Wednesday, May 9, 2012

cinco de mayo


We had our 2nd annual Cinco de Mayo party this weekend. 
So fun!!! 

I had a great time preparing for it, planning the menu, decorating, plucking fiesta-ish flowers from neighbors gardens (with permission, don't worry..), but the best was time with friends, 
sharing our home, and hosting with my man...oh and of course, delicious margaritas.

I loved it :) 

I didn't get as many pictures as I'd hoped to (I'll be better about it next year), but here are a couple pics and a few snip-its about the menu: 
"fiesta" streamers made from dyed
coffee filters

food table (dark, not very pretty picture :/) 

menu: fajitas, grilled veggies,
mexican rice, black bean salad, quesadillas, chips,
salsa, and guacamole


food labels-limes and
bamboo skewers...and "mexican" sangria bar in background.

sangria has oranges, cloves, cinnamon, and other goodies.
next time I think i'll add some brandy.
living room with fiesta banner
peonies and cute margarita straws :) 



my cute host partner :)
...and desserts in the background on the buffet

dessert menu: mexican brownies (picture and recipe below),
no bake oatmeal chocolate PB cookies,
margarita cupcakes, and
"scotcharoos" (rice crispy, butterscotch, chocolate goodness)
and m&ms to go with the fiesta theme! 


mexican brownies 


My very favorite brownies are ghirardelli dark chocolate brownies 
with chocolate chips...from a box. Yep, I said it. They are dang good. 
Trick: cook them 7 minutes less than the minimum cooking time says on the box. 
I use a glass pan usually and the cook time says 
45-50...no sirree, 38 minutes and those babies are perfect! 
My ultimate treat is these dark chocolate brownies with a scoop of Bluebell homemade 
vanilla ice-cream. That was before I had "Mexican-ized" these. 
Mmmmmmm! 

Recipe: add 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to brownie mix. Follow all other instructions like normal. Try it, try it! So good and "fancy" in a split second.

Enjoy!