Why Do Americans Celebrate Cinco De Mayo?

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - Why do Americans celebrate Cinco De Mayo? The Mexican holiday, celebrated on May 5th, is usually thought of as the "Mexican Independence Day", but that is false. The Mexican Independence Day is celebrated on September 16th of every year, so what exactly is Cinco De Mayo and why is it a large celebration in the United States?

The holiday in Mexico is called El Día de la Batalla de Puebla (English: the Day of the Battle of Puebla), and surprisingly is only a minor holiday that is celebrated almost entirely in the Mexican state of Puebla. The battle took place in 1862, which was smack dab during the American Civil War going on at the time, and was between the Mexican Army and the French. The French presence in Mexico at the time was a strategic move by Napoleon - by potentially gaining a foothold in Mexico, the French could then support the Confederate Army.

This defeat of the French by the Mexican army though small, was very definitive in the retreat of the French Army from North America at the time.  This gave time for the United States Union Forces to make strategic advances that would lead to their success in the Civil War. Thus Cinco De Mayo can be seen as a turing point in the U.S Civil War, and was first celebrated in Southern California in 1863 as a show of solidarity with Mexico against French rule.

So why do Americans celebrate Cinco De Mayo? Piggybacking off of the celebration of the Day of the Battle of Puebla, many Mexicans living in America also used this day to celebrate their culture, and thus the Americanized Cinco De Mayo celebration was born! We as Americans celebrate by honoring the Mexican culture, celebrating Mexican food, and of course, another excuse to drink all day (similar to St. Patrick's Day).

Does your family celebrate Cinco De Mayo? Do you have any favorite Mexican dishes that your family makes during this Mexican celebration? If so, share them with us on our Facebook wall! At Hank Graff Mt. Pleasant we strive to provide our customers with a car buying experience that is accommodating, stress-free and fun! Visit us at our Chevrolet dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our Buick GMC Cadillac dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.

Websites: Chevrolet: HankGraffMtPleasant.com and Buick GMC Cadillac: GraffBGC.comFollow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, and YouTube

Easy Grilling Recipes

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - Summer is RIGHT around the corner, can you believe it's almost May!? Holy cow! Nothing feels better than inviting over the family and getting out the grill to cook up an amazing meal! Sometimes it is difficult to find new and fresh grilling recipes, so we did the hard work for you. We scoured the Pinterest boards, and found the most mouth watering, easy grilling recipes we could find! 

Grilled Tomatoes with Oregano and Lemon

These look so delicious!

Grilled Salmon Kabobs

Salmon is usually difficult to grill, however this makes it so easy!

Mexican Grilled Corn on the Cob

After eating this...nothing will ever be the same. 

Charred Eggplant with Miso Dressing

Care to spice up your grilling game, try this!

Grilled and Marinated Skirt Steak 

Steak. Grill. Classic.

Bahn Mi Asian Burgers

Why make boring burgers when you can MAKE BAHN MI ASIAN BURGERS? 

Are you drooling now? Cause we definitely were! These easy grilling recipes are sure to be the talk of your next family picnic or get together soon, we promise! Do you have any go-to or favorite grilling recipes? Share them on our Facebook page! All of these recipes, and tons more, can be found on our Pinterest board, go check it out! Visit us at our Chevrolet dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our Buick GMC Cadillac dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.

Websites: Chevrolet: HankGraffMtPleasant.com and Buick GMC Cadillac: GraffBGC.comFollow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, and YouTube

Healthy Road Trip Snacks

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - Warmer weather and low gas prices can only mean one thing: road trips! This year, it is projected that more families will load up in their car more than ever before. Thus, we gathered some healthy road trip snacks that are easy to pack and will keep those annoying hunger pains at bay! They will definitely keep you from pulling off at every exit to get fatty, greasy drive-threw food, which does nothing for you health wise anyway! 

1. Veggies with Ranch Dipping Sauce: We get it, most of the time kids will only eat their veggies with some sort of dip. Try carrots, celery and red pepper with one of those made-for-travel ranch containers! 

2. Beef Jerky: Never underestimate the power of the jerky! This little snack is PACKED with protein, low in calories and will be able to handle your more carnivorous cravings! Our favorite brand is Krave Beef Jerky, with tons of different flavors, you're sure to fall in love! 

3. Muffins: Homemade are the best option, the store bought ones are a little gut-heavy. Blueberry or chocolate chip muffins are always a crowd pleaser! Take a look at these! 

4. Cucumber and Avocado Sandwich: This hearty whole gran sandwich made with thinly sliced cucumbers, mashed avocados and light cream cheese will fill you right up! 

5. Bananas: The nature made road trip snack! Filled with potassium, these will give you that last boost of energy to make it to the campsite! 

6. Turkey and Cheese Tortilla Roll Ups: This is a wonderful tasting snack that is quick and easy to assemble. The best part is you can modify the recipe to fit you or your child's preferences. This would also work with ham and cheese, blt, chicken salad, or veggie! 

7. Granola Bars: The store bought kind is fine, however they usually contain a lot of weird and unnecessary ingredients but by making your own, you can monitor the sugar levels and add your own ingredients! Try these! These are perfect for the kids, and provide a quick burst of energy! 

8. Apples: Apples are a GREAT source of fiber, and they are proven appetite suppressants. By munching on one or some apple slices, you'll definitely be able to calm that grumbling tummy. Here’s a tip, if you want to much on apple slices but are afraid of them going brown, squeeze some lemon juice over them. The acidity prevents the apples from browning. 

These healthy road trip snacks are so easy, and sure to please any hungry crowd! Do you have any go to road-trip snacks or tips? Share them with us! At Hank Graff Mt. Pleasant we strive to provide our customers with a car buying experience that is accommodating, stress-free and fun! Visit us at our Chevrolet dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our Buick GMC Cadillac dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.

Websites: Chevrolet: HankGraffMtPleasant.com and Buick GMC Cadillac: GraffBGC.com
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The Auction Of The First New CT6 Goes To Benefit The Karmanos Cancer Institute

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – The 2016 Cadillac CT6 is a huge model for General Motors. There has been a lot of hype, not only for this specific model, but also for the brand itself. Cadillac has announced that the first new retail production 2016 Cadillac CT6 sold for $200,000 at a black tie event last Friday in Palm Beach, Fla. And all of the proceeds will benefit the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.

The auction of the first new CT6 goes to benefit the Karmanos Cancer Institute, and General Motors has stated that all proceeds from the CT6 auction will support the expansion of Karmanos’ Intensive Care Unit and develop a 24-hour Acute Care Clinic to support the continuum of specialized care for Karmanos patients.

Thanks to huge advances in vehicle construction, the 2016 Cadillac CT6 brings a completely new approach to the luxury sedan class. The new model will come with three-power-dense engine options, all mated to eight-speed automatic transmissions that make for an insanely powerful sedan. GM Senior President of Global Public Policy Bob Ferguson stated; “General Motors has a long history of giving back to the communities in which we live and work. We are thrilled to continue that tradition by donating our time, funds, and assets to support the Karmanos Institute’s world renowned patient care and research.”

The auction of the first CT6 goes to benefit the Karmanos Cancer Institute, and we cannot be more proud to be apart of such an amazing company! At your Midland Area dealer, we strive to provide our customers with a car buying experience that is accommodating, stress-free and fun! Visit us at our Chevrolet dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our Buick GMC Cadillac dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.

Websites: Chevrolet: HankGraffMtPleasant.com and Buick GMC Cadillac: GraffBGC.com
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Could The Buick Avenir Be The Future Flagship Model?

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – Since Cadillac has launched the 2016 Cadillac CT6, all eyes in the automotive industry have turned towards Buick, awaiting a release of a Buick concept that could benefit from an technological upgrade and push out a flagship vehicle for the brand.  Mark Reuss, GM’s global product heard, was quoted at the New York Auto Show, saying that even though a flagship Buick is not in the cards as of now, that Buick is in fact working on it.

This past year, Buick debuted the Buick Avenir (shown above) concept at the Detroit Auto Show, and auto insiders believe that this concept is something that will inspire a flagship model. The Avenir is a four-seat, full luxury sedan that “demonstrates the growing international reach of Buick and offers an exciting vision of where it can go”, said Ed Welburn, president of General Motors Design. Could the Buick Avenir concept be the future flagship model?

Light and organic colors combined with buffed and oiled wood trim give the interior of the Avenir a luxurious and sophisticated feel. Buick states that the interior surfaces are inspired by nature and sea waves retreating on a beach (so fancy), and this ode to nature can be seen thoughout the interior of the vehicle. Could the Buick Avenir concept be the future flagship model for Buick? No matter what Buick has in store for the auto industry, it is sure to make a splash! To check out all of our available new and used Buick models, stop by and pay us a visit! Visit us at our Chevrolet dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our Buick GMC Cadillac dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.

Websites: Chevrolet: HankGraffMtPleasant.com and Buick GMC Cadillac: GraffBGC.com
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GM Earns Two ENERGY STAR Awards

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – General Motors has just announced that the company has earned the U.S Environmental Protection Agency’s 2015 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award for Sustained Excellence for leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. GM has also received the ENERGY STAR Climate Communications award.

GM earns two ENERGY STAR awards, and Greg Martin, the GM executive director for sustainability said; "Achieving operational excellence in all we do extends to reducing the environmental impact of how we build our vehicles, we are leveraging our scale to conserve energy and resources throughout the manufacturing process.” GM has been a partner with ENERGY STAR since 1995 and since then, the automotive company has reduced their energy intensity of all of its US operations by 40%. GM has also reduced its CO2 emission intensity by 41%. These savings combined equal the equivalent to the electricity used by over 800,000 homes in one year and have allowed General Motors to save over $400 million in energy costs.

The EPA specifically recognized GM’s ability to engage college students, professors, non-governmental organizations and environmental leaders in a social media conversation via #CleanEnergyU s part of the voluntary Clean Energy Campus Campaign. GM earns two ENERGY STAR awards this year, and it is just a small part of the continual partnership between General Motors and ENERGY STAR.

We have so many amazing GM vehicles here at Graff. Mt Pleasant! If you would like to see the many different vehicles that GM offers, feel free to stop by and check them out! At your Midland Area dealer, we strive to provide our customers with a car buying experience that is accommodating, stress-free and fun! Visit us at our Chevrolet dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our Buick GMC Cadillac dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.

Websites: Chevrolet: HankGraffMtPleasant.com and Buick GMC Cadillac: GraffBGC.com
Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, and YouTube