Dinner Parties

    Dinner Parties

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Family-friendly menu plan: Mexican fiesta

Family-friendly menu plan: Mexican fiesta

Did anyone say nachos? How about inviting some families over this weekend for an early dinner with the children – and give the gathering a Mexican theme! It’s fun and suitable for all the family. Here’s an easy-peasy Mexican-inspired menu plan:

  • Entree

    Homemade guacamole – served with pita crisps. This is super-easy and super-fast to make, so why would you buy a commercial dip?
  • Cheese and spinach quesadillas – three types of cheeses make these a tasty little entrée dish.
  • Beef and chorizo nachos – a yummy, substantial starter, this nachos recipe is a bit different with the addition of spicy chorizo sausage.

  • Main

    Tortilla beef stack – this adapted dish layers tortillas with taco mince, spinach, salsa and cheese. This will feed your crowd and fill them up!
  • Chicken fajitas – while this recipe has a few steps, it can be mostly pre-prepared, and the finished dish will impress.
  • Mexican meatballs – made with chicken mince, these meatballs are suitable for the kids and easy for them to manage.
  • Marinated steak tacos – this recipe uses hard tacos, but you could equally use a mix of soft and hard tacos to offer your guests a choice.

  • Dessert

    Mexican hot chocolate – the unexpected combination of chilli powder with chocolate and cinnamon is sensational.
  • Churros – the Mexican form of doughnuts served with chocolate sauce.

  • Adult drinks (for those not driving)

    Sangria – a classic party drink made with Cointreau and red wine.
  • Margaritas – sip slowly, as the lime and tequila combo will really hit you!
  • Now for other ideas to give the night even more Mexican flavour:
    • Have fun with a piñata – each child is blindfolded before they have a turn at bashing the piñata with a broomstick. Finally, it will burst open and hundreds of lollies will cascade out!
    • Head to your local two-dollar shop and buy some sombreros for all the kids to wear. Get everyone to bring a pair of maracas to shake along to the Macarena (if you can bear playing it!).
    • Buy decorations in the colours of the Mexican flag – red, white and green – serviettes, balloons, streamers, etc.

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