Succulent Strawberries and Cinco De Mayo

As spring gets firmly underway, that means that strawberries are plump and ripe and ready to be added to a variety of dishes. Since Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner it only makes sense to bring these two highlights of the season together.

If you're looking for a fun Cinco de Mayo meal that uses strawberries to their absolute best, here are some recipes that are sure to please.

Strawberry Margarita (courtesy of Guy Fieri, Guy's Big Bite)

Do you want to start your Cinco de Mayo meal off with a traditional Margarita with a twist? Make it a strawberry Margarita. This recipe is one that I originally borrowed from the Food Channel's Guy Fieri (can you say adorable?) and while these are his basic guidelines, you may find you want to adjust the amounts to suit your taste.

For instance, I don't puree the strawberries ahead of time I just blend fresh strawberries in with everything except the ice plus I like a little more Triple Sec. Once all the other items are blended to a puree then I add the crushed ice; for me blending the ingredients before adding the ice works best.

2 cups crushed ice

1/2 cup strawberry puree (frozen can or fresh strawberries, pureed)

1 cup tequila

2 limes, juiced

Splash Triple Sec

Splash simple syrup (equal amounts sugar and water heated until sugar dissolves, then cooled)

Directions: Combine in a blender the ice, strawberry water, tequila, lime juice, Triple Sec and simple syrup. Puree until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.

Strawberry Salsa (courtesy of Sunset Magazine)

Okay, so you're out in the backyard, grilling up chicken and you want to add something other than barbecue sauce to the menu, especially since it is Cinco de Mayo. Try this wonderful strawberry salsa on it (if you prefer try it on any kind of flaky, white-fleshed fish).

Personally, I like to toss it on sliced grilled chicken and then roll the whole thing up in a warm flour tortilla, which you can easily make yourself. I've added my favorite recipe below from an old Better Homes and Garden cookbook I have. In the meantime, check out this salsa.

By the way, while you're grilling the chicken, you might want to grill up some ears of corn as your veggie.

1 cup diced strawberries

1 tsp. finely chopped jalapeno chile

1 tbsp chopped cilantro

½ tsp line zest

2 tsp lime juice

Salt and pepper

Directions: Mix all ingredients. Add salt and pepper to taste and the let sit for about 20 minutes to marinate.

Home-Made Flour Tortillas (courtesy of Better Homes and Garden)

If you can make a pie crust, you can make these flour tortillas.

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

2 tbsp shortening

½ c warm water

Directions: Mix first three ingredients thoroughly. Cut in shortening until combined. Slowly add water and toss together until the dough can be gathered into a ball. Knead about 15 to 20 times then let rest for 15 minutes.

Divide into 12 equal portions and shape into balls. On a lightly floured surface, flatten into circle using rolling pin. Cook on medium-hot ungreased skillet (about 30 seconds per side) until puffy or edges curl slightly.

And that's all it takes to have a simple and tasty Cinco del Mayo meal with the perfect spring fruit: strawberries.