Summer Fiesta Tips: Rock Your Mini Fiesta, Store Guacamole, and #CashGiveaway + Publix Old El Paso Coupons

Here in South Carolina, the heat has been turned way up. We are spending our days inside and sitting on the porch or in the backyard in the evenings. Honestly, it has even been too hot to get in the pool. School starts for Owl Creek Academy (our homeschool) next week, so I was wanting to do something fun for the kids before we head into our busy season. Well, why not have a mini #SummerFiesta?! I looked up some fiesta recipes, avocado recipes, and Publix Old El Paso coupons and got my creative juices flowing.

We decided to cook up some yummies on the grill, do some crafts with the kids, and relax by the fire pit. It was a success and I learned a lot. I have wanted to learn how to make guacamole for a while now, but never actually taken the time to do it, so what better time than for the #SummerFiesta?

We keep a lot of Old El Paso items on hand, so I only had to pick a few things up while I was at Publix- the main thing being some gorgeous avocados.

Rock Your Mini Fiesta

You don't have to throw an all out party to have some #SummerFiesta fun. Gather the family and food for a relaxing evening by the pool, fire pit, woods, or in the back yard. As long as you have food and family, everything else falls into place. If you ant to add a little more party flair, here are some simple things you can do. 

1. String up some battery operated outdoor lights- or just put them in a bowl to light the table. 
2. Use a bright colored table cloth 
3. Have the kids make some maracas out of things you have around the house. We put dry beans in little milk containers (like come in kids' meals) and let them decorate them. You can also use plastic easter eggs, yogurt containers with lids, or even creamer containers. 
4. Use a music app like Pandora to look up mariachi bands and listen throughout the night. 
5. Get help from Old El Paso: Old El Paso makes every thing you need to make your #SummerFiesta a success. From seasonings, refried beans, chilies, and even taco boats. They are your number one resource for making your fiesta as fun as possible. They've been doing this since 1917. Check out these Publix Old El Paso coupons to save on your next fiesta. 

Storing Guacamole

I looked at several recipes to try for guacamole and knew I'd better stick with a pretty simple one. My favorite is the Rockin' Guac from the Avocados from Mexico Site. It was simpler than I thought it would be and oh so yummy! 

Since this recipe was so simple and yummy, I'm going to stick with it. I thought I'd share some tips for storing guacamole so that it stays fresh. Why not whip up a batch to last a few days. It makes a great spread for sandwiches and add in for salads. 

From all my research on how to store guacamole so that it doesn't turn brown, there was one solution that stuck out from the rest and it worked for me. You can store guacamole and it will stay green for up to 3 days if you do this. 

1. Put your guacamole (freshly made) in a bowl that has an air-tight lid. 
2. Compact the guacamole down so there are no air pockets in the guacamole. 
3. Pour 1/2 inch of lukewarm water on top of the guacamole 
4. Pop the lid on and put it in the fridge. 
5. When you get ready to use it, pour the water off the top and stir. 
6. Easy Peasy

Now, if you are looking to store Avocados that have been cut, spread lemon juice on the surface and press plastic wrap tight onto the surface. I would also put it in a bowl with an air-tight lid. Depending on how long you store it, you may need to scrape a little brown off. 

Did you know that Americans consume 1.4 billion pounds of guacamole a year? Avocados from Mexico are very versatile- smash it, dice it, slice it, grill it. The possibilities are endless. Want even more avocado recipes? Visit this site. 

Save For Your #SummerFiesta

Visit ReadyPlanSave for some awesome Publix Old El Paso coupons to get your #SummerFiesta sizzling! You ca save $1 when you buy 3 Old El Paso items. 

Cash Giveaway

You can win $10 to help throw your own #SummerFiesta! Entering is super simple too! 

All you have to do is visit the Old El Paso website and comment below telling me what recipe you would like to try. While you're there, I'd love to know what your favorite twist on guacamole is. 

A winner will be chosen August 20, 2015. Be sure to leave your email address so you can get your winnings via PayPal. Good Luck!

Disclosure: The information, products and gift cards were provided by General Mills through Linqia.