First “To-Do”
First, make a guest list and send out a detailed email invite, complete with dates, times, and fiesta description. Make sure everyone knows that this simple and creative gathering will be complete with all of your own unique, personal touches and a great way to re-connect with everyone before summer gets into full swing.

Next, follow these steps to create an interactive and beautiful Spring Fiesta “headquarters."

Decorations
There’s only one way to go with party decor: simple, sparkly, and hot. Think lots of small, twinkling lights and bright, gorgeous colour. Pretty cactus or piñata party lights, or party lights in a variety of colours can really heat up a room. For added ambiance, pick up some beautiful spring flowers, create a few free-spirited centerpieces or mini-bouquets, and place them about the room on end tables, bookshelves and counters.

Flowers For Her Hair
April showers bring May flowers! After the ambiance is arranged, welcome guests to the party with a simple, pretty, and vibrant flower. Place a flower arrangement near the entrance and have guests choose a single bloom as they arrive. Encourage women to put the flower in their hair, while men could wear it as a small boutonniere.

Spicy Snacks
The home décor is set, the guests have arrived, and everyone’s ready to celebrate! Spirited fare will help break the ice and help get the party warmed up, so keep the fire going with a chips and salsa bar. Concoct a few quick batches of your own specialty salsa by getting some great ideas here.

Or, when you call your guests with the Spring Fiesta invite, ask them to bring their best salsa recipe (chips, too!). Then arrange a secret ballot “salsa sampler,” which will take place during the party. Guests will sample the salsas and vote for their favourite. Count up the votes and announce the winner, who gets to take home a great prize: a lovely spring flower arrangement, a festive chips and salsa serving dish, or a gift certificate to a favourite Mexican or Spanish restaurant.

Drinks
After eating all of that hot salsa, your guests will need drinks to cool off. Serve this tasty drink called a “Sea Foam.” It’s a low-calorie, low-sugar refreshment that is sure to help keep the party going. Follow this easy recipe:

INGREDIENTS
1/2 honeydew, seeded and scooped
1 cucumber, peeled and sliced
50 mL (1/4 cup) lime juice
50 mL (1/4 cup) fresh mint
50 mL (1/4 cup) sugar
Chilled grapefruit citrus soda

DIRECTIONS
1. Place first 5 ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth.
2. Force through a strainer reserving juice and dispose of the pulp.
3. Chill for 4 hours or overnight.
4. Fill each glass with 1/3 melon mixture and top with chilled grapefruit citrus soda.

Empanadas with Spanish Rice and Ground Beef
Whether you’re hosting guests at your fiesta or gathering your family round the dinner table, these flavourful empanadas stuffed with Spanish rice, meat and vegetables are the perfect go-to Mexican recipe.

INGREDIENTS
1 package Spanish rice mix
53 mL (3 1/2 tablespoons) olive oil
683 grams (1 1/2 lbs.) ground beef
115 grams (1/4 lb.) chorizo (or spicy sausage), chopped
15 mL (1 tablespoon) Spanish paprika (or regular paprika)
1 medium onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
4 cloves garlic, chopped
50 mL (1/4 cup) parsley, chopped
23 mL (1 1/2 tablespoons) fresh oregano
1 can stewed tomatoes
30 mL (2 tablespoons) tomato paste
1 pinch saffron threads
15 mL (1 tablespoon) salt
5 mL (1 teaspoon) black pepper
1 package (225 grams/8 ounces) croissant roll dough, refrigerated

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Prepare Spanish rice mix according to the package’s directions.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat, then add the ground beef and sauté until browned.
3. Add the chorizo to the skillet and sauté for an additional minute, then add the paprika, onion, bell pepper, garlic and parsley. Sauté for approximately two minutes until the vegetables are soft.
4. To the meat and vegetables, add the prepared Spanish rice, oregano, tomatoes, tomato paste, saffron, salt and pepper. Let cook for two minutes until slightly thickened. Remove skillet from heat and let cool.
5. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and brush generously with olive oil.
6. Lightly dust a clean working surface with flour, then roll out the refrigerated croissant dough into .3cm (1/8”)-thick squares.
7. Spoon 30 mL (2 tablespoons) of the filling onto the center of each square, then lightly moisten the dough edges with water and fold over, crimping the edges with a fork.
8. Place the empanadas on your cookie sheet, then bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes, then serve.

Fiesta Into the Night
With lovely decorations, good food and drink, and fabulous friends, there’s no way your Spring Fiesta won’t be the hit of the Cinco De Mayo, and your party will naturally develop a personality all its own. No time for a siesta; Cinco de Mayo is perfect for a great Spring Fiesta!