Spice up Spring Parties, Cinco de Mayo Celebrations

Muir Glen® Organic salsas and tomatoes provide a healthy, delicious kick to spring entertaining.

After a long winter, you are no doubt ready to usher in the spring season with great food and good times with friends and family. Warmer days and nights and festive holidays such as Cinco de Mayo are fun occasions to celebrate and a perfect reason to incorporate fresh, colorful recipes into spring entertaining menus. To make it easier, Muir Glen® Organic tomatoes and salsas provide a light and healthy, spicy and delicious accompaniment to many spring menus.

Spring South of the Border

Cinco de Mayo presents a great opportunity to celebrate the spring. A salsa bar, Mariachi music, colorful decorations and mini cilantro plants for centerpieces will help you create a festive mood for guests. And a few delicious dishes that incorporate Muir Glen Organic salsas are sure to delight.

The classic favorite Chicken Quesadillas are easy to make and always a crowd pleaser. This version cuts fat and calories without skimping on taste. Shredded chicken breast, Muir Glen Organic salsa, fat-free refried beans, whole wheat tortillas and reduced-fat cheese combine to offer a nutritious dose of flavor. Fresh cilantro adds just the right element to tie everything together. Serve them as part of a Cinco de Mayo buffet or, if your celebration is smaller with a sit-down meal, serve the quesadillas with a tossed salad or fresh fruit.

For something a little different, Shrimp Biscuit Tostadas use Pillsbury® frozen biscuits as a base, coated with cornmeal on one side and baked. Then, they’re topped with a heated mixture of Muir Glen Organic medium chipotle salsa, small shrimp and cheddar cheese, and garnished with lettuce, sour cream and avocado. Serve them hot for maximum savory flavor. You’ll want to make a couple of batches, as your guests are sure to be clamoring for more.

We’ve changed up a trusted go-to dish with this yummy, and fiber-rich, Taco Salad. Traditional ingredients, including extra-lean ground beef, lettuce, pinto beans, tomatoes, onions and reduced-fat cheese, are accented with a variety of aromatic spices, including chili powder, cumin and cayenne. Include any variety of Muir Glen Organic salsa to help incorporate the ingredients and add extra flavor. Serve with baked tortilla chips, or make your own, for a delicious Taco Salad. You can substitute lean chicken for the beef, or go meatless.

What better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than with a party featuring delicious Mexican-inspired recipes with a personalized twist, and an amazing array of salsas, all shared with good friends? These dishes will delight your guests, and their ease of preparation will keep you out of the kitchen and enjoying the festivities, too. To top off the evening, let guests keep the mini cilantro plant centerpieces as parting gifts so they can start a kitchen herb garden use in their dishes.

Getting Creative with Salsa

Salsa has become a staple in many kitchens and its uses are more diverse than a dip, so be sure to keep plenty on hand in the pantry. Here are some ideas to enjoy the great taste, zest and nutritious benefits of salsa in fresh, new ways.

Replace more traditional toppings for chicken breast sandwiches, such as mayonnaise or honey mustard, with Muir Glen Organic cilantro salsa. The Salsa Chicken Sandwiches start with lean, broiled chicken, and place on whole wheat buns. Top with fat-free Muir Glen salsa, black bean dip and lettuce. These sandwiches don’t sacrifice taste for wholesome eating.

Create your own salsa and try Fiery Fruit Salsa. It only takes 15 minutes to prepare and is full of delicious, fresh flavor. Simply chop Muir Glen Organic fire roasted diced tomatoes in a food processor, then mix with diced mango, green onions, cilantro, fresh lime juice and chipotle chile. The blend of sweet mango and the smoky flavoring of Muir Glen fire roasted tomatoes makes a perfect topping over meat or fish or served alone with tortilla chips. You can make this salsa up to 24 hours ahead of time — just store tightly covered in the refrigerator.

Create a Beautiful Herb Garden with Ease

In addition to hosting outdoor celebrations, spring is a great time to start planting an herb garden. Herbs are easy to grow, and they place ingredients for your favorite dishes at your fingertips. A number of herbs complement the rich flavors of Muir Glen Organic tomatoes, including basil, cilantro, oregano, parsley and thyme.

Here are some tips for growing a kitchen herb garden:

• Incorporate herbs into an existing flower or vegetable bed, grow them separately near the kitchen door or keep them handy in small containers on the kitchen counter.
• Plant herbs in a rich, well-draining soil and avoid heavy feeding with supplemental fertilizer.
• Most annual herbs taste their best before they flower, so use them often. Trim them if they start to flower to extend their life.

These are just a few ideas to inspire you to create your own spring or Cinco de Mayo menu or party. Visit www.muirglen.com for additional recipes using flavorful Muir Glen Organic tomatoes and Muir Glen salsas and to register to join the Muir Glen Tomato Connoisseurs’ Club, an exclusive club for those who love to cook. When you sign up to be a Tomato Connoisseurs’ Club member you can purchase kits of the Muir Glen 2010 Reserve Tomatoes, Meridian Ruby™, a limited-edition variety of hand-harvested tomatoes produced each year. The kit which includes two varieties of Meridian Ruby tomatoes, one can each of Muir Glen diced tomatoes and tomato sauce and chef created recipes. The cost is $8.00 and includes a free shipping option.