There are sweet cheesecakes for dessert and savory cheesecakes for appetizers and first courses. Here are one of each for Cinco de Mayo, each with south-of-the-border flair. Both recipes come from TasteOfHome.com.

First up is the Nacho Cheesecake. The Dulce De Leche Cheesecake is below.

> The History Of Cheesecake
 
 
RECIPE #1: NACHO CHEESECAKE: AN APPETIZER OR
FIRST COURSE

This recipe can be served in individual slices and eaten with a fork, or can be a cocktail hour centerpiece served with crackers and/or tortilla chips.

Ingredients

Nacho cheesecake, a Mexican spin on the appetizer cheesecake (photo © Taste Of Home).

 
Preparation

1. COMBINE crushed tortilla chips and butter; press onto the bottom of a greased 9-inch springform pan.

2. BEAT the cream cheese, mayonnaise, taco seasoning and flour in a large bowl until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in the chicken, cheese blend and onions. Pour over crust. Place pan on a baking sheet.

3. BAKE at 325°F for 60-70 minutes or until center is almost set. Gently spread sour cream over the top; bake 10 minutes longer or until set.

4. COOL on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

5. REMOVE sides of pan just before serving. Garnish with corn, avocado, tomato and olives. Serve with salsa and crackers if desired. Yield: 24 servings.

 
> Check Out 5 More Appetizer Cheesecake Recipes, From Blue Cheese To Salmon
 
 
Now onto dessert! In addition to dulce de leche caramel, this Mexican-accented cheesecake has chili powder mixed into the chocolate swirl.

 
RECIPE #2: DULCE DE LECHE CHEESECAKE

Ingredients For The Crust

Dulce de leche cheesecake, a Mexican spin on the creamy dessert (photo Taste Of Home).

1. PLACE a greased 9-inch springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 inches square). Securely wrap foil around pan. (If you have a leakproof springform pan, you can omit this step.)

2. COMBINE the cookie crumbs, walnuts, sugar, cinnamon and butter in a large bowl. Press onto the bottom and 2 inches up the sides of the prepared pan.

3. BEAT cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl until smooth. Beat in the milk, flour and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust.

4. POUR dulce de leche into a microwave-safe bowl; microwave at 50% power until softened. Drop dulce de leche by tablespoonfuls over batter; cut through batter with a knife to swirl.

5. PLACE the springform pan in a large baking pan; create a water bath (bain-marie) by adding 1 inch of hot water into the larger pan. Bake at 350°F for 60-70 minutes or until the center is just set and top appears dull.

6. REMOVR springform pan from the water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of the pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer.

7. MELT chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl; stir until smooth. Stir in chili powder. Spread over cheesecake.

8. REFRIGERATE overnight. Remove sides of pan. Yield: 16 servings.
 
 
FIND MORE OF OUR FAVORITE CHEESECAKE RECIPES HERE AND ON THE PULL-DOWN MENU AT THE RIGHT.
  

BOHEMIA CHIPOTLE

Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

1. MAKE chipotle rimming salt: Thoroughly mix 2 tablespoons coarse (kosher) salt and 1 tablespoon ground chipotle chile powder in a small bowl. Pour out onto a small plate to use for rimming beer glasses.

2. WET the rim of a tall glass with lime wedge. Then dip the rim of the glass into the chipotle rimming salt.

3. SQUEEZE the juice from the remaining lime pieces into the glass. Stir in the chipotle hot sauce or chipotles in adobo.

4. FILL the glass with ice. Pour in the Bohemia beer. Mix gently. Garnish glass rim with a cucumber slice. Serve.

FIND MORE OF OUR FAVORITE BEERS IN OUR BEER SECTION.

You could whip up some tortilla soup for Cinco de Mayo. Or, try this Mexican Chicken & Rice Soup.

There are dozens of “Mexican-style” Chicken Soup recipes out there. This one is tasty and easy to make. Don’t omit the lime or the cilantro; both provide authentic (and delicious) Mexican flavors.

MEXICAN CHICKEN & RICE SOUP RECIPE

Ingredients

1. PLACE chicken thighs, carrots, onion, bay leaf and salt in a large stockpot and cover with 8 cups of cold water. Cook over medium-high heat just until the mixture begins to boil. (NOTE: We remove the skin from the thighs to reduce the fat and cholesterol in the soup.)

2. REDUCE heat and simmer for 30 minutes, until chicken is tender. Remove all the ingredients from the stock. Discard the onion and bay leaf. When cool enough to handle, remove the chicken from the bone and chop the chicken and carrots into bite-sized pieces.

3. PLACE 1/4 cup rice in the bottom of each of 4 bowls. Distribute the chicken, carrots, chopped red onion and cilantro evenly among them and top with 1 cup of stock. Squeeze some lime juice on top and serve, garnished with a lime wedge.

Makes: 4 Servings | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes.

Meaning: Get the money

Some believe this phrase originated in Dunmow, England where the Dunmow Flitch (flitch is a side of bacon) was given every four years to a couple who impressed the town with their strength of fidelity. However, most believe the term derives from a 1906 boxing bout. Joe Gan’s mother told him before the fight, “Joe, the eyes of the world are on you. Everybody says you ought to win. Peter Jackson will tell me the news and you bring home the bacon.” This quote was published in the New York Times and caught on, creating one of the tastiest expressions ever.
 
2. BANANAS: “Go bananas”

Meaning: Go crazy

When zoologists fed monkeys bananas, the apes went crazy over the tasty treat. This is also where we get the phrase, to “go ape.”

Another origin may come from the drunken, bewildering behavior of Indonesians who got totally blackout drunk from a fermented banana drink called Tonto. But our vote is with the monkeys.

Monkeys are responsible for the phrase, “go bananas.” Photo courtesy Del Monte.

 
3. BEANS: “Spill The Beans”

Meaning: Give away a secret

This expression is believed to have originated in ancient Greece. Votes were held by the casting of beans: White beans meant yes and black beans meant no. If the vote collector dropped the jar and a black bean was seen, the vote was ruined.
 
4. BUTTER: “Butter Someone Up”

Meaning: Flatter someone excessively

The origin of this phrase traces its roots to ancient India. When seeking favor from their higher powers, people would throw little balls of butter (more precisely, it was ghee, clarified butter) at statues of the gods. Butter was costly, so it was a fitting tribute. There’s an even older Tibetan tradition of making sculptures for the New Year out of butter, to bring peace and happiness.

5. CAKE: “Piece Of Cake”

Meaning: Easy, requires little effort

This phrase originated with the “cakewalks” of the 1870s. Cakes were awarded as prizes during competitions where couples would promenade around a cake. The couple who walked with the most grace and style was awarded the prize. Since the effort involved was relatively easy, the terms “cakewalk” and “piece of cake” entered our parlance.
 
6. CHEESE: “The Big Cheese”

Meaning: An important person or the most influential person in a group

Although today “cheesy” indicates something cheap, in the early 19th century, “cheese” was used to describe something top-rate. The phrase evolved from an Anglo-Indian term, “chiz.” Related terms: big enchilada, big gun, big kahuna, big shot, big wheel [of cheese].

Meaning: Bad things happen

There’s no hidden meaning behind this one: Sometimes a cookie crumbles before you can properly eat it, or a glass of milk gets knocked over. You may lose out but don’t despair: There will be another cookie and another glass of milk.
 
8. CUCUMBER: “Cool As A Cucumber”

Meaning: Calm and collected

It’s a fact: The inside of a cucumber is actually 20 degrees cooler than the outside.
 
9. EGGS: “A Bad Egg”

Meaning: A person who’s no good

This phrase originates from the use of “bad egg” to mean something that disappoints (as an actual bad egg certainly does). Today, it’s someone who disappoints through bad character and actions.
 
10. FAT: “Chew The Fat”

Meaning: To chat or gossip

This phrase comes from the practices of the Inuit natives of Alaska, who used to chew whale blubber. It took a long time for the blubber to dissolve, so there was plenty of time for light conversation. Another theory believes that the phrase comes from sailors who were forced to chew salt pork when supplies were low.
 
11. GRAVY: “It’s All Gravy”

Meaning: It’s all good

This phrase originated from an Old English saying that explained, that life is meat and potatoes, and the luxuries are gravy.
 
12. NOODLES: “Use your noodle”

Meaning: Use your brain

Noodles kind of look like brains. Originally “using your noodle” was an insult, implying that someone’s head was filled with wet, floppy noodles. Nowadays, it simply means “to think about it.”
 
 

CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM.

These classic Mexican cookies are “the perfect cookies to nibble on during Cinco de Mayo,” says Ann. Often served at Christmas and at weddings, biscochitos came to Mexico by way of Spain; the inclusion of anise seed and brandy or wine or wine attests to their European heritage. They are beloved in the southwestern U.S., and are the official state cookie of New Mexico.

Cactus- and chile-shaped cookies are a fun option for Cinco de Mayo. Photo courtesy Ann Clark.

Two other departures from tradition: To help the cookies keep their shape, Ann’s recipe uses less baking powder than is usually called for. And, to reduce the risk of breakage, instead of dipping the baked cookies in cinnamon sugar they get a coating before going into the oven.

This recipe makes about 20 cookies.

Ingredients

Preparation

1. STIR sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl and set aside.

2. BEAT butter and shortening together in a bowl; add 1/4 cup sugar and beat until fluffy.

3. ADD egg, brandy, vanilla and anise; mix until completely incorporated.

4. WHISK together and add the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix just until all ingredients are well blended; do not overmix. Chill dough for 3-4 hours before rolling.

5. PREHEAT oven to 350ºF. Roll dough out on a lightly floured counter to 1/4-inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters. Transfer cookies onto cookie sheets that have been lined with parchment paper or silicone liners.

6. BRUSH each cookie lightly with water, using a pastry brush; sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until lightly colored. Let cookies cool slightly on cookie sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
 
FIND MORE OF OUR FAVORITE COOKIE RECIPES.