Mixtape Madness #6: May Fiesta Mix

According to the novel High Fidelity the making of a good mix tape, like breaking up, is hard to do. Furthermore, a good mix is never finished. You never know when you will come across a song that changes the dynamic of the mix you just completed. There is a litany of intricacies to crafting the ideal mix no matter what the mix’s intended purpose should be. This feature is merely a guide on the cosmic highway of mix making, and while experienced, the writer does not claim to be an expert.

May Fiesta Mix

From time to time I tend to enjoy listening to music in other languages. While I have a fair amount of French, German, and Portuguese music, Spanish takes the cake. With tunes from all over the world, this mix is ideal for a late-spring fiesta. I also enjoy giving it a spin when preparing a Mexican meal. 


1- "Canción del Mariachi " by Bandidos de Amor
I first heard this song in the intro of the Robert Rodriguez movie Desperado. Of course, it's Antonio Banderas singing that version of the song. Either way works, and any song that mentions tequila is alright in my book. Or magazine.

2- "I've Got No Strings" by the Gipsy Kings
Yes, this is the song from Pinocchio. This is a track off of the wonderful Simply Mad About the Mouse album (well worth buying). The spin that the Kings put on it is way beyond cool and takes an old Disney classic and morphs it into something wonderful.

3- "Guajira Guantanamera" by Celia Cruz
A number of artists have recorded versions of this song over the years, but to me, nobody does it like Celia Cruz. Oddly enough, this song reminds me of working at Disney World more than the previous one, as we used to sing it while closing down for the night.

4- "Armada Latina" by Cypress Hill, Pitbull, Marc Anthony, and Stephen Stills
This song is fun. There's really no other way to say it. Sampling the fourth section of Crosby, Stills, and Nash's "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" was a stroke of genius. Combine that with smooth verses from Cypress Hill and Pitbull and Anthony's vocals, which are always better in Spanish, and you have a winner.

Salsa Fresca

Everyone loves chips and salsa, it's one of the simple facts of life like the sky is blue and elephants are nosy. But too many people go through life getting their salsa from jars, and that's just sad. The proper way to dress your tortilla chip is with a generous heap of salsa fresca (rough translation: fresh sauce). This is another recipe coming from dear ol' Dad, and it is truly a case of father knows best.

Ingredients
3 tbsp finely chopped onion
2 small cloves garlic, minced
3 large ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped
3 tbsp minced cilantro
2 tsp freshly squeezed lime juice
1 bell pepper, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
TODAY'S SECRET INGREDIENT IS: Tequila blanco

Directions

1. Chop all your veggies (not counting the tomatoes here, because they are fruits, remember?) Please note that the size of the jalapeno pieces will alter the spiciness factor of the finished product. Bigger chunks=spicier scoops.
   
2. Put the garlic and onions in a strainer and set aside for a bit.
   
3. Fill a saucepan with enough water to cover all three tomatoes (but don't put them in yet) and bring to a boil. Turn off heat.
   
4. Ladle a few scoops of the boiled water over the onions and garlic for about a minute, this will "cook" them sufficiently.
5. Cut out the stem of the tomatoes and cut an X on the bottom of each tomato. Drop them in the hot water for about a minute. This is going to loosen them up a bit and allow you to easily peel them. After they look wrinkly enough, you should be able to take them out of the water and wipe the skins off.
6. Slice your now-naked tomatoes along their equator (picture the globe) and squeeze out the excess juice and seeds before dicing.
7. Now you can combine all of your ingredients in a bowl. Mix well until it looks like a decent salsa (see photo).
8. Add a splash or two (or seven) of the SECRET INGREDIENT. Let the salsa sit in the fridge for a few hours so all of your ingredients become really close friends before serving.
   

The bigger the batch with this recipe, the better. Salsa is versatile and can be used as a dip as well as in a variety of recipes. Like Dad's Guacamole, this would go well with Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas or Fajita Burritos, and should be enjoyed with a Corona or a margarita! Buen provecho!