05.05 means one thing – Fiesta time!

Today is one of my favorite days of the year.  I love any reason to celebrate, and Cinco de Mayo is the perfect excuse for a little mid-week party.

What?

You didn’t realize it was May 5th?  No problem – that is the beauty of this holiday.  It is a quick, easy, fun and oh so festive.

Here is the Cinco step party plan:

Step 1.  Set the table with a colorful, serape linen.  This is from BBJ Linen, and is the perfect size overlay for your kitchen, buffet or dining table.

Step 2.  Decorate the tabletop with repurposed lanterns, filled with pillar candles,  vibrant rose petals and orchid blooms creating a dense “carpet” inside, black glossy urns and julep cups filled with massed red Mokara orchids, colored votive candles for lower table height, and my ultimate Cinco party detail – a collection of Jesus Candles set ontop striped Flax Leaves.  If you like – you can use anything in a similar style – glass cylinders filled with candles and petals, or with water and floating candles and petals, etc.  The point is to design a fun, whimsical collection of whatever works best for you.  Scatter petals and orchid blooms around the centerpieces for the perfect finishing touch.

Step 3:  Adorn the chandelier with long, bright silk ribbons, to add height to the decor.  Here, we used red, orange and yellow to coordinate with the stripes in the Serape linen.

Step 4:  Margaritas!  I love to fill oversize glass drinking jars with specialty drinks, as it creates a fun focal point and centerpiece ontop the bar.  It is also wonderful, so that during the party you as host/hostess can relax and enjoy time with your guests, instead of bartending all night long.

My friend Kristin throws a Moms ‘n Margaritas party each spring, and has perfected the margarita recipe:

1 can frozen limeade, and then fill that same “limeade can” with the next three ingredients:

light beer (I use Corona), tequila, and club soda.

I always fill the drinking jar according to the total guest count, but even for a small party you want to have it at least half to two-thirds full.  Garnish the drink mixture with fresh lime slices, for color and contrast inside the jar.  Serve over iced margarita glasses, with or without salt, and enjoy.

You can easily use a different flavor of juice as well, Pomaritas with Pomegranate, etc.  Go crazy with color!

To round out the bar, I should be fair and detail out having Corona or Dos Equis with sliced limes, Mexican bottled sodas (available in ethnic markets or groceries), and waters and juices is always important for mocktails, mixers, and non-alcoholic options for all ages and guests.

Step 5:  The menu.  It is truly one of the easiest menus to design – who doesn’t love a taco bar, a nacho bar, a fajita bar, and more?  Grilled shrimp, carne asada, chicken, ground beef or turkey…the options are endless.  Fresh vegetables like tri-color peppers, grilled onions, jalepenos and more make do it yourself toppings an interactive dining event.  Herbs like cilantro, parsley and mint give unique, adventurous tastes.  Pico de gallo, Mole, Guacamole, Fruit Salsas…who wouldn’t LOVE to have this tonight for dinner?  It also works perfectly for any age – which is always a crowd pleaser.

Now, the piece de resistance.  The sombrero cake, shown above, was such a work of art, guests were trying to pick it up and wear it at the party!  Alliance Bakery, in Ukranian Village, is so amazing.  Peter, you outdid yourself as usual with this one.  Muchas gracias!

For the theme, he whipped up a white cake with Passion Fruit Mousse, which we sliced and served with mint and ginger ice cream.

Adios – and happy cinco!

DL