Cinco de Mayo potluck! (grilled, frozen, cookies, tomato)

[Shorty458]

My supervisor thought it would be a great idea to have our team have a Cinco De Mayo potluck... which I do think would be fun. However, I am really stuck on what to make/bring. Normally for potlucks, I bring side dishes (ie: a buffalo chicken dip) or dessert (ie: fudge) but those aren't well themed for Cinco De Mayo. Any ideas/suggestions for side dishes/desserts? I appreciate any input.

[fleetiebelle]

They're probably looking for stereotypical "Mexican" fare. Similar to what you normally make, there are recipes out there for Mexican chocolate cookies that have cinnamon and cayenne in them. My sister makes a really easy taco dip--you mix a packet of taco seasoning with two packages of cream cheese, spread it in a 9 x 13 pan and top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, olives, cheese, whatever else you'd put on a taco and serve with chips.

[Meyerland]

Here are some ideas:

A traditional seven layer dip with chips, queso in a crock pot, Southwest salad and chipotle ranch dressing, guacamole and chips.

[ccm123]

Mini-tacos, guacamole with chips. some good salsa, etc

[Bulldogdad]

Pan dulce.

[apexgds]

If you want to do a side, you can't get much easier than a black bean & corn salad. You could even throw in quinoa if you want to make it even heartier.

If you want to do dessert, you could make Mexican wedding cookies or Chile Chocolate Brownies

[CMichele]

Rotel dip
Guacamole and chips
Grilled corn on the cob Mexican style
Margaritas

You could also do a taco bar. Crockpot and shred a huge roast, season with Mexican seasonings, and have an assortment of sides. You could do the same with nachos but crockpot ground beef.

[apexgds]

If you want to do an entree dish, you could do what I'm going for our Cinco de Mayo potluck ... tossing a bag of frozen chicken in the crock pot, sprinkling an envelope of taco seasoning, a can of black beans, a can of corn, a jar of salsa, and setting it on low late on Sunday night. When I get up Monday morning, I'll shred the chicken, take it to the office and put it on the warm setting until lunch.

[sskink]

I'd make chilaquiles. It can be a vegetarian entree (if using veg broth/no chicken, but I wouldn't skip the crema) or a side so everyone can try a little. Somebody always takes the leftovers home because once they've tried it, they love it.

Most non-Mexican Americans have an extremely limited vocabulary on what "Mexican food" is, so I usually try to do something different than the regular stuff. One easy idea, no cooking, is a jicama/cilantro slaw. Here's an Americanized version courtesy of Bobby Flay. People will be impressed, trust me.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I'd do enchiladas or pork adobo (if I were feeling rich).

However, if you are willing to put in some time chopping, chopping, chopping, you can make a fresh tomato salsa and take that and some tortilla chips. I guarantee it will get eaten.

Somewhere between 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch cubes, fresh tomatoes. You can use Roma tomatoes for this and they are usually cheaper and often better. Dice up some fresh cilantro into it. Chop an onion so fine that it is practically mush. (add some green onion rings for color, if you'd like), dice canned green chilies, the long green kind, not hot ones. Give it a squeeze of fresh lime juice and salt to taste. Make sure all the tomato juice makes it into the salsa.

Sorry, it just does not come out as well in a food processor. The chunkiness is mandatory, so salsa gets hand cut.

Use Juanitas tortilla chips if they happen to be available in your area.

There is a cabbage salsa which is wonderful. Many recipes are on line if you want to try that one.