CINCO DE MAYO!

I just got back from New Mexico but the conference this year was at the Hyatt Tamaya Resort just outside of Albuquerque so I did not make it to Santa Fe for my traditional "Huevos" at the Plaza Cafe. Because I missed my traditional Cinco meal I decided that I needed to take some-'things' and stuff into my own hands and have our own Cinco De Mayo party this year. Actually we did it on Sunday so it was more like Uno De Mayo, but the thought was there!

For those who don't know, Cinco De Mayo means the Fifth of May and it commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. It started out as a Mexican holiday but it has become a traditional celebration all over America also.

For our celebration we served up steak and chicken fajitas on the grill, fresh tortillas, mexican rice, a green salad, 'cowboy caviar' and VIRGIN Raspberry 'Sangre" Margaritas. YUM!

I am not sure where the name 'cowboy caviar' came from but it is one of our favorite summer snacks. Sometimes it is even considered dinner. It is so good and really easy to make.

RECIPE: COWBOY CAVIAR
I start with a container of fresh salsa or pico de gallo from the produce department. Some people spend a ton of time chopping tomatoes, onions and peppers but it is so much easier to just buy it already chopped. I like 'Condies' brand the best but any fresh salsa will do. Add two cans of black beans (drained and rinsed), a can of corn or a package of frozen corn (I like white corn better than yellow) and two or three chopped avocados. When all of the ingredients are in a bowl, add a package of Good Seasons Italian dressing mix, a little olive oil and some apple cider vinegar. Stir it all up and serve it with tortilla chips. I like to use the 'Lays Baked Tortilla Scoops' because they cut the calories a little and taste just as good... and the scoops make the dip easy to eat. Fresh and delicious!

Colorful chicken fajitas cooking on the grill outside... Soooo TASTY and you can buy them marinated and ready to grill in the meat department at Dan's. We also did steak fajitas. So good!

Cheers and a toast for good family fun and traditions with our virgin raspberry margaritas! No one wanted to be in the picture (everyone was in 'lounge' wear) so I just cut off their arms.

If you want to make our Raspberry Margaritas the recipe is SO easy!

STRAWBERRY MARGARITAS
Put half a can of Welch's White Grape Raspberry Juice Concentrate and a bunch of ice in a blender. Add some diet Sprite or 7-up and grind it up. Add some more soda and grind it some more until you get it to the consistency. I like it only slightly slushy. Just be careful to only add the soda a little at a time so it doesn't foam all over. Messy!

I did the flowers but I gave Samantha the assignment of draping the table and hanging the lights; I think she did a masterful job!