The 5th of May is not Mexican Independence Day, but it should be! And Cinco de Mayo is not an American holiday, but it should be. Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810. And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico.

So, why Cinco de Mayo? And why should Americans savor this day as well? Because 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862. To continue reading about Cinco de Mayo history, click here. Otherwise, take a look at the list below of great appetizers for this well loved holiday.

7-Layer Guacamole Dip
Baked Tortilla Chips
Black Bean Cheese Dip
Chiles con Caso Dip
Chipotle Salsa
Cilantro Lime Shrimp
Corn Tortilla Chips

Flour Tortilla Chips
Frijoles Refrito Dip
Hot Asiago Dip
Mexican Guacamole
Ranchero Bean Dip
Shrimp and Avocado Cocktail
Summertime Sangria
Tex Mex Soup with Black Beans
White Cheese Dip (Queso Blanco)

I love this Sangria recipe. Tasting this combination of tart red wine and sweet fruit is a memory-in-the-making. It’s an easy recipe to put together and a wonderfully fresh drink to sip on a warm spring night.

It’s the kind of drink recipe where you can never go wrong with it – it gets better as you spice it up with your own additions! Just add your favorite fresh or frozen fruits, chill it, and serve.

Takes about 5 minutes to prepare. How easy is that?

What you’ll need:

• 1 bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja reds, Zinfandel, Shiraz)
• 1 lemon cut into wedges
• 1 orange cut into wedges
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 1 shot of brandy
• 2 cups of ginger ale or club soda

What to do:
To make this fine Sangria, pour the wine in a pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon and orange into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) and add sugar and brandy. Chill overnight. Add ginger ale or club soda just before serving.

If you’d like to serve this fresh spring drink right away, use chill the red wine and serve over lots of ice.

Addition ideas: sliced strawberries, peaches, handful of fresh blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, a shot or two of gin, brandy or rum, a cup of ginger ale, citrus soda pop or lime juice.

For more flavorful concoctions to sip, check out my Holiday Drinks page.