Fiesta!

 This past Friday we had our first neighborhood Progressive Dinner.  We decided to stick to three courses - three houses since it was our first and it was a Friday evening.  Our first house, cocktails & appetizers, was wonderful.  The Browns' had sangria, Mexican bears, shrimp ceviche, chips and salsa.  After about an hour there we moved to our house...the entree.  I thought a lot about it and decided that since it would be a buffet I wanted something that would be easy to eat without a table, so I went with a taco salad bar. 

I decided to make two meats - chicken tinga and shredded beef.  I cooked them the day before in the slow cooker...they were delish!  I baked my own salad shells...this took a little practice, but once I got the hang of it, it was no problem.  I also made cilantro lime rice and chili beans.


 











I had all the fixin's for the salads...lettuce, tomato, black olives, different cheeses and sour cream.







The drinks were probably the easiest part...Of course I made sangria.  Then I picked up two beers - Corona and Negro Modelo.  I made limeade for something non-alcoholic.  I also had a pitcher of water.

Salsa Table.  I had baked and regular chips.  I made guacamole, fire roasted tomato salsa, black bean and pepper salsa, and drunken salsa.  The drunken salsa was delicious...hot but flavorful.





I had a lot of fun with the decorating...I used things I had and a few things I picked up at the craft store.  All the sombreros I had...from my daycare time ;)  I picked up a few bunches of bright colored flowers, the dish towels with recipes, and a fun table runner.  I think the evening went very well and we will do it again. 

Oh, for our final course we went to eh McKennas for dessert...Tres Leche cake, Mexican wedding cookies and a fruit salad.  maybe next time we will do Italian!