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Menu check
My fiesta's coming up in a couple weeks. 20 people. I've gained 2 co-hostesses (yay for the budget and the help!), and I want yall to check this menu before I run it by them.
AppsChips with homemade guacamole & salsa
Mains
Tacos: shredded beef and shredded chicken
Sides
Salad with pomegranate-lime dressing
Fruit skewers with vanilla-rum sauce
Desserts
Tres leches cake with raspberries
Mexican chocolate-buttermilk pound cake
Drinks
W's white wine sangria
Mexican beer
NA options
Questions/Notes:
1. For apps, do you think chips & dip is enough? Possible additions: cucumber salsa, cowboy caviar...but those are still dips too. Ideas?
2. Should I move the shrimp ceviche to the apps? The recipe is technically an app, but for the nature of this party, I'd like to keep such a significant dish as a main.
3. For cost, the shrimp might get axed altogether. Do you think the menu's ok without it?
4. FYI, still don't know if we're catering or DIYing the tacos. Found good recipes for if we DIY. One of the girls is calling around to check prices.
5. How do you feel about the fruit skewers? Side or dessert? Or skip altogether?
6. I'd love to serve traditional margaritas, but I haven't found a recipe that I can make in advance in bulk and not fuss with. Anyone have one?
7. These are the Mexican beers for sale here. Your selections?
Re: Menu check
Hi! I just saw this pop-up on the screen while I'm sitting here waiting for DH to call me back...
1. Re: Apps - I think homemade guac and salsa and chips is fine - considering the rest of your menu. I saved the cucumber salsa recipe (6's?) because it looked great too - you could do that instead of the traditional salsa. Also - would mix different colored tortilla chips together for more "lavish" looking spread.
2. & 3. I think it is OK to serve the shrimp ceviche with the mains... it is also more then OK to nix it if the cost is an issue. The rest of your menu is gorgeous and plenty.
4. Good! I'm so glad that you have help. That's awesome. You shouldn't have to do all of this by yourself!
5. I would serve the fruit skewers with dessert. I wouldn't skip them - if they are too much work - perhaps have one of the girls put out a simple fruit salad.
6. Re: Margaritas - my sister does this for parties: in a pitcher/punch bowl etc. mix 2 parts tequilla to 1 part triple sec - fill the rest of the container with Simply Limeade or Paul Neuman's Limeade. This works pretty well - I would add ice cubes of frozen Limeade/Lemonade - otherwise it will get watered down. (This makes like a Margarita Punch - that tastes really good but not quite as strong as a traditional Margarita).
7. These "Blue Parrrots" are awesome by Martha Stewart and can be made in advance - and frozen in a plastic container and then defrosted. (I take them "down the shore" in the cooler - in the summer). Here is her link:
http://www.marthastewart.com/283628/blue-parrot
Also... I LOVE them as is - but my BFF likes them sweeter so I add pineapple juice to hers which also is good.
Re: beers - don't drink very often - but DH like Coronas and Dos Equis.
GL!
1. How long are you expecting the apps portion to last? If it's just a little thing to munch while you wait for everyone to get there chips and dip should be fine. I love the cucumber salsa, but the shrimp has cucumber too, soo..... hmmmm. Queso? Anything else I'm thinking is heavy or a PITA. What about cinnamon chips and fruit salsa?
2 and 3. If you move the shrimp to the apps you can serve individually and I think it would be even cheaper. Served as a main you'll need a bigger portion. Then again you won't need as many portions. Then again I tend to make too much of everything because, you know, there might be a chance that all 30 people want the shrimp. But it's cold and cold doesn't read main dinner entree.
I do think the menu is fine without the shrimp.
4. I have a fantastic mexican shredded pork recipe if you're interested.
5. The fruit skewers seem odd so I'd nix them.
6. I've had a very similar beergarita and it's very close to the real deal.
7. I love that you took this pictures. I say Corona and Negra Modelo.
1. Salsa & guacamole are definitetly fine! If you wanted to include something warm, you could also serve queso.
2. By moving the shrimp ceviche to the apps, you could make less of it, which would be beneficial if cost is a concern. Plus it will stand out more as an app, when all it's "competing" with is salsa/guacamole.
3. Absolutely. While it's a nice touch, it's in no way an expected item.
4. I vote DIY. There are so many crock-pot recipes that are budget friendly, tasty, and require minimal effort.
5. I associate fruit skewers with dessert. As someone who *tries* to watch what they eat, I always appreciate fresh fruit (and veggies) so I don't go over board on junk.
6. I wish I did! That margarita punch that someone just replied with sounds good though.
7. i'm a big fan of Corona and Corona Light, served with a lime wedge.
PS - Your fiesta menu looks great! Should be a fun party!!
Thanks, girls, for all the replies so far!
I'll move the shrimp to apps and the fruit to dessert.
And funny: Two days ago, one of my super sweet co-hostesses suggested a place I knew was insanely expensive to cater, but rather than shoot her down, I told her to call and look into it, so I could diplomatically say it was too expensive after she got the quote. She called, and for 24 people, chips & salsa, enchiladas and tamales would be $450.
That was my budget for the whole party. I was indeed very diplomatic in my reply 
None of us speaks Spanish and they really don't speak any English at the best restaurant in town, so we'll have to DIY everything, which is fine now that I have co-hosts.
W, I'm having a student-brain-overload (proof: I went to the grocery store last night for a couple things and left them in the car overnight! I just threw out a frozen pizza and a gallon of milk!!), so could you please translate "parts" into bottles? To 1 bottle of limeade, how much tequila? Or to a fifth of tequila, how much limeade?
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Re: W, I'm having a student-brain-overload (proof: I went to the grocery store last night for a couple things and left them in the car overnight! I just threw out a frozen pizza and a gallon of milk!!), so could you please translate "parts" into bottles? To 1 bottle of limeade, how much tequila? Or to a fifth of tequila, how much limeade?
Oh sure!
Margarta Punch
In a large pitcher or punch bowl:
2 Cups of Tequilla - chilled
1 Cup of Triple Sec - chilled
Add Ice Cubes made of Frozen Limeade - fill to top with Simply Limeade or Neuman's Limeade
HTH - sorry re: your groceries. Hang in there
In our bar the top Mexican beers were XX, Corona Light (regular Corona can taste skunky sometimes) and Negra Modelo.