Celebrate Cinco De Mayo

We are only a couple of weeks away from Cinco De Mayo.  I am not Mexican-American and I know very little about the history of the celebration beyond the victory over France in the Battle of Puebla.  But I, like most Americans, love a celebration.

Food & Wine has some great recipes and menu ideas for your party:

10 Great Taco Recipes

Perfect Salsas

10 Great Margaritas

Mexican Menu Ideas

Pairing Mexican Food with Wine

Read all the different recipes they suggest along with this one from Rick Bayless.  It is a quick dip with a splash of tequila:

Bayless’s Queso Fundido al Tequila

Total Time:  20 minutes

Serves:  6

Chef Rick Bayless is renowned for cookbooks featuring elaborate Mexican recipes. With Mexican Everyday, he’s finally published a cookbook for fast weeknight cooking. This simple, 20-minute dip of melted cheese flavored with tomatoes, chiles, onion and a hit of tequila is just the thing to satisfy a sudden craving for something warm, salty and gooey.

ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 medium tomatoes—cored, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 2 jalapeños, seeded and minced
• 1 small onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• Kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons tequila
• 1/2 pound Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (3 cups)
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro
• Warm corn tortillas or corn chips, for serving

directions

1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the diced tomatoes, minced jalapeños, diced onion and a large pinch of salt and cook over moderately high heat, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Pour in the tequila and cook, stirring frequently, until the skillet looks nearly dry, about 2 minutes.
2. Reduce the heat to low. Add the cheese and cook, stirring constantly, until fully melted, about 30 seconds. Quickly transfer the queso fundido to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with the cilantro and serve immediately, with tortillas or chips.