Mexican Feast For Cinco de Mayo

Chef Scott Linquist Prepares One On A Shoestring

(CBS)  Monday is an important national holiday in Mexico - Cinco de Mayo.

That's a great excuse for folks north of the border to indulge in the feast, and The Early Show's "Chef on a Shoestring" served up plenty to get the party started on Saturday.

Scott Linquist is executive chef of the newly-opened Dos Caminos, in the Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. He's a co-author of Dos Caminos' cookbook, "Mod Mex: Cooking Vibrant Fiesta Flavors at Home" (Andrews McMeel).

Linquist only had our shoestring budget of $40 to work with for his mix, featuring guacamole and chicken tacos. The menu: Roasted Tomatillo Salsa Verde, Chips and Guacamole, Chipotle-Marinated Chicken Tacos, Tacos Al Pastor with Roasted Pineapple Pico de Gallo, and Kiwi Margarita Raspado with Fruit Ceviche.

FOOD FACTS

Tacos Al Pastor: Similar to the Greek gyro, and translates to "shepard style." Tacos Al Pastor is a dish that was developed in Puebla, México and traditionally is served with grilled pineapple on top. Tacos al pastor, although less-widely available than other styles in fusion Mexican cuisine, are one of the most popular tacos served in taquerias both in Mexico and U.S. Latino neighborhoods.

Pico De Gallo: Pico de gallo, Spanish for "rooster's beak," is the term generally referring to a fresh condiment made from chopped tomato, onion, and chiles (typically jalapeños or serranos). Other ingredients may also be added, such as lime juice, fresh cilantro, avocado, cucumber, or radish. Pico de gallo can be used in much the same way as Mexican salsas or Indian chutneys, but since it is less liquid, it can also be used as a main ingredient in dishes such as tacos and fajitas.

Chipotle: A chipotle is a smoke-dried jalapeño chili used primarily in Mexican, Mexican-American, Tex-Mex, and Mexican-inspired cuisine. Chipotles are a key ingredient that impart a relatively mild, but earthy spiciness to many dishes in Mexican cuisine. The chiles are used to make various salsas. Chipotle chiles can also be ground up and combined with other spices to make a meat marinade known as an adobo.

Raspado: Raspado is similar to a snow cone. You get the granular texture by scraping the ice with a fork several times throughout the freezing process.

Ceviche: Usually, ceviche is a chilled citrus-marinated seafood salad, popular in many Latin American countries. On Saturday, Linquist used a variation of the classic ceviche by replacing the seafood with fresh fruits. His ceviche accompanied the homemade kiwi raspado served as dessert.

RECIPES:

Fresh Guacamole
Serves 4

2 Tbls. finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 Tbls. finely chopped yellow onion
2 Tbls. minced jalapeno or Serrano chilies, seeds and membranes removed if desired
2 Large ripe avocados, peeled and seeded
2 Tbls. cored, seeded, and finely chopped plum tomato
2 tsps. freshly squeezed lime juice
4 Cups warm tortilla chips, for serving
1/2 tsp. Kosher or coarse salt

In a medium-sized bowl or molcajete, manually mash together 1 teaspoon of the cilantro, 1 teaspoon of the yellow onion, 1 teaspoon of the chile, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

Add the avocadoes and gently mash with a fork until it is chunky/smooth.

Fold the remaining cilantro, onion, and chile into the mixture.

Stir in the tomato and lime juice, adjust the seasonings to taste and serve with a basket of warm tortilla chips.

[licht1]

Traditional Mexican breakfast on May 6th: Menudo, a hangover cure.

See

http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/seis-de-mayo/

Salud.

[infairness-2009]

To Xalen54,
"It is a Mexican holiday, go to Mexico & celebrate it...."????
People move. People work hard and strive. How about - "Christmas: It is a Christian holiday, go to Bethlehem & celebrate it...."

[bhappy2-2]

So bhappy2-2 you should read a little history. We jigged up a war with Mexico to steal most of what we call the western US. Then afterwards we made a token payment to them to establish our "legal" right to the land. Not that the truth means anything to you I''''m sure, but you anti-immigrant argument is tainted by your lies.

Posted by jumkey

Since mexico accepted the "token payment" for the property it IS the legal property of The United States of America. The ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS are in violation of the law by entering OUR country. If I agree to let you PURCHASE my home and I then sneak back in and try to live in the home I would be breaking the law, just as the ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS are doing.But apparently this does not bother the traitors who support ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS.

[cdimice]

I work at a predominately hispanic school on the border of El Paso and Juarez Mexico and we are not getting May 5 off.....
But the food can be a feast for anytime...you don''t have to celebrate anything to enjoy the wonderful tastes of mexican food....

[xalen54]

It is a Mexican holiday, go to Mexico & celebrate it....

[battleroaron]

sorry,my misunderstanding on the reason for the celebration.seems my foot is somewhat in my mouth, but do the schools really need to close for this?

[underdogus]

Quetzal0666 that''s right!!

[quetzal0666]

battleroaron..

5 De mayo was not independance from France, it was a Battle Fought in the city of Puebla, againts foreign french troops, the outnumbered army held out and won, but eventually lost the invasion,
It is celebrated because few stood against so many and won despite overwhelming odds.

[underdogus]

Hitler had the right idea to bad he''''s not here to get rid of the mexicans!!!!!!
Posted by maedean ...he wanted to get rid of white Americans too!! what are you inhaling??

[underdogus]

what a bunch of losers on this post, remember when a Nation does that which is right and good in the sight of God, then God blesses that Nation. When they do evil, then God curses the people with STORMS,TORNADOES,EARTHQUAKES,FLOODS,WARS,TERRORISM,HIGH TAXES,UNEMPLOYMENT,DEPRESSION A''COMING to the UNITED STATES......

[jumkey]

Well, first off Cinco de Mayo isn''t the "most important national holiday" - that would be September 16th, Mexican Independence Day. Cinco de Mayo is an American drinking holiday. Most Mexicans don''t celebrate it and are confused as to why we do.

Oh and for all the racists here no one in the US gets this "holiday" off.

So bhappy2-2 you should read a little history. We jigged up a war with Mexico to steal most of what we call the western US. Then afterwards we made a token payment to them to establish our "legal" right to the land. Not that the truth means anything to you I''m sure, but you anti-immigrant argument is tainted by your lies.

[battleroaron]

hey ,why don''t we just celebrate all countries independence. it makes just as much sense as celebrating mexico''s . that''s what cinco de mayo is. a celebration of mexico''s independence from france. do they celebrate the 4th of july there? do they have big holiday where kids don''t go to schoolin Americas honor?i doubt it. while our holidays are being removed from schools (ie: holloween, banned???? in most schools across country) yet we celebrate mexicos independence from france??? kids don''t go to school tomorrow ,here in colorado.what a waste of american time.

[hypnotoad72]

First of all, this article has more to do with preparing food than discussing the history/point behind Cinco de Mayo. That holiday is now devolved to the level of St Patrick''s Day...

Also, those who come here illegally also tarnish everyone who is here legally. THAT is the problem. Indeed, why leave, go to another country illegally, do whatever, and thanks to the media we know some illegals put their home country''s flag over the country they are inhabiting?! If their home country is that important, their actions suggest otherwise.

[truthyness]

All you Mexicans who are over here illegally....GET T OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!!!!

And take your violent rapists, child molesters and drugs with you! You make those of us who came over here legally look bad!!!

[truthyness]

All you Mexicans who are over here illegally....GET T OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!!!!

And take your violent rapists, child molesters and drugs with you! You make those of us who came over here legally look bad!!!

[truthyness]

All you Mexicans who are over here illegally....GET T OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!!!!

And take your violent rapists, child molesters and drugs with you! You make those of us who came over here legally look bad!!!

[truthyness]

All you Mexicans who are over here illegally....GET T OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!!!!

And take your violent rapists, child molesters and drugs with you! You make those of us who came over here legally look bad!!!

[truthyness]

All you Mexicans who are over here illegally....GET T OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!!!!

And take your violent rapists, child molesters and drugs with you! You make those of us who came over here legally look bad!!!

[mojito6]

I tuned in specifically to watch the Chef prepare the Cinco de Mayo Mexican feast. I thought the dishes he chose were lively and interesting. HOWEVER ..who was that rude guy standing next to him incessantly interrupting the chef and trying to hog attention for himself? The focus during cooking instructions is on the food and not on over bloated attention hogs. Many times the chef very politely tried to get the guy to stop interrupting because his time was short & the guy just ignored him and kept disrupting. What is the point o having a chef on if some attention hog is going to interrupt the whole time? It was very very rude...rude to the chef and rude to those who were actually interested in watching him prepare the food.

[wlmrtpatriot]

Bahajohn it''s not that people dislike mexicans. Become legal like we all have to be. You might receive minimum wage and health care, plus social security and some kind of reirement plan. It''s your employers fault.