Summer Wedding Recipes - Mexican Feast

We've had a small hiatus here at de Lovely Affair due to moving and honeymoon travel prep - remember, we are heading down by car to Brazil via California and Panama to get married again in my husband's family church. My mother's house is a mess since we are temporarily stopping here to get everything prepared...but I digress. You can follow our journey on Facebook as well as our travel blog.

One of the best things about summertime weddings is the amazing variety of food options. Aside from the usual, formal fare, couples are now choosing low key picnic and barbeque styled wedding receptions, while backyard, homestyle buffets are great for the budget conscious celebrations. 

In honor of the first country on our honeymoon adventure, here are a few of my favorite Mexican inspired recipes, perfect for infusing your summertime wedding with a little culture. Add these fresh dishes for a truly authentic and yummy good time. DELISH!!

Grilled Corn with Mexican Cheese and Lime - My favorite, so irresistible!!

hands-on time: 15 minutes

total time: 15 minutes

serves: 8

8 ears of corn shucked

1 tablespoon olive oil

Kosher salt

1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco (fresh Mexican cheese) or feta will do in a pinch

1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 limes, cut into wedges

• Heat grill to medium-high. Brush corn with oil and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. 
• Grill, turning often until tender and charred.
• Sprinkle the corn with cheese and cayenne pepper.
• Squeeze lime wedges over the ears.

You can also go unshucked, which makes for a visually interesting dish. Here is an easy recipe. 

Grilling Ancho-Rubbed Pork with Smoky Tomato Salsa

hands-on time: 15 minutes

total time: 40 minutes

serves 8

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 1/2 tablespoon ground ancho chili pepper or regular chili powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

4 tablespoons olive oil

Kosher salt and black pepper

3 pork tenderloins (about 3 1/2 pounds total) 

2 pints grape tomatoes

6 cloves garlic sliced

2 to 4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and sliced

16 8-inch flour tortillas

• Heat grill to medium-high. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, chili pepper, cumin, 2 tablespoons oil, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Rub the mixture over the pork.
• Divide the tomatoes, garlic, and jalapeno peppers evenly between two large pieces of heavy duty foil. Drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Fold and seal to form two pouches.
• Divide the tortillas between 2 pieces of heavy-duty foil and wrap.
• Grill the pork, turning occasionally for about 18-22 minutes at 145 degrees F. Let it sit for 5 minutes before slicing. 
• Meanwhile, grill the tomato pouches for 10 minutes, shaking occasionally; transfer contents to a bowl. Grill the foil wrapped tortillas for 3-5 minutes, turning once. 
• Serve the pork with the warm tomato salsa and tortillas.

Tangy Red Cabbage Slaw

hands-on time: 15 minutes

total time: 1 hour

serves 8

1/2 cup fresh orange juice

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons olive oil

Kosher salt and black pepper

1/2 medium red cabbage (about 1 1/2 pounds), cored and shredded

2 large carrots (about 1/2 pound), grated

3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

• In a large bowl, whisk together the orange and lime juices, oil, brown sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Add the cabbage and carrots and toss to combine. Let sit, tossing occasionally, for at least 45 minutes. Fold in cilantro before serving.

Each of these recipes serves 8, so it should increased based on the number of wedding guests.

For the full south of the border experience, serve Margaritas as your signature drink. Better yet, set up a 'Rita bar and let your guests choose their own flavor.  Finish up the night with a delicious and easy dessert of vanilla ice cream and cinnamon crisps - perfect ending for a perfect day.

Happy Hot Summer - it is 90 degrees where I am right now! Hope you enjoy these recipes and find a way to incorporate them into your wedding menu. Food is one of the easiest and tastiest ways to celebrate culture and there are so many options! 

Go with the YUMMY!