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OLÉ - Head for the border!
May 5th is the Mexican holiday known as Cinco de Mayo, but
you can celebrate it anytime. What better excuse for a party?
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 The
holiday of Cinco De Mayo, "The Fifth of May", commemorates
the victory of the Mexicans over the French army at The Battle of Puebla
in 1862. It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican
state capital city of Puebla and throughout the state of Puebla, but
is also celebrated in other parts of the world with a Mexican population.
For a complete history visit www.mexonline.com.
THROW YOUR OWN MEXICAN PARTY
If you can't make it to Mexico for the real
thing, why not throw your own Mexican themed party? When you are doing
a Mexican theme, think vibrant and vivacious. The colors should be bright,
loud and excessive. The music should be upbeat and fun.
Decorations
Decorate the room
with lots and lots of colorful streamers. The colors, such as red, green
and white, and sheer amount of the paper streamers should be vibrant
and overstated. Decorate the room with colorful, oversized paper flowers
and make smaller flowers for the female guests to wear in their hair.
 You're
never too old for a piñata
To top off your room hang a piñata. It adds a great touch and
doubles as a game at the end of the party -- watch them line up to bat.
You can find piñata's at a local hobby or novelty store.
To buy piñatas online --
visit www.1partysuppliesandfavors.com/pinatas.shtml.
Costumes
Keep it simple, Sombreros and a colorful blanket
draped over the shoulder for the gentlemen, and colorful dresses for
the women. Welcome party goers with mexican music at the door -- and
a Margarita cocktail,
of course.
Music
The music is easy as there
are so many choices for Mexican music; Mariachi bands, salsa, and tejano.
If it gets too overwhelming choose something with a little of everything.
Something like Viva El Mariachi by Nati Mariachi Los Camperos Cano. It
is a collection of traditional Mexican favorites.
Check
out a few tracks of the CD at Amazon.com >>
Drinks
GETTING TEQUILA STRAIGHT:
Once known as a coarse and fiery spirit that needed to be combined
with fruit juice and sugar in order to be palatable, tequila has
become respectable — and not just in the sunny states that
border Mexico, but all over the world.
Learn
more about tequila »
MARGARITA [mahr-gah-REE-tah]
A cocktail made with tequila, an orange-flavored liqueur and lime juice,
it has quietly and steadily become an international phenomenon, and
according to the readers of Gourmet magazine, it is the
now most popular cocktail in North America.
Learn
more about the Margarita »
SALUD CERVEZA
South-of-the-border beers provide cool thirst-quenching refreshment
on hot days. When the temperature soars, you're likely want to grab
a light lager for the patio or beach.
Get
the lowdown on Mexican beers »
Food
Buffet style parties are easier, and more informal,
for the hostess and her guests. For this buffet setting use a brightly
colored table cloth. Place a sombrero in the center of the table as a
centerpiece and scatter bright red chili peppers around the brim to add
color. If you are serving tacos use wicker baskets, and put all your
fixings in individual clay pots. Large pots for the main ingredients,
small pots for the sauces. Newly purchased clay flower pots work well
and are inexpensive (Remember to fill in the hole on the bottom!).
Our partners at the Food Network (www.foodtv.ca) have put together a
great Mexican meal plan.
Mexican Menu
• Chorizo Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
• Holy Frijoles Dip
• Backyard Spanish Rice
• Grilled Tomatoes
• Saturday Salad Check
it out at www.FoodTV.ca! 
Other Mexican recipes from the Food Network,
• Real
Guacamole
• Chunky
Guacamole
• Mexican
Pizza
• Old-Fashioned
Mexican Flan
• Layered
Mexican Dip
• Shrimp
in Tequila: Camarones al Tequila
• Tacos
with Tequila-Marinated Pork
• Cajeta
Caramel over Cinnamon Ice Cream
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