Colores en la Mesa

Happy Tuesday everyone! I’m feeling upbeat and wanted to share with you my colorful Mexican table setting I put together a couple of weekends ago for friends who came over for their first carne asada. They arrived in time to help me bring everything back inside because it was one of those days where it started to rain while the sun was out! Can you believe that!? It’s like mother nature doesn’t want me to set out these multi-color place mats and napkins I bought for our outdoor Easter celebration! Oh well. I took pics before the rain and before the arrachera (grilled skirt steak) was ready. Enjoy!

Little tips: Add a fresh fruit to your water. Beautiful and extra refreshing.  I added lime as many Mexican households are usually stocked with limes! But lemons or cucumbers would do of course!

The bright orange serving bowls and pitcher are all from Crate and Barrel…wedding gifts that are almost eight years old! The white china serving bowls are from our stay in Singapore. Always pick up a little something useful for your home while traveling!

Helpful hints: Group things together for easy serving. I placed the guacamole, salsa and chips together and then grouped the sour cream, cheese and a pico de gallo for fast taco making! Oh and don’t forget to set out the serving spoons! I always forget and have to keep running back and forth to the kitchen.

I think a runner at the center of the table would have made the table look a bit better or maybe a whole table cloth? What do you think? Are you looking forward to entertaining this summer? I kept it very simple and basic with the ingredients but spruced it up with lots of color! No need to overdo everything at once right?

Your friend,

Betty

Happy Cinco de Mayo!


¡Jajaja! I love this! So true. Lots of people in the United States will be buying their Coronas, guacamole, and taquitos this weekend. Some will stumble in and out of bars on Saturday night. I’m just happy people are out celebrating and that Mexico is remembered dearly.

But just in case you want to know what Cinco de Mayo is really all about…I Wikipedia-ed it for you!

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for “fifth of May”) is a celebration held on May 5. It is celebrated nationwide in the United States and regionally in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla, where the holiday is called El Dia de la Batalla de Puebla (The Day of the Battle of Puebla). The date is observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride and to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War. In the state of Puebla, the date is observed to commemorate the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. Contrary to widespread popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day—the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico—which is actually celebrated on September 16.

Now that we have that out of the way dear readers, let’s see how we can decorate to celebrate Mexico without the cliche hot peppers, sombreros and maracas. Ajuuuua! But go ahead and have your cold Coronas (and have one for me as I crave one really bad these days, con sal y limon por favor.

Pinterest

Isn’t this cake beautiful?

The following images are all from Hostess with the Mostess:

I love, love the Churro cupcakes!!!! Everything looks so elegant…softer colors, papel picado on both cakes, and the Jarritos (!), you can be very authentic and think outside the box.

What will you be doing this Cinco de Mayo? Jose and I are having a long overdue date night on Saturday! And yes, even though my mom has been preparing Mexican food all week, we will be going to a Mexican restaurant! Today, I will be going to Diego’s school to help with the Cinco de Mayo festivities. Have a great weekend!

Your friend,

Betty