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Credit: Courtesy Drink of the Week

How to Make a PiƱata

Ingredients
2 cups flour
3 cups water
14-inch balloon
Newspaper
Paint, crayons or markers
Colored crepe paper, tissue paper, party hats
String

Directions
At least two days before your party, blow up the balloon, seal with a knot and tie string to the end. Cut newspaper into strips about 1 foot long and 2 inches wide. Mix the flour and water into a smooth paste. Dip each strip, one-by-one, into the paste and apply to the balloon.

Be sure to leave a space at the top about 2 to 3 inches across. Once covered, set aside to dry by tying the string to hang it. Once dry (usually takes a day), apply a second layer.

Once dry, pop the balloon, decorate with paint or tissue paper, and add party hats to create points all around the piƱata. Fill with candy and/or prizes and cut two holes on either side of the opening to thread string through and hang it from a high place. Allow plenty of room for blindfolded swinging.

White Trash Margaritas

You can use any kind of light beer; we found the cheaper the beer, the better. Any tequila will do, but because these are so irresistible, you might need to buy a few bottles.

Ingredients
1 lime cut into 8 wedges
1/4 cup coarse salt
24 ounces of beer (we used 2 Coronas in honor of Cinco de Mayo, but Bud Light works fine)
12 ounces of frozen limeade concentrate
12 ounces of chilled tequila

Directions
Rub lime wedges around your glasses. Dip rims in salt to coat lightly. In a medium pitcher, combine beer, limeade and tequila. Use the empty limeade container to measure your tequila. Stir. Fill prepared glasses with ice and pour the margaritas. Add lime wedges to rim of glasses. Now you’re ready for a fiesta!

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The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.