Whether you choose to celebrate Cinco De Mayo at home or out and about, it is still about that one day of year when you can eat and drink festive food and drink with a spicy flare and the calories don't count because, well...it's a HOLIDAY!

For those of you staying home, I asked some of my friends for their most famous Mexican inspired recipes.
Get out the guac and margarita mix!

From Alexandra Hedin of 425 Magazine, their Lifestyle and entertainment expert, comes a tempting adult beverage especially for this day:
MARGARITA GRANITA
1 cup sugar
3 cups water
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 cup tequila
put the sugar and water into a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. When the sugar has dissolved, remove from the heat and let cool.
Put the lime juice, tequila, and cooled sugar syrup in the blender. Blend for about 30 to 45 seconds. Pour this liquid into a 9 by 13-inch metal cake pan and put it into the freezer. Scrape the mixture every hour with a fork to break up the ice crystals. After about 4 to 6 hours, depending on your freezer, the pan will be full of margarita ice flakes and will be done. Serve in small, cold bowls or glasses, garnished with a twist of lime and a salted rim.
Inspired by a recipe by the Food Network Kitchen

From friend, wine expert, and food blogger, and International wine tour coordinator; Ronald Holden of Cornichon dot org

Potato fritters & eggs

Boil 2 medium potatoes, peel, mash with fork.
Rough-chop 1 bell pepper (red, yellow or green), 1 small onion, 1 clove garlic, i small jalapeno (optional); sauté but don't brown in 1 TB olive oil in large skillet, add to potatoes.
Shape potato mix into three patties, brown on one side, flip; add six eggs to pan, cover, cook until eggs are set.
Serve with sour cream & salsa...too good.
Ok...now it's time for a workout?

12 oz. curls anyone?
I think this is where the Corona with lime comes in.

And, from media queen Eileen Mintz, she suggested this recipe from top executive chef at Salty's Alki, Jeremy McLachlan:
HALIBUT CHEEKS WITH PICO DE GALLO
Serves 4
Ingredients
1½ pounds halibut cheeks
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Pico de Gallo Ingredients
½ cup radishes, ¼-inch dice
½ cup English cucumber , seeded, ¼ inch dice
¼ cup onion, ¼-inch dice
½ cup watercress, chopped
juice of 1 lime
1 tablespoon canola oil
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 avocado ½-inch slice (garnish)
In medium bowl combine radishes, cucumber, onion, watercress, lime juice, oil, salt. Set aside.
Season halibut cheeks with salt and sear over medium high heat until golden brown on both sides. Arrange seared halibut cheeks on top of mashed potatoes. Crown the halibut cheeks with Pico de Gallo. Garnish with avocado.
Eileen was kind enough to pass on this recipe from chef Gabe Cabrera of Redondo Beach Salty's.
CABRERA'S HALIBUT CEVICHE OVER CORN TOSTADAS
Yields 8 servings
1 bag of corn tostadas (Los Pericos or any round corn tostadas)
2 pounds fresh halibut, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 quart clam juice or fish, vegetable or chicken stock
1 cup chablis
1 cup water
4 fl.oz lime juice
2 fl.oz of olive oil
1 clover garlic minced
3 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
In a saucepan, combine all ingredients above except halibut and tostadas; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the halibut and cook until the fish reaches 125 degrees (or until desired doneness). Strain the halibut and chill until cool in a shallow pan in the refrigerator. While waiting to chill prepare the marinade:
Ceviche Marinade
4 cups freshly diced tomatoes, 1/4-inch pieces
1 cup white onions-diced 1/4-inch pieces
1 bunch chopped cilantro
2 fluid oz. lime juice
6 fl. oz cocktail sauce
6 fl. oz. ketchup
2 each avocados, diced 1/2 inch pieces
2 tsp. kosher salt
Take all of the above ingredients and mix gently in a bowl with a rubber spatula including the chilled halibut. Marinate in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. Scoop the ceviche onto the tostados right before they are eaten. The tostada will get soft if the ceviche is put on too early.
Buen apetito!

So, there you have it, some great ways to celebrate. And, remember, there are NO calories on holidays so enjoy!