Mexican Dessert Recipes
Cinco de Mayo Parties for Everyone
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that despite its origins in Mexico has become an incredibly popular one with Americans. Commemorating the Mexican victory over the invading French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862 (and Cinco de Mayo means "May 5th" in Spanish in case you were wondering), this holiday has taken on a different meaning in the US than in Mexico, where it is largely regarded as a local holiday. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in a variety of ways, from parades to performances and of course, Cinco de Mayo parties.
You yourself may be looking at the idea of hosting a party for Cinco de Mayo this year and if so, then you will want to prepare accordingly to make sure that everything goes according to plan. From decorations to music to the truly important elements like food and drink, there is a lot to think about. Unless you are planning to have your party catered, then you will definitely want to make looking for some authentic Mexican recipes to prepare part of your preparations.
Decorating your home for Cinco de Mayo parties is relatively easy; you can get things ready by putting up streamers and crepe paper in the red, green, and white colors of the Mexican flag. One especially popular type decoration for these parties is tissue paper flowers, which are easy to make - if you have kids, they will no doubt be happy to help make them. You can also set out items like sombreros, miniature maracas and small potted cacti, which can also double as party favors to give your guests as a memento of your Cinco de Mayo event.
Music is easy enough to get lined up as well. While you could splurge on a mariachi band for your party, it is easier (and much less costly) to pick up some music at a Mexican record store or online to set the festive mood for your party - and for dancing, of course. However, it is food, which requires the most time and effort for most hosts of Cinco de Mayo parties.
If you are not especially skilled in the kitchen, you could keep things simple by serving tortilla chips, salsa, and guacamole. However, there are other Mexican dishes, which you can prepare which do not require you to be a master chef - and of course, if you can follow a recipe, there are countless choices available to you.
Since Cinco de Mayo celebrates a historical event, which occurred in Mexico's Puebla state, then you may want to consider serving a dish, which originated in this part of the country, such as any dish, which is served with a mole Poblano sauce. This is a complex, richly flavored and spicy sauce that includes chocolate and dried chilies among its ingredients; it is a little bit of a challenge to make if you are new to Mexican cooking, but if you feel intimidated by the complexity of this sauce, you can purchase it ready-made from many grocery stores.
When you are preparing a Mexican meal for Cinco de Mayo parties, do not forget to plan ahead by finding some Mexican dessert recipes. A sweet finish to the meal can make your Cinco de Mayo event a party, which people will remember for years to come.
