CELEBRATE THE FREEDOM, LIBERTY AND FRIENDSHIP OF CINCO DE MAYO WITH EASY-TO-PREPARE MEXICAN APPETIZERS

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When you take advantage of a variety of easy-to-prepare recipes, you'll find entertaining easy ... and fun!  With El Monterey brand frozen Taquitos, Burritos and a few other simple ingredients, your Cinco de Mayo celebration is sure to be memorable.

But what exactly do we celebrate on the 5th of May?  Is it an American celebration?  Is it a Mexican celebration?  Well, perhaps it's really a joint celebration ...

On the morning of May 5, 1862, 4,000 Mexican soldiers defeated the French army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City. 
It marked the beginning of the end for Napoleon III's French Army who had not been defeated in over 50 years.  Once they landed, they were planning to stay and rule what they thought would be Napoleon's new Mexican empire. 

With that in mind, the French Army attacked Mexico City.  It was there Texas-born General Zaragosa greeted them with his cavalry led by Colonel Porfirio Diaz.  It was Diaz who was later named Mexico's president and dictator. 

The brightly dressed French fought the less stylish Mexican Army - in mud from a thunderstorm - through hundreds of head of stampeding cattle - and lost.  The Mexicans had won a great victory and Union General Phil Sheridan rushed to the Texas/Mexican border to make sure the Mexicans had all the weapons and ammunition they needed to thoroughly rid their land of the French.  American soldiers were encouraged to join in Mexico's fight against the French and The American Legion of Honor marched in the Victory Parade in Mexico City.

A bond was formed and years later, assistance was returned when thousands of Mexicans joined the U.S. Armed Forces after Pearl Harbor - friends helping each other fight for liberty and freedom.

So it's only right - and fitting - that your Cinco de Mayo celebration reflects the foods of Mexico - a nation that many experts consider to have one of the five most distinct cuisines in the world.  What's important, too, is that you can enjoy the authentic flavors and textures without starting from scratch.

But how much should you prepare?  If you're planning to serve finger foods and appetizers at your Cinco de Mayo party, consider the advice from Food Network Kitchens, "Professional caterers estimate 10-12 items total per person."

With El Monterey brand frozen Burritos and Taquitos your finger goods and appetizers can be very creative ... full of authentic Mexican flavor and textures yet easy and fun at the same time.

Goce su partido!

Articles provided courtesy of Ruiz Foods, Inc.