There's nothing quite like a relaxing, at home date night on our balcony! For a festive Cinco de Mayo, we pulled out our colorful decorations, made delicious pork carnitas and sipped on margaritas while enjoying the beautiful weather and even better company. Creating a special night at home is simple to replicate, and can really be a fun way to spend time together.
Delicious carnitas platter
Carnitas are a fan favorite, and surprisingly pretty easy to make! While I used my mom's incredible recipe, this Food Network one is a great place to start. The beauty of carnitas is adding a seasoned dry rub with orange and lime juice to a pork shoulder and letting it cook in the oven for 3 to 4 hours for a nice and tender meat that literally falls right off the bone. Very low maintenance yet full of flavor!
Place the carnitas on a platter in flour tortillas and include assorted sides like black bean, cheese, sour cream, avocado, lettuce and even jalapeño poppers. Add ranunculus flowers for an extra pop of color on a bold platter to complement the ambiance. When displaying the toppings, use various size bowls that are colorful to add a layered effect.
To top it off, don't forget a flavorful margarita - a fun activity to do together as a couple, so grab your shaker and garnish with a lime.
Decorating with colorful items
One of the beauties of incorporating colorful decor is a lot of these items are cost effective on Amazon or Party City - and items I had lying around the apartment from past parties. Some decor elements include paper fans or clover garland, all easy to hang or display on or around tables and chairs.
