Cinco de Mayo is almost here! Here in California, it’s party time (as if we need a reason or excuse)! Considering that California and Mexico were originally “discovered” and explored by the Spanish, it makes sense that we should celebrate something that is related to California history. That said, Cinco de Mayo isn’t about Mexican Independence Day (which is an entirely different date) but about winning the battle against the French in the city of Puebla.
History Lesson:
Cinco de Mayo—or the fifth of May—commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations. Cinco de Mayo traditions include parades, mariachi music performances and street festivals in cities and towns across Mexico and the United States.
I have to say that my HS Spanish teacher told us all about this battle and when the real Independence Day is for Mexico.
Looking for some easy food to put together for friends or a Cinco de Mayo party? Here are some great recipes for guacamole, quesadillas (fast and easy), sangria courtesy of IMUSA cookware! IMUSA makes most of the cookware used in specialty Latino dishes including great skillets and the mortar/pestle-like bowl for the guacamole.
Mango Chicken Quesadillas
Ingredients
3 tablespoons brown mustard
2 tablespoons honey
3 teaspoons Tabasco or hot sauce
1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon
1 Whole rotisserie chicken –skin removed and shredded
1 cup mozzarella
1 small red onion
1 bunch cilantro
1 ripe mango -peeled and cut into small pieces, discarding the pit.
8 10-inch flour tortillas
non-stick spray
sour cream, optional
Preparation
Remove skin from chicken and shred the meat from the chicken bones into a medium bowl.
Peel the mango, cut fruit from pit (discard pit) and chop fruit into medium size chunks or slices.
Combine first four ingredients in a small bowl and mix with shredded chicken.
Heat a large IMUSA cast aluminum Comal on medium heat and spray lightly with some non-stick spray.
Add flour tortilla and spray top side with more non-stick spray.
After a minute, flip the tortilla and evenly spread ½ cup of cheese.
Then spread on half of the tortilla some chicken mixture, onions, cilantro, and mango.
Fold over tortilla, like a book, and allow cheese to melt completely. Cut into 4 wedges and serve with sour cream, if desired
Mango Guacamole Recipe
Ingredients
3 ripened avocados 3
1 ripened mango
¼ cup lime juice ¼ cup
½ cup cilantro ½ cup
½ cup white onion ½ cup
3 teaspoons salt
Preparation
In your IMUSA Molcajete, add half of the diced mangos and mash with the pestle into a pulp.
Then add one avocado and mash into a pulp with the mango.
In a separate bowl mix remaining ingredients, including mango, and add more lime juice if needed.
Fold mixture with pulp inside Molcajete and serve with tortilla chips.
To top off this fabulous food, one needs a great drink! The following White Wine Sangria is from IMUSAUSA as well. The rest of the cocktails are from other places. The sangria is a pitcher drink which makes it easy for you to enjoy your event/evening with others since it can be pre-made!
White Wine Sangria
Ingredients
1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice (about 4 oranges)
1 bottle white wine, like Pinot Grigio
¼ cup agave nectar
1 red apple, diced
1 cup pineapple, diced
½ cup seedless grapes, cut in half
1 lime, thinly sliced
Club soda
Preparation
Use your IMUSA Citrus Juicer to extract the juice of 4 oranges, to yield 1 cup of juice. In a large pitcher, combine the orange juice, white wine, agave nectar, apple, pineapple, grapes and lime. Stir until well combined. Reserve in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Add 2 ice cubes to each glass, then pour the sangria until the glass is ¾ full. Use a long spoon to scoop some fruit into the glass. Top off with club soda. Cheers!
Lazy Point –310 Spring St, New York City
Inspired by Long Island’s East End, this Soho cocktail bar offers artisanal drinks in an urban beach house setting where the fiesta never ends! In-house mixologist Jeremy Strawn and head bartender Charles Hardwick, mix Millagro Tequila, Lillet Rose, Lime Cointreau and Pineapple to create the Underhill’s Tab – a cocktail that will help get you salsa ready!
Cocktails: New York City Style
UnderhillUnderhill’s Tab
1oz Millagro Tequila
.75oz Fresh Lime Juice
.75oz Lillet Rose
.75oz Cointreau
.75oz Fresh Pineapple Juice
Adalya –55 Irving Place, New York City
The Mediterranean venue gives off a fantastic vibe with both exposed floor to ceiling wine cellars and brick walls as well as outdoor patio seating tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city streets – the perfect setting for a cinco celebration! Cellar Door is Cinco de Mayo in drink form. Tequila, Mezcal, Lime, Cassis, and Ginger Beer combined to perfection – nothing missing here…accept perhaps a Sombrero.
Cellar Door
Figure this is roughly equal parts (to taste) and mix well!
Tequila
Mezcal
Cassis
Ginger Beer
Shake well with ice, pour over ice and Garnish with Lime
Thanks to IMUSAUSA for the great food recipes and the Sangria directions! You can find IMUSA products at major retailers like Macys, Sears, Amazon.com and lots more!!
Thanks to Adalya and Lazy Point in NYC for these special cocktail recipes!
Please drink responsibly!
Stevie Wilson,
LA-Story.com
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Man these look awesome. I’m from south Texas (Elizabeth is from NorCal) and the one thing I miss living here in Brazil is Mexican food. I brought taco seasoning with me, but a lot of ingredients are hard to find. Although, the caipirinha is a great substitute for margaritas.