If you're like me, any excuse for a party will do. Next Monday is Cinco de Mayo which is a holiday that is celebrated in only some regions of Mexico and the U.S. It commemorates the victory of Mexican forces over French forces in the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. If you don't have time to plan a Mexican-themed party this weekend, here is an idea for a family dinner on Monday night.

Mole Chicken is a dish that I like to order at Mexican restaurants because a good one can take hours to make. Mole sauces are made from toasted seeds and nuts, onion, garlic, chiles and a small amount of chocolate. The chocolate adds a dark, rich color to the sauce.

This recipe for Mole Chicken (from Cooking Pleasures Magazine) calls for some ingredient short cuts that I was able to find at my local grocery store including:

 Chipotle powder

Mole Paste

I made some Spanish rice (from a pacakge) and cooked frozen corn to serve with the Mole Chicken.  I even pulled out my antique Fiesta Dinnerware dishes to make our week-night dinner seem just a little more special. Olé!