Posts Labeled ‘margaritas’

April 26th, 2010

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is such a quirky little holiday. I bet if you polled ten people on the street, maybe one of them could tell you what it celebrates. I would not be that one. But even if I don’t really understand the origin of the holiday, it doesn’t mean I can’t join in the celebration, right? Here are some ideas I am considering for celebrating Cinco de Mayo this year:

I adore these recycled Sol tumblers from Bambeco. They are eco-friendly, whimsical, and are likely to be a good conversation piece.

recycled Sol tumblers from Bambeco

recycled Sol tumblers from Bambeco

Garlands and banners are an easy way to add color and punch to a party. Hang one of these above your buffet table and you are ready to go!

Circle Cinco de Mayo Banner from Makentake on Etsy

Circle Cinco de Mayo Banner from Makentake on Etsy

Mexican Fiesta Fabric Bunting Banner from SillyGoat on Etsy

Mexican Fiesta Fabric Bunting Banner from SillyGoat on Etsy

Margaritas are a key ingredient for a Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Serve them with a twist using this fun idea for margarita ice pops — a refreshing treat for guests on a warm May evening. This recipe provides a quick, easy way to achieve the margarita flavor, though I might also suggest making a batch of margaritas and freezing them in popsicle molds for a more intense flavor.

Margarita Ice Pops; recipe from Bon Appetit; photo by Brian Leatart

Margarita Ice Pops; recipe from Bon Appetit; photo by Brian Leatart

Be sure to check out my previous posts on Cinco de Mayo, including one focused on margaritas and one that lists cinco ways to celebrate the day!

Feliz Cinco de Mayo, everyone!

May 5th, 2009

Loco for Margaritas

Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone! What better way to celebrate the evening with friends than by sampling some margaritas?! Here are a few to try, courtesy of some of our favorite chefs and culinary experts:

THE RECIPES

Key Lime Margaritas – Gourmet magazine

Key Lime Margaritas

Key Lime Margaritas

Mesa Grill Margarita – Bobby Flay

Real Margaritas – Ina Garten

Frozen Blood Orange Margaritas – Ina Garten

Frozen Passionfruit Margaritas – Wolfgang Puck

Blossom Rita – Gabriel Orta, Master Mixologist

THE SALT

For those “with salt” fans, be sure to have some margarita rimmer on hand. If you don’t have a specialty rimmer, like those Stirrings provides, just use some kosher salt.  Simply pour the salt into a small dish, rub a lime on the rim of the glass, and dip the glass into the salt.

Stirrings margarita rimmer

Stirrings margarita rimmer

THE MACHINE

When you can’t decide which frozen margarita to make,  try this brand new Margaritaville machine.  It’s sister machine (discussed in an earlier post) makes one type of margarita at a time, while this new version offers triple the fun.

Premium Margaritaville Trio Frozen Concoction Maker

Premium Margaritaville Trio Frozen Concoction Maker

THE GLASSES

Margaritas can be served in an old-fashioned glass but it is always more festive to serve them in a specialty glass. These are a few of my favorites. I particularly love the Aqua Freeze glasses from NOVICA which boast a beautiful color.

Margarita Glass from Simon Pearce

Margarita Glass from Simon Pearce

NOVICA Margarita glasses, 'Cobalt Spirals' (set of 6)

NOVICA Margarita glasses, 'Cobalt Spirals' (set of 6)

NOVICA Margarita glasses, 'Aqua Freeze' (set of 4)

NOVICA Margarita glasses, 'Aqua Freeze' (set of 4)

April 26th, 2009

Cinco treats for Cinco de Mayo.

I love Cinco de Mayo. No, I cannot tell you anything about the Battle of Puebla or much else about the origin of the holiday, but I still love it! And who doesn’t want another excuse for a holiday?

Here are five festive ideas for celebrating on the fifth of May:

Uno

One of my favorite dips to make for the holiday is an oldie-but-a-goodie from Cooking Light. Their Tex Mex Black Bean Dip is to die for. It’s served warm, easy to prepare, and is a little more unique than some of the run-of-the mill mexican dips we see so often. Serve it with a colorful assortment of tortilla chips for an easy and delicious snack to kick off your Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Dos

It’s unfathomable to celebrate Cinco de May without good margaritas. And what fun to make your own frozen version at home! If you didn’t buy this machine last season when it came out, it’s time now!


Margarita machine from Frontgate

Margarita machine from Frontgate

Tres

And to serve those margaritas? Try these fabulously festive glasses from Uncommon Goods. I love how each stem of the six glasses is unique — helping guests identify which glass is theirs.

Hand painted margarita glasses available from Uncommon Goods

Hand painted margarita glasses available from Uncommon Goods

Cuatro

 Can you say Burrrrrritos! (remember to roll the “r” of course!). Rachel Ray has a quick and easy plan for a fun Make Your Own Burrito dinner. When I served this for guests (with a few adaptations) at a party, they loved it!

Cinco

For a sweet treat at the end of the evening, why not have fun with flan?! Epicurious offers a list of great flan recipes to choose from. The Perfect Flan sounds, well, perfect!

Feliz Cinco de Mayo, everyone!