Those who live in the American southwest have celebrated Cinco
de Mayo a little longer than many other states across the U. S., but the
tradition is definitely growing. As a result, more and more people of various
ethnicities are joining in the celebration and adding Cinco de Mayo to their
list of favorite holidays. No one is sure whether it's the music, the dancing,
the drinks, or the food that is most enjoyable about this holiday. However,
when you combine them all you have a holiday that is difficult to match in
gusto and fun. But for many of us, the food is most definitely the draw.
The popularity of Mexican food makes it a common find in
many restaurants across the United States. Even small towns now have as many
Mexican restaurants as they do Chinese or Italian. This is good news as it
indicates a growing desire of Americans to try the cuisine of our neighbors. Now
that we have become more accustomed to the wonderful flavors of Mexican dishes,
we are beginning to bring not only the food but also other markers of cultures
such as holiday celebrations into our own homes. There are no specific foods
associated with the Cinco de Mayo celebrations other than good quality classic
Mexican dishes. The big hits are usually enchiladas, burritos, guacamole,
salsa, chips, and tacos. The beverages are usually blended margaritas, Corona
beer, and soft drinks.
If you are looking for a great food to cook for a family dinner
on Cinco de Mayo, then you should definitely consider enchiladas. At most
basic, enchiladas are stuffed, rolled tortillas covered in a tasty sauce. Enchiladas
are a traditional Aztec food developed during the 19th century whose name means
"dipped in chili". Although the original version of the enchilada was
covered in chili sauce, today's enchiladas can also be topped by onions, sour
cream, beans, guacamole, or even nacho cheese. The filling can be varied as
well, but popular choices include cheese, beans, chicken, beef, and even
spinach. You choices are only limited by your imagination. Just remember,
making enchiladas is a little more involved than some of the other Cinco de
Mayo choices, so these are probably best for smaller groups.
If you are looking for something fun and festive that allows
for buffet style serving of friends and family, try creating a taco or fajita
bar. Guests can add their favorite ingredients to their tacos and/or fajitas
and then select from favorite sides such as black beans, refried beans, and
Mexican rice. A Mexican buffet is a great option that allows guests to pitch in
with the preparations and even help out by bringing their favorite toppings
along. Just be sure to keep refills that need to be chilled on ice and those
that need to be kept warm in containers that allow for proper food safety.
Finally, if you need something that is a little more
portable, especially if you have little ones that tend to wander around with
their food, then quesadillas may be the perfect solution. They are delicious, easy
to walk around with, and they do not require a good deal of difficulty in the
preparation. With a good quesadillas maker, you simply fold a tortilla around
the ingredients and let them cook until they are ready. Clean up is a snap and
you have a lot of happy campers with full bellies.
Whatever food you choose to serve, the most important part
of your Cinco de Mayo celebration is to enjoy the spirit of the celebration and
have fun. Don't spend the entire day in the kitchen fretting over whether
you've made enough or if you need to make more. Simple have a few options
available for one and all and leave it at that. So put on some upbeat Mexican
inspired music to set the tone of the party, and dance around as your food
digests.
No comments:
Post a Comment