cinco de mayo

Palomas

Palomas

For a little fizzy twist on the classic margarita, the Paloma is the perfect cocktail. My girlfriend Kayla introduced me to this grapefruit and tequila cocktail on an afternoon where we turned Happy Hour into a $100 outing. Needless to say, I've been ordering them ever since. The Paloma is a refreshing combination of sweet and tart grapefruit juice or soda, lime, and a nice salty rim. Top off this 5 minute cocktail with club soda for a bubbly finish. I love using fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, but you can also use Squirt or Grapefruit Jarritos! :) Let's get drankin!

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Grilled Cheese Tacos

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Grilled Cheese Tacos

There's nothing like a classic grilled cheese. And I think we can all agree that we've been waiting on a taco emoji since forever. So what happens when you combine the two? Pure heaven. This week's recipe for Grilled Cheese Tacos is an incredibly easy way to appease your biggest junk food craving in minutes. Toss together some fresh pico de gallo and slice up some creamy avocado to top it all off. These tacos are perfectly warm and gooey, salty and savory; and the pico adds a nice fresh punch. Let's get cookin :) 

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Elote Salad

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Elote Salad

BBQ season is here! Warm weather, ice cold drinks, and tons of yummy dishes and sides. I love BBQs because they’re often potlucks, and you get to try out all kinds of new dishes and get inspired by others’ cooking! One of my favorite indulgences is Mexican Grilled Corn, or Elote. Elote is corn on the cob, often served with salt, chili powder, butter, cheese, lime juice, cilantro, cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream. They’re so delicious and comforting. 


I was thinking about ways to make Elote for large groups of people, and realized it would be so easy to simply cut the kernels off the cob and cook the corn in the same way. The result is a vibrant, flavorful side dish that is fantastic for parties or regular ole weeknight dinners. One other perk that I love is that I always tend to get corn stuck in my teeth when I eat it off the cob - and this way, it’s a little easier to eat shovel into your mouth hahah :) 

Tajín Rimmed Mango Margaritas

Tajín Rimmed Mango Margaritas

It’s fun to explore different recipes - I have a bunch of fun and delicious ones for your weekend’s festivities here. It’s also really fun to dream up and put your own twist on the classics! One of my favorite summer snacks is sweet, ripe mango slices sprinkled with Tajín seasoning and fresh lime juice. If you haven’t tried Tajín, it’s a tangy, spicy seasoning powder made of chili peppers, salt, and dehydrated lime juice. It’s amazing on fruit, and even more delicious in micheladas. Since I’ve always loved this simple and absolutely yummy flavor combo, I thought it would be fabulous when translated into a cocktail! 

Refreshing mango margaritas get the perfect salty/spicy kick from a Tajín rim. These are super tasty - a bit of a creeper, which I always love, and easy to make in large batches for a crowd. I love Cazadores Tequila Blanco - it’s 100% Blue Agave and is a smooth, easy-going Tequila. It tastes as clean as it looks, and plays well with others. The slightly sweet taste and soft finish make it highly versatile and perfect for mixing in cocktails. Margaritas also contain Triple Sec, which is a type of Curaçao liqueur, an orange-flavored liqueur. I have always loved Cointreau, perhaps because it was my mom’s favorite.  Fresh lime juice and mango puree top this baby off. Enough talking, let’s start drankin :) 

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Skinny Enchilada Stacks

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Skinny Enchilada Stacks

I’m not going to claim that I know how to make authentic enchiladas, or hell, Mexican food. These Enchilada Stacks are a great way to satisfy your craving for Mexican food without the extra work that comes with rolling each enchilada. The recipe is delicious - it tastes just like I remember, and is so easy to throw together. It might not look like the traditional thing, but trust me, it tastes just like the classic. Top off each serving with fresh Queso Fresco, tomatoes, avocado, lettuce, olives, and cilantro - the whole enchilada.

Believe it or not, this recipe is also #GlutenFree! Traditional yellow corn tortillas keep this nice and simple. I also used ground turkey instead of ground beef, and made my own taco seasoning. This is such a fun dish for entertaining or for a weeknight meal with your family. Chop up all the toppings and set up a little enchilada bar! That way everyone can customize their own :) Let’s get cookin :) 

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Mango Basil Crispy Personal Pizzas

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Mango Basil Crispy Personal Pizzas

Pizza. One of the most delicious inventions in the world. It’s versatility is endless: deep dish, thin crust, cheese stuffed crust, sweet, savory, and topped with any ingredient under the sun. Making homemade pizza is, let’s be honest, kind of a drag. I am usually very hesitant when it comes to making my own dough, even though the outcome is significantly better than store-bought instant dough. 

One of my favorite pizza topping combinations is the classic Hawaiian. It’s simple. Salty, sweet, and on a light crispy dough with tons of cheese. I wanted to share a few recipes with you that take a classic dish, and update it with a new, slightly more upscale twist (while still being completely affordable). How could I elevate a Hawaiian pizza? Mango. 

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Cilantro-Lime Jalapeño Chicken Salad

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Cilantro-Lime Jalapeño Chicken Salad

Chicken Salad is a classic that can be flipped in many ways - it’s so versatile! My twist on the traditional chicken salad is surprisingly refreshing - with a zesty bite from fresh lime juice and cilantro, and a kick from a dash of cumin. 

I usually take a shortcut and shred up some Costco rotisserie chicken. It’s quick, easy, and half the work is already done for you! However, this time around, I decided to start from scratch and cook the chicken myself, starting the layering of flavors from the beginning. This recipe will show you how to poach chicken, dress it up, and serve it for your friends and family. I even included two different serving methods. Halve and season a fresh, ripe avocado and spoon mounds of the creamy chicken salad on top, or split open a few King’s Hawaiian Rolls for easy individual servings. Of course, you can serve these on any variety of great breads - I suggest a nice French or Italian bread :)

Sounds hard, but is actually pretty simple and quick. You’ll love these great flavors! Let’s cook :)

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Strawberry Margarita Jello Shots

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Strawberry Margarita Jello Shots

It’s Cinco De Mayo, and what better to celebrate with than Strawberry Margarita Jello Shots? One thing I hate about jello shots is loosening the jello up with your finger, and then trying to get it all out of the tiny little cup. Call me lazy, but I wanted to get around this. Solution? Make the jello shots in fresh strawberries :) 

Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

Cinco De Mayo is just around the corner, and that got me thinking about a ton of fun recipes for this weekend! Colorful, fresh ingredients make for delicious and vibrant looking meals. 

Trader Joe’s has a great Cilantro Lime dressing that is super tasty…but take one look at the nutrition facts and it’ll make you put it back on the shelf. How to get around this problem? Make it at home! 

My original intention for this vinaigrette was for crispy fish tacos (that’s up next!)…but it turned out so tasty that I've been dipping everything in it. Yum. Here we go! Super easy :) 

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Baked Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa and Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

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Baked Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa and Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

Warm white corn tortillas filled to the brim with wonderfully crisp-edged, tender tilapia, fresh mango salsa, and zesty cilantro-lime vinaigrette are the perfect Cinco De Mayo meal. Let's get cookin!