Birthday Fiesta
Olé and Happy Birthday! Here's a fantástico dinner begging for a birthday celebration! Filled with the colors, flavors and festive spirit of the Southwest, it's bound to be a great time for not only the birthday person but also for all who come!
Make It Special!
Decorate with Fiesta Spirit
- Place a small cactus plant at each place setting as a party favor. Make place cards by writing names on Southwestern-looking stationery cut to business-card size. Or purchase computer-ready stationery at party-decorating or business-supply stores; print names--several inches apart--on the paper, then cut between the names and fold into place cards. Use a fun font to carry out the fiesta theme!
- Make a quick centerpiece by arranging bell peppers, avocados, limes and tomatoes on the rim of a sombrero. Or add colorful crepe-paper flowers. Surround the sombrero with brightly colored candles.
Serve Snazzy Sips
- Sparkling water as well as margaritas can be served with pizzazz. Before filling the glasses, salt or sugar the rims. Just rub the rims with the cut side of a lime or lemon, then dip the rims into a shallow dish of coarse salt or sugar. Choose a colored variety, if you'd like! You'll find colored coarse salt and sugar at gourmet stores, and you'll also find colored sugar near the baking and decorating items at your grocery store.
- Decorate drinks with fun stir sticks or by adding fruit, such as a slice of lime and a strawberry. Make a small slit in each fruit piece with a knife, and press it onto the rim of the glass.
- Attach colorful ribbons with beads and trinkets to party glasses to help guests keep track of their beverages.
- Turn Salsa into a Magnifico Salad
- Add a twist to the Pineapple Salsa by turning it into a salad! Toss a variety of bite-size pieces of salad greens with ranch dressing. Then toss with the Pineapple Salsa, along with cut-up jicama (a sweet, crunchy root vegetable). To peel the jicama, just cut off the thick brown skin with a vegetable peeler or sharp paring knife. You can cut slices of the jicama into cubes or small shapes with a knife, or cut slices of it with tiny cookie cutters if you'd like.
Dress, Music and Spanish Lessons
- Complete the fiesta theme by having the guests come dressed in Mexican- or Southwestern-style clothes. If they don't have anything appropriate, have them dress as a tourist!
- Play Hispanic music in the background during the party. You can borrow tapes or CDs from your local library.
- How about teaching a little Spanish? Create flash cards, and make a game of learning pertinent words and phrases such as Happy Birthday!
Party Pictures
Preparation Guide
The Day Before
- Make Strawberry Margarita Cake.
The Day Of
- Make Spicy Tortilla Chips; store in airtight container.
- Cut vegetables and chop cilantro for Roasted-Vegetable Tacos; cover and refrigerate.
- Chop vegetables for Easy Spanish Rice; cover and refrigerate.
- Make Pineapple Salsa. Cut up jicama for salsa salad (see Turn Salsa into a Magnifico Salad); cover and refrigerate.
- Measure dry ingredients for Mexican Coffee; cover.
About 2 hours Before Guests Arrive
- Make Almost Guacamole; cover and refrigerate.
- Prepare glass rims for Peach Margaritas.
About 35 Minutes Before Dinner
- Make Easy Spanish Rice.
- Make Roasted-Vegetable Tacos.
When Guests Arrive
About 10 Minutes Before dinner
About 20 Minutes Before Dessert