritual are our homemade margaritas and guacamole and chips. This year however, I decided it was time to try a new cocktail. I'm switching our regular agave margaritas for this yummy hibiscus pineapple cocktail.
Hibiscus Pineapple Margaritas"We love the citrusy sour flavor of hibiscus, not to mention its amazing color."Ingredients:yields 8 servings1¼ cups sugar1 pineapple, peeled, cut into 1½-inch pieces6 tablespoons distilled white vinegar¼ cup dried hibiscus flowers1 jalapeño, thinly sliced into rounds5 sprigs mint1 lime, thinly sliced into wheels2 cups tequila1 cup fresh lime juicePreparation:Bring sugar and 1 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan and cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Add pineapple, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit 30 minutes to infuse syrup with pineapple flavor. Strain into a small bowl; stir in vinegar. Cover and chill shrub until cold, about 30 minutes. Cover and chill pineapple pieces until ready to use.Meanwhile, place hibiscus in a small bowl and pour 1¼ cups boiling water over. Cover and let steep 10 minutes. Strain tea into an airtight container; discard flowers. Cover tea and chill until cold, about 30 minutes.Set aside 8 slices jalapeño and 8 pieces pineapple for serving. Stir mint, lime wheels, tequila, lime juice, remaining jalapeño and pineapple, 1 cup shrub, and 1 cup tea in a large pitcher and chill at least 1 hour.Serve in ice-filled rocks glasses garnished with reserved jalapeño slices and pineapple pieces.Do Ahead: Cocktail can be mixed 6 hours ahead. Keep chilled.recipe via Bon Appétit
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