Tomorrow, Mexican-Americans celebrate the Mexican army's victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, in what has subsequently become known as Cinco de Mayo. Today, peoples of all ethnicities celebrate the occasion with Latin-flavored festivities, fine foods and exquisite drinks. We at REDD have culled some of our favorite recipes and cocktail mixes for your benefit, so that you, too, might conquer whatever felicitous happenings the day sends your way.
Recipes
Delish.com features some killer victuals:
The Ultimate Guacamole
- 2 ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
- 1 medium lime, juiced
- 1/4 cup(s) red onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon(s) cilantro, chopped
- 1 clove(s) (small) garlic, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon(s) kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon(s) black pepper
- 1 tablespoon(s) jalapeño pepper, finely chopped
Directions
- Place avocados and lime in medium bowl, and lightly mash
with fork. Stir in remaining ingredients.
- Serve immediately or cover and chill up to 3 hours. Nutrition
information given is for 1/4 cup.
Mexican Grilled Corn
- 2 tablespoon(s) low-fat mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon(s) nonfat plain yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon(s) chili powder
- 4 ear(s) corn, husked
- 4 tablespoon(s) finely shredded Cotija (see Shopping
Tip) or Parmesan cheese
- 1 lime, quartered
Directions
- Preheat grill to medium-high.
- Combine mayonnaise, yogurt and chili powder in a small bowl.
- Grill corn, turning occasionally, until marked and tender, 8
to 12 minutes total. Spread each ear with 1 tablespoon of the sauce and
sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Cotija (or Parmesan). Serve with lime wedges.
- Shopping tip: Cotija cheese, also called queso añejo or
queso añejado, is an aged Mexican cheese similar in texture and flavor to
Parmesan. Find it near other specialty cheeses or in Mexican grocery stores.
Nacho Casserole
- 1 can(s) (10 3/4 ounces) Cheddar cheese soup
- 1/2 cup(s) low-fat (1%) milk
- 1 jar(s) (16 ounces) mild or medium-hot salsa
- 1 bag(s) (7 ounces) baked, unsalted tortilla chips
- 1 can(s) (16 ounces) fat-free refried beans
- 2 jalapeño chiles, thinly sliced
- 1 cup(s) shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400° F. In 13" by 9" ceramic or
glass baking dish, stir undiluted soup with milk; spread evenly. Top with half
of salsa and half of chips. Carefully spread beans over chips. Top with
remaining chips and salsa. Sprinkle with chiles and Cheddar.
- Bake 20 minutes or until hot.
Drinks
CocktailTimes.com has a few salacious suggestions:
Frozen Margarita
- 2 oz tequila (silver)
- juice of one lime
- 1 oz orange curacao or triple sec
- 1 cup ice cubes
- salt (optional)
- Garnish: lime wedge
Directions
Rub the rim of a margarita glass and dip it into salt. Mix
tequila, lime juice, triple sec and ice in a blender. Pour into a glass and
garnish with a lime wedge.
Paloma
- 2 oz. Don Eduardo Anejo Tequila
- 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
- 1 oz. grapefruit soda
- Sprite
- Garnish: lime wedge
Directions
Build over ice in a tall glass and serve with a salted rim.
Garnish with a lime wedge.
Bloody Maria
- 1.5 oz silver tequila
- 4 oz tomato juice
- juice of half lime
- 4 dashes of Cholula
- 2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
- pinch of salt and pepper
- pinch of horseradish
- Garnish: celery stick
Directions
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour into
a tall glass and garnish with celery.
