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Cinqo De Mayo
Means Mexican Fiesta!
Holiday Cooking and Fun
by Alice Osborne
OLÉ! Spice up your life and host a Mexican Fiesta in your home! A fiesta can be used for many types of celebrations. They are most commonly held on the 5th of May to celebrate “Cinqo de Mayo,” which is the celebration of Mexico’s independence from France.
The key to hosting a fabulous fiesta is color, music and great food! Here are some tips to help you provide your guests with lots of fun and great memories !
Preparation
1. Decide on your fiesta’s date, time and guest list
2. Send out invitations (either by email or post). Use a creative invitation to match the ‘Mexican Fiesta’ theme (e.g. a sombrero shaped invite)
3. A couple of days ahead make your grocery list and do your shopping
4. Prepare any food that you can the day before so that you have more time on the day
Menu Suggestion:
Appetizers
Spicy Guacamole and corn chips: A favourite and a must! Some like it hot! But if not - just cut back on the chillies.
Salsa Verde Veracruz: Fabulous as a dip but also great as a topping with grilled vegetables, tacos or burritos.
Main Dishes
Burritos: Easy yet delicious! An abundance of recipes to choose from!
Taco Bar: Set up a ‘help-yourself’ taco bar for guests for a more relaxed Fiesta.
Dessert
Flan: A traditional Mexican desert (try ours, it’s scumptious!)
Cream Cheese Flan (Flan de Queso)
½ cup sugar
1 - 8oz. package cream cheese, softened
8 eggs
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 can evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Beat all ingredients together. Carefully pour into prepared pan and bake at 350º in a "baño de Maria" (bain marie) for about 50 minutes or until golden. Test with a knife as you would a cake, it should come out clean. Remove from oven, cool and refrigerate at least 4 hours.
Decorations
Map of Mexico
Mexican flag
Sombreros
Pinatas
Cacti arrangement
Chili pepper wreath
Red, white & green balloons
Tissue paper flowers in bright colours
Colorful streamers
Finishing Touches
Red and green plastic tablecloths
Brightly colored paper napkins
Use some small brown paper bags with tealight candles lit inside and place either side of the pathway to your front door
Lay out your most ‘fun’ serving plates
You can buy strands of 'chili pepper lights' to hang indoors or outdoors on the night of your fiesta!
Play some lively music!
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