entertaining Archives - ¡HOLA! JALAPEÑO

Your Stay-Inside Cinco De Mayo Party Guide

May 2, 2021 by Kate Ramos 10 Comments

So that Cinco de Mayo party you may or may not have been planning is going to be a whole lot smaller this year.

Typically around this time, I would’ve been gearing up with dozens of my food blogging friends to bring you an extravagant week of margarita madness for Margarita Week (this would’ve been our fifth year) but I don’t think any of us are in that kind of mood.

Nope, this year I think we’ll have a small, family celebration with some festive DIY decorations that hopefully I can convince the kids to make for “art class”, a few of our favorite Mexican food recipes, a mezcal cocktail or two, and a couple of dogs running around.

Though we are social distancing we are all craving a reason to celebrate, so whether you’re thinking of gathering with the ones in your home or having a virtual Cinco de Mayo happy hour with friends, read on for this year’s Stay-Inside Cinco de Mayo Party Guide.

Learn how to make fun tissue paper flower decorations for Cinco de Mayo. #cincodemayoparty #cincodemayo #paperflowers #tissuepaperflowers

DIY Cinco de Mayo Party Decorations

Are you crafty or want something fun for the kids to do? Here are some festive ideas for Cinco de Mayo decorations to bring that vibrant, Mexican spirit into your home.

These tissue paper flowers are so easy even I can do them.
Beaded Skewers! For fruit or cocktails. Make them and use them all summer long.
Colorful Party Hats—that aren’t sombreros.
The Perfect Pom-Pom Garland. Disclaimer: I don’t think I could actually execute this one, but if someone wants to send me the one they made, I’d greatly appreciate it.
And if you’d really rather buy something, this Papel Picado is pretty.

Mezcal Cocktails and More Drinks For An At Home Cinco de Mayo Party

Oooo man do I love good mezcal cocktails and there’s really never a better time to shake up a frosty margarita. If you are stearing clear of alcohol these days or want a festive drink for the kiddos, I’ve got those too. Here’s a few ideas to choose from.

A Cucumber Mezcal Margarita is the perfect pitcher cocktail for a Stay-at-Home Cinco de Mayo Party. Makes 4 drinks! #cincodemayo #margarita #mezcal #cucumbermargarita

Cucumber Mezcal Margaritas

Out of hundreds of margarita recipes I have on the site this is my most popular and combines my two favorite words: mezcal and margarita. It’s a must for any Mexican party menu.

Classic Cadillac Margarita

This would be number two. Fresh squeezed lime juice, tequila, and a float of Grand Mariner on top. Perfection.

La Mulita

La Mulita is a Mexican Moscow Mule with blanco tequila in place of the vodka and loads of fresh mint. Add a splash of ginger beer and a few lime wedges!

Mango-Lime Agua Fresca

Mango Lime Agua Fresca is a tropical non-alcoholic drink with fresh mango blended with sweetened lime juice and ice, great for the kiddos!

Rhubarb Agua Fresca

This rhubarb agua fresca is the perfect Cinco de Mayo non-alcoholic drink. Made from fresh rhubarb that is abundant in spring, it is sweet and tart and full of rhubarb flavor.

Mexican Appetizers

Your Mexican party menu must include lots of snacks. Here are four popular Cinco de Mayo recipes to nibble on.

Chicharrones de Harina

Homemade chicharrones de harina or Mexican fried wheat crisps are the ultimate crunchy street food snack. These crispy wheels are totally addictive doused with lime and hot sauce.

My most popular recipe(not to mention one of my favorite easy Mexican dishes): Easy, 4-ingredient sweet potato nachos! Baked sweet potato fries get topped with black beans, smoked cheddar cheese, and cilantro. Perfect for a Stay-At-Home Cinco de Mayo party. #cincodemayoparty #cincodemayo #nachos #sweetpotato

Sweet Potato Nachos with Smoked Cheddar and Black Beans

My most popular recipe (not to mention one of my favorite easy Mexican dishes): 4-ingredient sweet potato nachos! Baked sweet potato fries get topped with black beans, smoked cheddar cheese, and cilantro.

Chili Lime Roasted Peanuts

These chili lime roasted peanuts are tossed in an addictive mixture of chili, fresh lime zest, turbinado sugar, and salt then roasted to a golden brown. One of the best Mexican appetizers out there!

Pico de Gallo

The classic Mexican salsa recipe, Pico de Gallo is easy to make and has all the fresh, bright flavors that bring joy to your everything from tacos to chips! This is one of the most essential Cinco de Mayo recipes for sure.

Easy Mexican Dishes

Many of these delicious Mexican food recipes can be made with things you already have in your pantry and fridge. They include Cinco de Mayo recipes for everything from tacos to beans to enchiladas, plus a Mexican chocolate popsicle for a sweet ending.

Slow Cooker Borracho Beans

Mexican-style pinto beans simmered with bacon, beer, onions, and spices. These Slow Cooker Borracho Beans are a great easy side for your quarantine Cinco de Mayo party.

Deep Dish Black Bean Enchilada Casserole

This Black Bean Enchilada Casserole has eight layers of tortillas, black beans, roasted vegetables, and cheese making it the deepest, most delicious ever!

Carne Asada Sopes with Avocado

This easy sopes recipe is topped with grilled carne asada, ripe avocado, and queso fresco—for when you’re trying to live your best quarantine life.

Wild Alaskan Cod Fish Tacos with Toasted Corn Salad

Baked Wild Alaskan Cod Fish Tacos make the BEST healthy Mexican recipe. Stuffed into crispy blue corn tortilla shells and topped with a toasted corn salad and are a super colorful and celebratory for Cinco de Mayo.

Vegan Chipotle Mushroom Tacos

Vegan chipotle mushroom tacos if you are staying away from meat. Full of flavor and texture with a jicama slaw on top.

Mexican Slow Cooker Beef Short Rib Tacos

Slow cooker beef short rib tacos from Laura Fuentes’ Taco Tuesday Cookbook. Falling off the bone beef with smoky chipotles and cumin. Made in a slow cooker!

Slow Cooker Carne Adobada

Slow cooker carne adobada just might be your new favorite way to cook a roast. Covered in adobo sauce and slowly simmered until tender, its just delicious!

Chicken Mole Verde

This Chicken Mole Verde is a fresh springtime mole with tender pieces of braised chicken are cooked in a mixture of tomatillos, jalapeños, cilantro, basil, and thickened with pumpkin and sesame seeds. This special dish takes a bit more time to prepare, but makes a sophisticated centerpiece for your Cinco de Mayo party.

Shrimp Ceviche Tostadas with Coconut and Lime

A super easy, ultra healthy, shrimp ceviche tostada recipe with fresh squeezed lime juice, coconut milk, chiles, cilantro, and thinly sliced scallions. One of our most loved Mexican food recipes.

Picadillo Enchiladas

Making a large-batch of enchiladas means you can make two pans and freeze one for later! The picadillo filling of ground beef and potatoes is pure comfort.

Vegan Mexican Chocolate Popsicles

These super simple vegan Mexican chocolate popsicles are rich and creamy with hints of chili and cinnamon and chocolate and take about 10 minutes to make!

In support of this small business, ¡Hola! Jalapeño earns revenue in a few different ways. Several sponsored posts are published each month. I also earn an affiliate commission on the sales of products I link to— there are a few of those links in this post. I only feature items I genuinely love and personally use on a regular basis. This commission is an arrangement between the retailer and ¡Hola! Jalapeño (readers never pay more for products). This income allow me to run the site. Thank you for reading!

Top Photo by Blaire Moats for Better Homes & Gardens

The Ultimate Summer Entertaining Guide

May 29, 2019 by Kate Ramos 4 Comments

This Ultimate Summer Entertaining Guide is sponsored by Juicy Juice. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.

Alright, who’s got their entertaining game prepped and ready for summer?

If there ever was a time to gather with friends, the long, warm days of summer are it! But before you get even a teensy bit stressed about the thought of it all, allow me to convince you that hosting a summer get-together is really pretty simple.

Tip #1: The warm, relaxed nature of the season means as long as you take the party outside, you’re halfway there!

I’m a firm believer that you don’t need to slay all day in the kitchen to make a good meal. In fact, sometimes, less is more, like buying some really high-quality favorites so you can spend less time cooking and more time enjoying the party. That’s why I’m excited to once again be partnering with Juicy Juice to spread the word about their newest drink, Juicy Juice Fruitfuls Organic, which is 100% in the spirit of easy summer entertaining.

Their new, all-organic juice has 45% less sugar with the same great taste that Juicy Juice is known for so you can feel good about serving it to your kids and guests without the sugar overload. We all know how important it is to stay hydrated during the hot summer months and the Fruitfuls Organic juices come in new multi-serve bottles in fruity flavors like Apple, Grape, and Fruit Punch–perfect for serving a crowd.

Read on for my ultimate summer entertaining guide. What are your easy, warm weather party ideas? Leave me a comment below, I’d love to know!

Al Fresco Bagel Brunch

Super hot afternoons gives us the perfect excuse to get together earlier in the morning when the weather is nice and cool. Setting up a bagel brunch is one of my favorite ways to entertain because the cooking is minimal and everyone gets to make their breakfast exactly how they like it.

Bagel Brunch Menu

Freshly-Baked Bagels in multiple flavors
Cream Cheese
Fruit
A Simple Salad
Hard-Boiled Eggs
Lox and Prosciutto
Coffee and Juicy Juice Fruitfuls Organic Grape Juice

Tip #2: Don’t worry about fancy flower arrangements. A row of fresh-cut blooms down the center of the table sets the perfect, laid-back tone of summer.

Summer Grilling Party

A dinner under the stars is summer heaven in a nutshell. Cooking everything on the grill means very little clean up too. These two-ingredient Grilled Green Mole Pork Chops are the essence of simple and still huge on flavor.

Summer Grilling Party Menu

Grilled Green Mole Pork Chops
Vegetables grilled in a grilling basket (peppers, onions, and zucchini tossed in olive oil, salt, and pepper)
Quinoa with Sweet Corn and Scallions
Guava Cream Pie Pops
Juicy Juice Fruitfuls Organic Fruit Punch

Ceviche Tostada Bar

Tossing together a few different types of ceviche takes almost no actual cooking. Make sure you hit up your local seafood market for the freshest selection and make a batch of our Cauliflower Ceviche for non-meat eaters. Fill in the menu with a tall stack of tostada shells for serving and you’re all set!

Ceviche Tostada Bar Menu

Tip #3: Serve ceviche on platters of ice to make sure everything stays fresh and cold. Buy a few bags and store them in a cooler so they don’t take up precious freezer space.

The Beverage Station

Any party you throw this summer needs a beverage station to make sure everyone stays hydrated without you having to lift a finger.

Tie a paper straw to each glass so guests can help themselves.
Make flavored water by filling a beverage dispenser with fresh fruit (I used sliced oranges), fresh herbs, or vegetables like cucumbers then top with ice and water.
Stock up on Juicy Juice Fruitfuls Organic Juices

One last thing…

What do you think? I want to know! Leave me a comment and snap a photo for Instagram! Tag @holajalapeno so I can see your beautiful creation! Your feedback is super important to me.

Also, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

The Best SoCal Winter Brunch Party

March 7, 2018 by Kate Ramos 8 Comments

We are now officially in March and only a few short weeks away from the beginning of spring (on the calendar anyway) so let’s say bon voyage to the winter that was with an epic end-of-the-season brunch—SoCal style.

A SoCal Winter Brunch from the Friends Who Fete gals. We give you the everything you need to pull off this gorgeous brunch from Tequila-Brown Sugar Bacon to Blood Orange Ginger Sangria, plus flowers, decor, and more! #winterbrunch #brunch #brunchrecipes

My Friends Who Fete gals, Aida from Salt and Wind and Meg from This Mess Is Ours, and I have joined forces once again to bring you a party you are going to want to recreate. From the recipes to the florals we cover every aspect of our parties so you can make them at home. Remember last winter’s Italian Polenta Party? This winter we decided to celebrate the gorgeous produce of the season with a brunch that highlights where we live and where it’s all grown!

Here in sunny Southern California we are surrounded by the bounty of produce that just begs to be shown off and especially now when we are bursting at the seams with blood oranges, clementines, kumquats, and strawberries.

We pulled together a menu that captures these beauties and presents them at their peek then decorated our table with California grown succulents and flowers in a gorgeous, but totally doable arrangement. Brunch never looked so good!

A So-Cal Winter Brunch Menu

Blood Orange Ginger Sangria || Salt & Wind

Tequila Brown Sugar Bacon

Winter Fruit Salad with Honey-Lemon Dressing and Pistachios

Spinach and Onion Quiche with Hashbrown Crust || This Mess Is Ours

Almond Ricotta and Roasted Rosemary Grape Tartines || This Mess Is Ours

Pistachio Spiced Coconut Carrot Muffins || Salt & Wind

Blood Orange Ginger Sangria

Tequila Brown Sugar Bacon

Winter Fruit Salad with Honey-Lemon Dressing and Pistachios

Spinach and Onion Quiche with Hashbrown Crust

Almond Ricotta and Roasted Rosemary Grape Tartines

Pistachio Spiced Coconut Carrot Muffins

Effortless Decor

We tapped into California’s bountiful flowers for this easy centerpiece of roses and succulents tucked into vintage vases, cups, and jars. We wanted a rustic but feminine feel to mimic a easy Sunday morning affair and mixed pastels with wood, gold-rimmed dinnerware and antique bone-handled silverware. Here’s some of our favorite pieces from the brunch with links on where to buy them:

How To Pull It All Off

The nice thing about this menu is that much of it can be made ahead, even the night before, giving you plenty of time in the morning to put the finishing touches on the table and food. But there’s lots more to love about this party than that, here are a few more things that make this winter brunch so special:

The quiche with it’s hashbrown crust is not only gluten-free but feeds a crowd and can be made the night before, just pop it in the oven to warm before serving.
The sangria not only can (and should) be made ahead but makes a big batch which keeps the party going without you having to keep fetching more drinks.
The bacon gets baked in the oven leaving your stovetop spatter-free and better yet, you don’t have to stand over it, flipping bacon pieces while your friends have a good time.
Do yourself a solid and set the table the night before. Plates, flowers, silverware—all of it can be done ahead of time so you’re not digging around for wine glasses while the quiche gets cold.
Get way ahead and make the muffins a few days in advance then freeze them. Rewarm from frozen right before serving.
Even the fruit salad can be made in advance, just don’t add the dressing or pistachios until you’re ready to eat. Cover the top of the salad with a damp paper towel, then cover all the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving time.
Add a few store-bought pastries, lovely jam or jelly, and if you want something even more; make layered yogurt parfaits like we did with plain Greek yogurt and jam.

If you need more inspiration, don’t forget to follow our Friends Who Fete Pinterest board for all kinds of ideas for your next brunch.

FRIENDS WHO FETE

If you know anything about me, you know I love to get together with friends and family and celebrate for any reason…or no reason at all. That’s why every few months I join forces with Salt & Wind and This Mess Is Ours to throw a party and give you all the details so you can too! We call it Friends Who Fete and you can find all our fiestas here!

Many thanks to Salt & Wind and This Mess Is Ours for all the gorgeous photography.

One More Thing

Did you love this post? I want to know! Leave me a comment and snap a photo for Instagram. Tag @holajalapeno so I can see your beautiful creation! Your feedback is super important to me. If you run into trouble shoot me a message on Instagram and I’ll walk you through it.

Also, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

Tequila Brown Sugar Bacon

March 7, 2018 by Kate Ramos 6 Comments

If you are curious, tequila makes bacon ahhhhmazing. Like bacon needed the help, but it’s true tequila bacon is better. So you can imagine the glory that is tequila brown sugar bacon. It’s everything you’d ever dream it to be and more.

Tequila brown sugar bacon is God's gift to bacon. Dark anejo tequila and dark brown sugar coat this oven-baked bacon and create crisp, caramelized strips of smoky bacon. #bacon #ovenbacon #baconcandy

Picture this: dark woodsy anejo tequila, molasses-tinged dark brown sugar, smoky bacon. Baked together in the oven (which makes it EASY) until it is crispy, caramel-coated strips of boozy bacon heaven.

Only thing I’d like to point out is that make sure you take the bacon off of the sheet pan before it has a chance to cool completely otherwise you’ll be dealing with bacon caramlized to the pan. Which still tastes good but makes it very difficult to get off.

I dreamed up this bacon to go with our Friends Who Fete Winter Brunch. Don’t forget to check out the rest of the menu and all the party details so you can invite all your friends over and show them the new thing you can do with bacon.

Tequila Brown Sugar Bacon

Yield: 4-6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

1/4 cup dark Anejo Tequila
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 pound bacon

Instructions

Heat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet (or two, depending how big your baking sheets are) with parchment paper.
Lay bacon slices in a single layer on the baking sheet (using two if they all won't fit on one). Brush bacon on both sides with tequila. Sprinkle brown sugar on both sides of the bacon.
Bake until crispy, about 25-30 minutes. Remove bacon to a paper-towel lined plate and let cool at least 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Remove bacon from the baking sheet as soon as it comes out of the oven. If allowed to cool on the baking sheet it will stick and not come off.

Many thanks to Salt & Wind and This Mess Is Ours for all the gorgeous photography.

One More Thing

Did you love this post? I want to know! Leave me a comment and snap a photo for Instagram. Tag @holajalapeno and use the #holajalapeno hashtag so I can see your beautiful creation! Your feedback is super important to me. If you run into trouble shoot me a message on Instagram and I’ll walk you through it.

Also, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

20 Essentials For A One-of-a-Kind Ice Cream Social

August 21, 2017 by Kate Ramos 2 Comments

As summer draws to a close my merriment-making crew, Friends Who Fete—Aida of Salt & Wind and Meg of This Mess Is Ours—were dying to get together one last time and celebrate with the whole family. An ice cream social seemed like the perfect excuse to soak in the summer sun, play games, eat ice cream until our bellies burst, and give one last hurrah before the kiddos head back to school and life gets busy again. Here’s how we made it happen!

Celebrate summer with a one-of-a-kind ice cream social! Complete with recipes for homemade ice cream, caramel and chocolate sauces, and even DIY tattoos.

1.No-Churn Vanilla Cream Cheese Ice Cream: There is nothing more essential to an Ice Cream Social than vanilla ice cream. This homemade version requires no fancy ice cream machine and is extra tangy and rich thanks to the addition of cream cheese.

2. Chocolate Chocolate Ice Cream: Aida mixed up a batch of decadent homemade chocolate ice cream to satisfy the chocolate lovers in the crowd. Perfect for topping with a s’more—you know how we do.

3. No-Churn Churros Con Chocolate Ice Cream: I took my No-Churn Vanilla Ice Cream base and add a swirl of Mexican Hot Chocolate Sauce and churros, no biggie.

4. Chocolate Almond Butter Cup Ice Cream with Almond Butter Swirl: Aida recreated her sister’s childhood obsession with this decadent combo. She took her extra chocolatey ice cream and swirled in a ribbon of almond butter then added miniature almond butter cups.

5. No-Churn Blueberry Mezcal Swirl Ice Cream: I felt it very important that the adults didn’t feel left out. Rich vanilla no-churn with a ripple of mescal-infused blueberry sauce; warning, this ice cream will make you swoon.

6. Hazelnut Chocolate “Baci” Ice Cream: This luxurious ice cream was inspired by Aida’s love for Baci Perugina, the Italian chocolate-hazelnut truffles.

7. Strawberry Aperol Spritz Poptails: These grown-up boozy pops are Meg’s ode to Italy’s signature summer cocktail, but with fresh strawberries added for an extra fruity kick.

8. Mexican Hot Chocolate Sauce: Impromptu sundae making calls for chocolate sauce. This is the sauce (with a touch of almond and cinnamon) that I swirled into my churros ice cream. I made a double batch so we’d have extra to drizzle on top.

9. Coffee Salted Caramel Sauce: No ice cream party is complete without caramel sauce. Aida upped the ante with this topper. Rich caramel gets a boost from a shot of dark espresso for a sauce you will want to drizzle on everything.

10. Homemade Waffle Cones: Meg made these sweet cones in chocolate and vanilla. They were the perfect size for little hands—and gluten-free!

11. Toppings: You really can’t have too many toppings. Sprinkles are obviously a must, but we also lined the table with rainbow marshmallows, chocolate-covered candies, mini stroopwafels, macarons, graham crackers, and more!

12. Metal Ice Bins: Unless you want to be running back and forth from the freezer every five seconds you should have a plan on how to keep the ice cream as cold as possible. A metal bin filled with ice worked well for us, even in the LA heat.

13. Ice Cream Pints and Ice Cream Cups: We packed our homemade ice cream in these cute paper pint-sized containers (which, by the way, makes leftovers really easy to take home) and used colorful cups for sundaes.

14. Ice Cream Scoops: Invest in more than one ice cream scoop so multiple hands can be scooping at once. Sturdy scoops like this stainless steel one are my favorite but the spring-loaded scoops work well too.

15. Colorful Candy: Okay, I’ll admit having candy at an ice cream social is a little overkill…but its so pretty!! Try Twisty Rainbow Candy Lollipops, Swirl Pops, or Candy Ice Cream Cones.

16. Garland, Tassels, and Honeycombs–Oh My!: Colorful decorations are a must at any ice cream social but you don’t have to be a crafter to create a IG-worthy background. We used vibrant Tassel Garland and Honeycomb Balls from Sweet Lulu to set the scene. But PS, they also have Honeycomb Ice Cream Cones which are ohmygod so cute!

17. Punch Balloons: Let’s face it, kids who are eating tons of sugar need somewhere to put their energies, punch balloons to the rescue! Plus, they look really sweet too.

18. DIY Tattoos: Partying with uber-creatives like Meg and Todd has it’s perks. Like getting a full sleeve of handmade temporary ice cream tattoos. Click the link for instructions on how to make your own!

19. Ice Cream Cone Piñata: Word to the wise, filling the piñata with confetti makes the moment of explosion extra special.

20. Pin the Cherry on the Ice Cream Cone: This was a cute game that Meg and Todd came up with and the kids just loved.

A big THANK YOU to This Mess Is Ours and Salt & Wind for all the photography!

Friends Who Fete are three gals (¡Hola! Jalapeño, Salt & Wind, and This Mess Is Ours) who love to throw parties big and small. Every season we do something new–find them all here!

One More Thing

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Friends Who Fete: How To Throw A Christmas Tamalada Party

December 6, 2016 by Kate Ramos 2 Comments

Shortly after Armando and I first got married we started hosting what has now become our infamous Tamalada Party. The idea was simple, we wanted tamales, but didn’t want to do all the work ourselves, so why not gather friends for an afternoon of chisme and good food, and when it’s over everyone gets a dozen or so tamales to take home!

This being our first Christmas back in California we wanted to keep the tradition going so invited our partners in merry-making crime, Meg and the whole Beard + Bonnet crew and Aida and her Salt + Wind gang over for a tamalada party that, unlike year’s past, could actually happen in our backyard!

Here was the plan:

I make the masa, soak the corn husks, and make a chicken and mole filling.
Aida makes a sweet tamale, a cocktail, and a snack.
Meg makes a vegetarian tamale, and her signature dunk and slather board.
We assemble and steam all the tamales at my house.
Everyone gets to take some home when we’re done!

To pull off your own tamalada party here’s what you’ll need:

About 100 soaked corn husks. This will depend on how many tamales you want to make. Each of our recipes makes about 2 dozen tamales. The husks need to soak a few hours in hot water.
About 12 cups of masa. This will make about 4 dozen tamales. You can make it using Maseca (special ground cornflour used for making tamales and tortillas) using this recipe, or buy pre-made masa made from fresh ground corn at a Mexican grocery store.
At least one type of filling.
A large surface for assembling. We pushed our picnic table and a folding table together and covered them both with a long piece of Mexican oil cloth.
A tamale steamer or large lidded pot fitted with a strainer or rack (like a big pasta pot with a strainer liner). This is also a good tamale-making starter kit.
Lots of drinks and snacks; tamale-making is hard work! Along with Aida’s delicious cocktail I made my Cranberry Agua Fresca for the kiddos to drink too.

Tamalada Party Menu

Follow the links for all the instructions on how to make and assemble each tamale.

Pomegranate Ginger Apple Cider Punch

Cranberry Agua Fresca with Mint and Lime

Cocoa-Chile Sweet Spicy Snack Mix

Dunk and Slather Board

Avocado Bruschetta

Spicy Black Bean and Cheese Tamales

Chicken and Roasted Pumpkin Tamales with Manchamantel Mole

Sweet Potato Tamales with Chocolate Sauce

A big thank you to Salt + Wind and Beard + Bonnet for taking all the beautiful photos!

How To Throw A Dia de los Muertos Fiesta

October 6, 2016 by Kate Ramos 6 Comments

Celebrate your loved ones with a colorful Dia de los Muertos fiesta! With 6 recipes, tons of decorating ideas, DIY florals, and a shoppable list!

One of the greatest joys of moving back to California has been reconnecting with old friends. There were so many solitary days over the past seven years in North Dakota that I longed to collaborate with fellow professional foodies; to learn and ask questions, to swap ideas and basically figure shit out. I made it my mission once we moved back to get in touch with friends old and new.

A Dia de los Muertos celebration seemed like the perfect way to reconnect. This traditional Mexican holiday is a time to remember and honor our loved ones who have passed away and to gather together with all your friends and family here on Earth to rejoice in the beauty and brightness that is life. I immediately thought of Meg from Beard and Bonnet, a person I have worked with virtually (and admired greatly) but have never met in real life and my dear friend Aida from Salt and Wind who I’ve known for a decade now and has been an inspiration to me personally and professionally.

Dia de los Muertos is first and foremost a fiesta of the senses

DIY Floral and Fruit Portraits

The idea of a Day of the Dead party is to fill the space with as many colors and flavors, delicious scents and music to awaken those who have passed on to the other side. Meg and Todd (who took all the gorgeous photos in this post) from Beard and Bonnet and Meredith Ambruso (mer_ambruso on Instagram) came together with the most brilliant flower arrangements. You can find the tutorial on how to make these incredible floral portraits on Beard and Bonnet.

The Altar

The backdrop for our fete was Meg and Todd’s gorgeous courtyard. They assembled the most stunning altar in which we hung pictures of our loved ones who have passed, lit candles, flowers, and sugar skulls and decorated it from head to toe with the generous gift of fruits and fall produce from Melissa’s Produce. An altar filled with sweet smelling flowers, ripe fruit, light, and photos beckons those who are gone to come back into this world for one more night.

The Cocktail

To toast friendships, old and new, we created mezcal margaritas made with dried marigold syrup. Marigold flowers are symbolic of Dia de los Muertos. In Oaxaca, Mexico the streets are lined with oversized marigolds throughout the month of October leading up to Day of the Dead, which takes place on November 1st and 2nd.

Dia de los Muertos Menu

Marigold Mezcal Margaritas

Vegan Green Pozole

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas with Jamaica Mole

Mexican Red Rice with Roasted Salsa Roja

Rainbow Jicama Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Spiced Mexican Chocolate Coconut Pie

Pumpkin Spice Pan de Muerto

The meal started with a spicy vegan green pozole that Meg made with fresh soaked hominy and poblano peppers. Then there was creamy chicken enchiladas bathed in a jamaica mole sauce, Mexican Red Rice, Rainbow Jicama Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing, and to finish the meal Aida made a decadent Mexican Chocolate Cream Pie piled a mile high with whipped cream and toasted coconut. I also made loaves of Pumpkin Spice Pan de Muerto, a traditional sweet yeasted bread symbolic of Day of the Dead. I will post links to all the recipes here over the next couple weeks.

Particulars for Party Planners

Decor

Fall fruits and produce: Melissa’s Produce

DIY Floral and Fruit Day of the Dead Altars

Tableware

Luchador bottle openers

Mini Mason Jars

Enamelware table setting

Dansk Kobenstyle Saucepan (for rice)

Dansk Kobenstyle Buffet Platter (for salad)

Le Creuset Serving Platter (for Enchiladas)

Mosser Glass Cake Stand

Recipes

Marigold Mezcal Margarita Recipe

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas with Jamaica Mole

Rainbow Jicama Salad Recipe

Mexican Red Rice with Roasted Salsa Roja

Spiced Mexican Chocolate Coconut Pie

Pumpkin Spice Pan de Muerto

All Photography Courtesy of Beard and Bonnet

A big thank you to Melissa’s Produce for all the beautiful fruit and vegetables for our fiesta

PIN IT FOR LATER!

30 Memorial Day Recipes To Get You Through The Weekend

May 26, 2016 by Kate Ramos 2 Comments

The long weekend is almost here!! You got plans? Whether your lounging by the pool or grilling in the backyard, I’ve got 30 recipes that you are going to love. From snacks to sweets these recipes are summer party ready, almost all can be made ahead, and most are pretty easy to pull off, leaving you plenty of time to relax and enjoy the official kick-off to summer!

Have a great weekend everybody!!

Snacks

Drinks

Blackberry Limonada Margarita
Raspberry Prickly Pear Agua Fresca {Non-alcoholic}
La Mulita Cocktail
Pink Chia Lemonade {Non-alcoholic}
Crushed Strawberry Margarita

Burgers

On the Grill

Salads and Sides

Sweets

Chocolate Dipped Churros Ice Cream Sandwiches
Bananas Foster Upside Down Cake
Mexican Chocolate Pie with Tequila
Easy Blackberry Hibiscus Sorbet {Gluten and Dairy Free}
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies

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DIY Cinco de Mayo Party Decorations

Mezcal Cocktails and More Drinks For An At Home Cinco de Mayo Party

Mexican Appetizers

Sweet Potato Nachos with Smoked Cheddar and Black Beans

Easy Mexican Dishes

Read on for my ultimate summer entertaining guide. What are your easy, warm weather party ideas? Leave me a comment below, I’d love to know!

Al Fresco Bagel Brunch

Summer Grilling Party

Ceviche Tostada Bar

The Beverage Station

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A So-Cal Winter Brunch Menu

Blood Orange Ginger Sangria

Tequila Brown Sugar Bacon

Winter Fruit Salad with Honey-Lemon Dressing and Pistachios

Spinach and Onion Quiche with Hashbrown Crust

Almond Ricotta and Roasted Rosemary Grape Tartines

Pistachio Spiced Coconut Carrot Muffins

Effortless Decor

How To Pull It All Off

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Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Did you make this recipe?

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Here was the plan:

To pull off your own tamalada party here’s what you’ll need:

Tamalada Party Menu

Dia de los Muertos is first and foremost a fiesta of the senses

DIY Floral and Fruit Portraits

The Altar

The Cocktail

Dia de los Muertos Menu

Particulars for Party Planners

Decor

Tableware

Recipes

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