It is true? Is beautiful spring weather finally here? I don’t about you, but the warm sunshine and a few perfect afternoons make me excited to get outside and make plans to reconnect with friends I didn’t see during winter hibernation. And while you certainly don’t have to wait for a special holiday to host friends over to your home, Cinco de Mayo is a great reason to – and comes with easy, fresh menu possibilities that will completely refresh your seasonal spirits!

Today I’m sharing recipes from Simply Catering for zesty tequila lime shrimp parfaits and the most delicious Tex-Mex-inspired cocktail I have ever had – the Guava Lime Cocktail! So read on, raise your glass and let’s celebrate the start of sunny springtime!

Whether you’re ready to host a full-on dinner party, or just want to add some pizazz to an afternoon cocktail get together, this succulent shrimp recipe is a crowd pleaser that’s easy to make and simple to serve. I love it as a stand-alone appetizer (on a stick!), or use it as the main event in tacos or in Tex-Mex bowls. This recipe is for layered parfaits of colorful, creative savory snacks using the season’s best and freshest flavors.

Tequila Lime Shrimp

Ingredients:

12 oz. shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 pinches salt

3 dashes ground black pepper

1/4 tsp. paprika

1 Tbsp. olive oil

2 cloves garlic minced

2 Tbsp. tequila

1 1/2 Tbsp. lime juice

1 Tbsp. chopped cilantro leaves

Instructions:

Season the shrimp with salt, pepper and paprika. Heat up a skillet (cast-iron skillet preferred) and add the olive oil. Add the garlic and lightly sauté before adding the shrimp. Continue to cook the shrimp until they turn slightly charred. Drizzle in the tequila and toss the skillet a few times. Add the lime juice, and stir to combine.

For parfait assembly, let the guests self-serve their layers to create custom bowls they’ll keep coming back to refill. Our suggestions: Romaine lettuce, black beans, corn, sliced cherry tomatoes, diced or sliced avocado, queso fresco, your incredible tequila lime shrimp and cilantro lime dressing.

 

Every good snack needs a complementary sip, so we carried the refreshing theme into this sweet, citrus cocktail. It’s easily one to make in bulk and let guests fill up on their own, or to order, serving up colorful, crowd-pleasing cups for every party-goer.

 

The Guava Lime Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients:

3 ounces of guava juice

1 ounce of tequila

1/2 ounce of fresh lime juice

1 sprig of mint

Instructions:

For made-to-order cocktails, combine guava juice and tequila in a cocktail mixer and shake well. Pour into your glass of choice and top with lime juice and a sprig of mint. For batch recipes, combine guava juice, tequila, lime juice and mint sprigs into a drink dispenser. Stir to mix well.

I hope these recipes give you some fun motivation and inspiration to kick off the outdoor party season in flavorful style. I can’t wait to hear what you serve up!