Healthful Fiesta Dinner
Olé! Here's a fantástico dinner to cheer about! Filled with the colors and flavors of the Southwest, it's not only appealing to the eye but also to your waistline! All of these recipes are designed to help you stay on a healthful track. So invite some friends or family to the fiesta and enjoy. Healthful eating is muy bueno!
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, and print names on the paper, several inches apart; then cut between the names and fold into place cards. Use a fun font to carry out the theme!
- Make a quick centerpiece by arranging bell peppers, avocados, limes and tomatoes in the rim portion of a sombrero. Or add colorful crepe-paper flowers. Surround the sombrero with brightly colored candles.
Say Adios to Calories with Snazzy Sips
- Skip the calories and fat of margaritas by serving sparkling water on ice! Choose lime- or lemon-flavored for a tangy touch. Before filling the glasses, salt or sugar the rims to add pizzazz. (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 colored sugar near the baking and decorating items at your grocery store. You can also decorate your drinks by sticking fun stir sticks in them or adding fruit, such as a slice of lime and a strawberry. Make a small slit in each with a knife, and press it onto the rim of the glass.
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 reduced-fat ranch dressing. Then toss with the Pineapple Salsa and cut-up jicama (a sweet, crunchy root vegetable; to peel it, 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 tiny cookie cutters, if you’d like!
Dress, Music and Spanish Lessons
- Complete the 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 evening; you can borrow some tapes or CDs from your local library. How about teaching a little Spanish? Create flash cards and make a game learning pertinent words and phrases!
Preparation Guide
The Morning Of
- Make Spicy Tortilla Chips; store in airtight container.
- Cut vegetables and chop cilantro for Roasted-Vegetable Tacos; cover and refrigerate.
- Chop vegetables for Lighter Spanish Rice; cover and refrigerate.
- Make Pineapple Salsa; cut up jicama for salsa salad. Cover and refrigerate.
- Measure dry ingredients for Mexican Coffee; cover.
About 2 Hours Before Guests Arrive
- Make Almost Guacamole; cover and refrigerate.
About 35 Minutes Before Dinner
- Make Lighter Spanish Rice.
- Make Roasted-Vegetable Tacos.
About 10 Minutes Before Dinner
- Toss salsa salad (see Special Touches).
About 20 Minutes Before Dessert
- Make Caramel-Banana Roll-Ups.
- Make Mexican Coffee.