Cinco de Mayo and GoT

It's a BIG day.  Two wonderful things on one little Sunday.

Looks like Cinco de Mayo to me!

Kids are coming for a "party" celebrating both and I bit off a too-much-cooking bite.  When I realized it was Cinco de Mayo, I decided to do a Mexican menu compliments of The Pioneer Woman and the cookbook my DIL gave me for Christmas.

Tequila chicken --marinated overnight in a food-processor marinade (i.e. lots of prep work)
Mexican rice -- lots of prep AGAIN and a few steps to cook today
Mexican corn casserole --  AGAIN, prep, prep, prep.

THEN appetizers ...
Bacon-cheese jalapeño poppers (also with mini-bell peppers for hubby).
Marinated black bean dip with chips.
Guacamole and chips.

THEN drinks ... made the mixers for margaritas and mojitos (yum)
Target had huge, fresh bundles of mint so, of course, mojitos were a must!

THEN dessert .... back to PW with Knock You Naked Brownies.  Three layers -- brownies, caramel, chocolate, oh my.

Nothing HARD, but everything had multi-steps.  I prepped yesterday and this morning.  The dinner shouldn't be much more work.  If I cook all day and then come to the table, I'm too tired to enjoy the meal so I prepped and cooked like crazy yesterday.

It's fun to do a theme meal with (mostly) new recipes.  I probably didn't need to do quite this much, but I got sucked down the hole of it-will-be-easy-and-fun.

Quick note on the Pioneer Woman cookbook.  Wow - it's nice.  At first blush, I didn't love it, but cooking the recipes changed my mind.  Every recipe has pictures of EVERY STEP.  Easy to follow, easy to read.  Of course, nothing even close to healthy, but it's certainly delicious.  Since she cooks for big crowds, most recipes can be prepped or made ahead and feed a group.

See what I mean?

Big meal, a few drinks and then GAME OF THRONES.  It's going to be a long, fun day.  Later gators.