This year marks the sesquicentennial celebration of Cinco de Mayo, a holiday originating in the United States as a celebration of the victory over the French who were helping rebels trying to overthrow the Mexican presidency in 1862.  Although the union soldiers were outnumbered by the rebel troops, their determination to fight for a cause they believed in prevailed, and the story of their courageous triumph erupted in celebrations throughout many Hispanic communities in the US that continue today.

How do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?  For many, festivities center around the great food brought to us through Mexican-American traditions.  To help you celebrate, we’d like to share with you a proven and popular recipe for homemade tamales, a favorite at www.allrecipes.com.   

 Real Homemade Tamales

Ingredients

·       Tamale Filling:

·       1 1/4 pounds pork loin

·       1 large onion, halved

·       1 clove garlic

·       4 dried California chile pods

·       2 cups water

·       1 1/2 teaspoons salt

·       Tamale Dough:

·       2 cups masa harina

·       1 (10.5 ounce) can beef broth

·       1 teaspoon baking powder

·       1/2 teaspoon salt

·       2/3 cup lard

·       1 (8 ounce) package dried corn husks

·       1 cup sour cream

Directions

1.     Place pork into a Dutch oven with onion and garlic, and add water to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until the meat is cooked through, about 2 hours.

2.     Use rubber gloves to remove stems and seeds from the chile pods. Place chiles in a saucepan with 2 cups of water. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes, then remove from heat to cool. Transfer the chiles and water to a blender and blend until smooth. Strain the mixture, stir in salt, and set aside. Shred the cooked meat and mix in one cup of the chile sauce.

3.     Soak the corn husks in a bowl of warm water. In a large bowl, beat the lard with a tablespoon of the broth until fluffy. Combine the masa harina, baking powder and salt; stir into the lard mixture, adding more broth as necessary to form a spongy dough.

4.     Spread the dough out over the corn husks to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness. Place one tablespoon of the meat filling into the center. Fold the sides of the husks in toward the center and place in a steamer. Steam for 1 hour.

5.     Remove tamales from husks and drizzle remaining chile sauce over. Top with sour cream. For a creamy sauce, mix sour cream into the chile sauce.

(Source:  Allrecipes.com, submitted by SaddieCat)

At System Pavers we celebrate all month long, such as free gifts worth up to $1,500. With our Special Financing Plans on all outdoor improvement projects that can save you hundreds even thousands of dollars on your next project

Visit www.systempavers.com to schedule a free in-home consultation with one of our outdoor living specialists, and find out about the free gift and special financing we are offering in your area.  Call toll free 877-728-3776!

Vacation the System Pavers way!

A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.- Robert Orben

As we head into another vacation season, you are probably spending time checking your calendar, assessing your allotted time off from work, and trying to figure out how to get the most ‘bang for your buck’ in the current economy.  Do you want to spend your hard earned money for a few days in an exotic location or spend it in a way that makes every day feel like a vacation? 

If you opt for the latter, System Pavers has some great ideas for you:

- Add style to your pool deck by replacing plain dull concrete with a paving stone pattern that adds color and ambiance.   Creating a design that is unique to you is simple and affordable.

- Work less and relax more when you replace your high-maintenance lawn with our ever-green maintenance free SP Turf.  You can truly vacation in your own yard by sitting on a cushy chaise with a good book instead of pushing your mower and spraying dandelions.

- With a new System Pavers driveway designed to reflect your personal tastes and the textures and colors of nature, you will feel like you've arrived at a 5-star resort every time you get home.  (The only thing missing is the valet and bellman.) 

Check out our picture gallery of beautiful projects by our skilled artisans featuring poolside pavers, driveways, turf, and garden pathways at Systempavers.com.  Then call us today at (877) 728-3776 and start what could be your most relaxing vacation ever - a showcase, well crafted oasis right in your own backyard! 

 Earth Day 2012 is a good time to renew your commitment to the place we all call home.  There are simple things we all can do to protect the planet every day.  The Nature Conservancy lists a few ways you can go green during our Earth Day celebration.  Consider:  eat more vegetables and organic foods, pick up litter, commute on a bike, use energy-efficient light bulbs, go paperless for bank statements and such, use non-plastic reusable water bottles, take the stairs, and diversify your yard with a green, water saving environment. 

System Pavers, since its beginnings 20 years ago this year, has always supported a greener, more eco-friendly environment.  In line with our mission and values, we offer maintenance-free, environmentally-friendly turf that looks and feels as good as the real thing.  Water sheds quickly and efficiently while not allowing animal waste or other external elements to be absorbed, cutting back on maintenance and potential odors. Turf lawns do not consume our earth's precious water supply and do not require maintenance using fuel-powered machines. Our installation processes are environmentally-safe and toxin-free, leaving a minimal carbon footprint for the entire life of your artificial turf. 

We at System Pavers offer some of the best warrantees in the industry and our turf is no exception with its unmatched 10-year guarantee.   Call System Pavers today at  (877) 728-3776 for a free consultation and price quote.

Just one person, one family, one home can make a difference in the quest to protect our environment.  Celebrate Earth Day 2012!