Margarita Drink Stirrers

It seems to be margarita week on the blog! On Monday I shared my favorite margarita cupcake recipe and on Friday, I will share the recipe for these yummy-looking margaritas. Today I'm sharing these margarita drink stirrers I made.

Last year, we had a Cinco de Mayo party and I made a Fiesta printable party collection.  These drink stirrers match that collection and you can download the circles to make them here today for free!  

They are simple to make.  You only need some glue, the printable file, and any kind of stirring stick such as a popsicle stick, lollipop stick or a skewer.  Once you print out the file, cut out the circles.  I used a 1.5 inch circle punch to make perfect circles.  I then placed glue on the back of one circle, placed the stick on it, and then glued another circle to the back to finish it off.

They are great for any upcoming Cinco de Mayo parties.  Why not make some for yours?

Get the free printable file to make the drink stirrers.

Sweet Mondays: Margarita Cupcakes

Since Cinco de Mayo is coming up and many of you are most likely celebrating this weekend, I thought I would re-share these margarita cupcakes.  I made these cupcakes for last year's Cinco de Mayo celebration and they were a big hit at the party. These cupcakes are so yummy and I can say that this is my favorite cupcake. There is something about the tequila and lime mixed together with the sweetness of the frosting together that makes it taste so good.

This recipe is from Brown Eyed Baker and is definitely worth making.  If you like margaritas, you will love these cupcakes!

Ingredients:

For the Cupcakes:
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, at room temperature
Zest and juice of 1½ limes
2 tablespoons tequila
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup buttermilk

To Brush the Cupcakes:
1 to 2 tablespoons tequila

For the Tequila-Lime Frosting:
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2¾ cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoons tequila
Pinch of coarse salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit / 160 degrees Celsius and line your muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2. In a bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set it aside for use later.
3. In an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until it is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
4. Slow down the mixer speed and add the eggs one at a time, making sure each egg is mixed in thoroughly.
5. Add the lime juice, lime zest , vanilla extract and tequila to the mixture. Mix until combined. It may start to look a little curdled at this point, but that is OK! I think at this point it already smells so good!
6. Reduce the mixer speed to low and alternately add the flour mixture and the buttermilk. 
7. Divide the batter between the muffin cups.  Bake for approximately 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cupcakes comes out clean.
8. Allow the cupcakes to cool for about 5-10 minutes and then place them on a wire cooling rack. While they are still warm, brush the tops with 1-2 tablespoons of tequila. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting them.
9. To make the frosting, use the whisk attachment on an electric mixer. Add in the butter and whip for 5 minutes on medium-high speed. 
10. Reduce the speed to low and add in the powdered sugar. Once it is all mixed together, let the mixer run on medium speed for about 30 seconds. 
11. Add the lime juice, tequila and salt and mix on medium-high speed until the frosting is fluffy.  If the frosting is too soft, add some more sugar until the desired consistency is reached.
12. Frost the cupcakes and add a lime wedge for decoration.
13. Enjoy!

Fiesta Party Theme Ideas

I love Mexican food and margaritas, so it goes without saying that Cinco de Mayo is one of my favorite times to have a party! We had a great party last year, but we won't be home this year so we can't have one. We got some new fiesta-style items in our shop, so I put together some items that I would use if I were to have a Cinco de Mayo party this year. I hope it helps to show you how simple and easy it is to have a fiesta.  Just add chips and salsa! 

Fiesta Printable Invitation | Drink Umbrellas | Margaritas | Pom Picks | Mini Canapé Plates
Fiesta Printable Banner | Floral Fiesta Straws | Sorbet Fan Decorations

Great Piñatas

Piñatas are so much fun at parties! I think they are great for kid and adult parties alike, so here are four great examples of piñatas to use or make for your next party.

Photo Source: Oh Happy Day

I love this alligator piñata.  I think it is so creative and different. It is almost a shame to break it open. But maybe you can make it a pull-string piñata instead. That way you can keep it around for decoration! Get the DIY instructions at Oh Happy Day.

Photo Source: Studio DIY

Next is this golden piñata.  It is a "makeover" of the traditional donkey piñata and I think it looks great! Learn how to make it at Studio DIY.

Photo Source: Girl.Inspired

These are such pretty piñatas.  They were made with coffee filters and silk flowers glued on to a round piñata base.  Get the DIY information on the Girl.Inspired blog.

Photo Source: A Subtle Revelry
Photography and styling by Athena Plichta under the creative direction of Victoria Hudgins.

This is not a piñata in the traditional sense, but it is a great idea and would be so much fun for a party. A cake and piñata in one! Learn how to make it on A Subtle Revelry.

Sweet Mondays: Churros

Sweet, crunchy on the outside and warm on the inside, and usually eaten with a chocolate sauce or with Nutella.  Who wouldn't love to eat churros? With Cinco de Mayo coming up soon, I thought I would share one of my family's favorite Mexican desserts.

We made some the other day and they are very easy to make.  The dough took about 5 minutes to prepare and as soon as the oil was heated up, they cooked fairly quickly too.  I made them in long strips with a churro maker, but I have read that some people simply use a large star decorating tip and a pastry bag to get the same shape.  I also made some that were bite size so that it was easier for the little ones to eat. Either way you make them, they are really good!

Churros Recipe (adapted from allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

1 Cup Water

1 Tbsp. Sugar

1/2 Tsp. Salt

1 Tbsp.  Vegetable Oil

1 Cup All-Purpose Flour

Oil for Frying

1/2 Cup Sugar

1 Tsp. Cinnamon

Instructions

1. In a saucepan, add the water, 1 tablespoon of sugar, salt and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.  Bring these to a boil and then remove the pan from the heat.

2. Stir in 1 cup of flour until the dough forms a ball.  Set aside.

3. Heat the oil for frying in a deep pan or a dutch oven.  Heat the oil to 375 degrees fahrenheit (or 190 degrees celsius).  Pipe strips of the dough into the oil with a churro maker or with a pastry bag.  Fry the strips until they are a golden color and then drain them on paper towels. 

4. Combine 1/2 cup of sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon on a shallow plate. Roll the churros in the mixture.

5. Enjoy!