It's spring, and Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner. The great thing about the United States is we incorporate other cultures celebrations into ours. St. Patrick's Day was brought to us by the Irish and now Cinco de Mayo is here from south of the border. In America, we love to have an excuse to party, and nothing says party better than food and drinks.

Make your favorite foods for this holiday; perhaps you like chalupas, enchiladas, and tamales. It may be harder to think about Mexican dessert when you are menu planning. It is easier to come up with "Hot," but the "Sweeter" side of things can be overlooked. Maybe it is time to explore the sugary snacks from our southern neighbors.

Banana quesadillas are a great dessert. They are light and fruity... the perfect complement to any meal. If you really want to go for authentic Mexican cuisine try plantains, they resemble bananas, but plantains need to be cooked to be tasty. They can be delicious if prepared correctly. Make sure you look up a good recipe.

Creamy desserts are popular in Mexico. They are a great way to cool the heat of the main meal. Flan is a sweet traditional dessert that is simple to make and has a creamy texture. The topping of caramel sauce is the perfect touch. This simple dessert delights the tongue. Another fun, creamy dessert is fried ice cream. Your children will love this one... who would not? The ice cream is made into balls that are rolled in a coating. They are briefly fried just until the coating becomes crisp. They should be served immediately with some cinnamon sugar on top. When the crust cracks under the weight of the spoon, it reveals the creamy inside, impressing everyone.

There is always chocolate. Chocolate hails from Mexico, and was enjoyed by the Aztecs. You can bake a delicious chocolate cake with just a hint of chipotle added. The spiciness of hot peppers complements the chocolate; together they meld and create an experience of fantastic flavors. You can also a spicy Mexican chocolate sauce. Your whole family will love the sauce served over ice cream. It is especially good over coconut or cinnamon ice cream.

Now that you have included desserts, your Mexican meal planning can be completed in style. How will you celebrate the rest of the day? Will you be decorating? Are you planning to have some friends over for a scrumptious meal? You can top off the evening with some fruity, thirst-quenching margaritas or Mexican beer.

Cinco de Mayo is an excellent excuse to learn about Mexican culture and have a great time. It does not coincide with other holidays, like Halloween and the Day of the Dead. Take this opportunity to indulge and immerse yourself in all the things you like best about Mexico.

Go ahead and add this holiday to your family traditions. You will be able to teach your children about Mexican culture and you will all enjoy some fabulous Mexican food. Make a pitcher of sangria and enjoy the spring weather with the exotic flavors of Mexico.