Fiesta

Fiesta

Ideas and food for a Fiesta for Cinco de Mayo, May 5

Fiesta Decor from a party store and table cloth is really a shower curtain from the dollar store.

Napkins and where hand towels from a dollar store, plates too.

Fiesta Fiesta Fiesta

Fiesta

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Fiesta

Fiesta

Fiesta

Fiesta Fiesta

Fiesta Fiesta

Pico de Gallo

See Pico de Gallo

Queso Blanco Chorizo or Bacon Dip

See Queso Blanco Chorizo or Bacon Dip

Bean Layer Dip with Shrimp

See Bean Layer Dip with Shrimp

Bean Layer Dip

See Bean Layer Dip

Carnitas Tacos

See Carnitas Taco

See Black Beans Basamati Lime Rice

Mexican Fruit Cups

See Mexican Fruit Cups

Cucumber Cactus

Cucumber Cactus

*Toothpicks, cut in half and spaced and then push the halved toothpicks  into cucumber for cactus look as desired

*2 Large Cucumbers, one end sliced off to the size cactus desired

*1 Cantaloupe, cut in half (or make one half larger for variety) and then cut the ends off of the cantaloupe halves,  slice off just enough of the cantaloupe to make room for the end of a whole cucumber to fit into the cut hole, which you will cut.

Note: After cutting cantaloupe in two pieces/halves, I removed the seeds and flesh of the cantaloupe.

Cucumber Cactus Cucumber Cactus

Fiesta

Enjoy!

Lindy

Balsamic Pork Loin

Balsamic Pork Loin

Balsamic Pork Loin

*
*4 pounds Pork Loin, we like garlic lemon pre-seasoned (We used two, 2 pound pork loins)

*3 tablespoons Extra Light Olive Oil

*1 cup Sprite or chicken stock or water

 

Rub:

*
*1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt

*1/2 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper

*Pinch Cayenne Pepper

*1 teaspoon Garlic Powder

*1 teaspoon Onion Powder

*
Mix together in a small bowl. Then rub all over pork loins.

*
Heat a cast iron skillet with olive oil on medium-high heat and place seasoned pork loins in skillet and sear each side for 1-2 minutes or until browning occurs. Use a splatter guard to catch hot oil splatters.

*
Using tongs remove pork loins from skillet and place in crock pot. Set on high setting of heat for 3-4 hours or 6-8 hours on low heat. Internal temperature 160*F. is well done.

*
Remove cooked pork loins from crock pot and place into a baking dish.   Add to the tops of cooked pork loins with 1\2 the glaze (recipe below). Then bake at 400*F. for 15-20 minutes to allow browning, being careful not to burn the glaze.

*
Note: If I’m making this for a dinner party, I like to fully cook the pork in the crock pot the day before and then allow the pork loin to cool slightly and then refrigerator (until the party). Then the next day add 1/2 the glaze to the top of the pork loin, cover with foil and rewarm in the oven on 350*F. for 20 minutes then turn up the heat 400*F. and brown for 10-15 minutes.

*
Remove pork loin from the oven and allow them to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

*
Use the other 1/2 of the glaze for drizzle on sliced pork loin pieces when serving.

*

Balsamic Barbecue Glaze

*
*1/2 cup water

*1 1/2 tablespoons Cornstarch

*1/4 Balsamic Vinegar

*2 tablespoons Soy Sauce

*1/2 cup Brown Sugar, packed

*
In a sauce pan whisk together the glaze ingredients and heat on medium low, stirring until glaze thickens.

Recipe Balsamic Barbecue Glaze adapted from Laura’s Sweet Spot

Balsamic Pork Loin

Sorry about the blurry picture.

Balsamic Pork Loin Balsamic Pork Loin

Balsamic Pork Loin Balsamic Pork Loin Balsamic Pork Loin Balsamic Pork Loin

 

Balsamic Pork Loin

Balsamic Pork Loin

Enjoy!

Lindy