A Birthday Fiesta!

Bright gerbera daisies in glass bottles were the centerpiece for a fun family dinner.

It's Tablescape Thursday again. Be sure to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for links to wonderful table settings. Last Friday night we celebrated my husband's birthday with a family dinner Mexican-style. Well, as Mexican-style as Canadians with European heritage can do...

I made these tissue paper balls using Martha Stewart's directions. They were easy and added a lot of interest to the meal. I made large ones to hang above the table and smaller ones to use as napkin rings.

I sprinkled the table with "hot tamales" which made for a lot of laughter when people tried to hide them in the food on other people's plates, hoping to catch them biting into one unawares.

I made this salad - one of my favourites. This recipe is slightly adapted from one found in Fine Cooking magazine. Here's the recipe:

Mexican Chopped Salad

Dressing:
1 small clove garlic
kosher salt
3 T fresh lime juice
3 T fresh orange juice
2 tsp finely chopped shallot
1 T honey
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 cup olive oil
freshly ground black pepper

Mince and mash the garlic with 1/4 tsp salt to a paste. Whisk garlic paste with orange and lime juices, shallot, honey and ground cumin. Slowly whisk in the oil. Season to taste with pepper and a bit more salt, if needed.
Drizzle over the salad.

On a platter, arrange mounds of corn (I use frozen and thawed), black beans (rinsed and drained), chopped tomatoes, diced red bell pepper (I sometimes do these roasted), and diced avocado. Drizzle with the dressing and sprinkle with chopped cilantro, or chopped parsley if cilantro isn't in your list of things to enjoy. (like some of my family members)