Cinco de Mayo - Are You Celebrating?
Here in the United States, Cinco de Mayo – Fifth of May - is actually commemorated more so than in Mexico. In fact, it’s a relatively new celebration there.
What’s it all about?
Some know and some don’t - while others get it confused with a totally different time in history.
Who Knows?
Patrick Osio, Jr., a Hispanic explains it . . . .Cinco de Mayo – Fifth of May – a great battle, a great victory, by Patrick Osio, Jr./HispanicVista.com
What will you be eating and drinking?
Uniquely Different Mango Salsa
Ingredients:
1 cp diced mango (substitute peaches or strawberries)
½ cp cilantro (finely diced)
1 tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp salt (or to please your taste)
½ tsp black pepper
½ cp red onion (finely diced)
1 cp ripe seeded tomatoes, coarsely chopped
1 Serrano chili with veins and seeds removed (finely diced)
Preparation:
Mix all ingredients and refrigerate overnight to enhance flavors. Serve with tortilla chips or on top of carnitas. (See other pork recipes.)
A Little More History: For Teachers and Parents
Use Real Tequila or None at All for this Delectable Margarita!
Ingredients:
1 oz tequila (skip it if you would like) -- it's still yummy
½ oz Triple Sec
1 oz lime juice, fresh squeezed
½ tsp Sugar
lime wedge
crushed or blended ice
Preparation:
Shake the triple sec, tequila, sugar and lime juice and pour over ice or if you prefer, blend it.
Ole! Appetizer Platter
Use the suggested items or substitute others.
Ingredients:
½ large tomato
4 oz panela (queso fresco)
½ avocado
1 small quesadilla (meat, cheese or other yummy fillings in a tortilla)
1/4 cp. chunky salsa or Pico de Gallo (Pico De Gallo, is sometimes referred to the "beak of a rooster." Watch Rachel Ray make it with guacamole.)
1/4 cp. guacamole
3 flautas or taquitos (½ cp. meat or cheese filling for 3 tortillas )
½ cp. refried beans
1/4 cp. crema (Here's a cool site for combining traditional Mexican cuisine with a formal French presentation. Includes sample food and drink menus.)
½ cp. black beans
Crumbled cotija (choose how much to use for your preferred taste for topping). Sometimes referred to as "Mexican Parmesan," Cotija as a lively garnish or a robust taste to enhance the flavor of your favorite meal.
Preparation:
Prepare a quesadilla by using one small tortilla, filled with your choice of meats and cheeses and folded in half. Heat until cheeses is melted and slice into thirds.
Place flautas/taquitos filling down the center of each corn or flour tortilla.
Roll up tortilla and stick toothpicks by opening to keep them closed. Place in hot oil inside a pan or deep fry pot and cook until it is brown. Drain on paper towels and cut each one in half.
Slice the cheese lengthwise into three pieces and cut the avocado into three slices.
To prepare the platter, warm the beans and place them in the center of the plate. Add a scoop of guacamole to one side of the beans and the salsa on the other. Then place tomato wedges and slice of cheese to the right of each tomato. Place the quesadilla slices and two pieces of flautas or taquitos to the right of the cheese.
Pour some crema over each flautas or taquitos and add the cotija by covering the beans.
For Everyone:
More info on the holiday and some kiddie ideas too!
WHY IS CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATED ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE IN THE UNITED STATES?
General Ignacio Zaragoza was born in Texas when it was still part of Mexico and is considered to be a Chicano, not of Mexican descendant, hero.
France would have aided the South in the American Civil War, which would have had an impact, if it had not been for this victory.
This day is more often celebrated by Chicanos in appreciation of their cultural and historical background.
However, today the holiday is vastly becoming a popular celebration of Mexican culture, food, music and beverage unique to Mexico.
The United States celebrates it because, in my opinion, they will use just about anything to throw a party...which is not totally bad!
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