A Fun & Flavorful Fiesta: Our April Dinner Party Menu

One of my new favorite rhythms has been to gather with a small group of ladies around the table for a monthly dinner party. In Longing for Belonging I shared how these dinner parties started with a simple idea, but over time have become so much more. These evenings are something we all look forward to – a place of deep connection over a shared meal and unhurried conversation.

Today, I wanted to share a peek into one of these evenings with our most recent menu, along with the recipes that helped it all come together. My hope is that it sparks inspiration for your own table, as you seek to create community wherever you may be.

For the month of April, we wanted our dinner party’s theme to be fun and flavorful and nothing says “fun and flavorful” than a fiesta. And fiesta we did! Here are all the details for our latest dinner party, complete with the recipes that helped bring this fiesta to life.

Strawberry Basil Margarita Mocktail

To kick things off for our fiesta-themed dinner party, we made a non-alcoholic version of these Strawberry Basil Margaritas. We substituted freshly squeezed orange juice for the tequila and Contreau and topped each drink with ginger beer for some spicy sparkle. We dipped each glass into a mixture of salt, sugar and lime zest for added pizzaz.

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Pico de Gallo

No fiesta would be complete without tortilla chips and salsa and this Classic Pico de Gallo recipe did just the trick. Prepared with just six ingredients, this salsa is incredibly fresh, flavorful and incredibly easy to make.

Guacamole

Along with the salsa, we knew our fiesta needed some homemade guacamole. This Guacamole is super simple to make with its ripened avocados, seeded and diced tomatoes, freshly squeezed lime juice, chopped onion, and, of course, cilantro. We also added a pinch of cumin to help deepen the flavor.

Fresh Corn, Tomato & Avocado Salad

For our fiesta we also wanted to serve a salad that would both hold its own as a side as well as work well as a topping for the tacos, if desired. This Fresh Corn, Tomato & Avocado Salad worked beautifully for both. Made from a handful of fresh ingredients such as sweet corn, juicy tomatoes and creamy avocados and topped with a jalapeno dressing, this salad was flavor-packed and super easy to make.

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Pulled Pork Tacos

We wanted to keep our main dish both easy and fun, so we decided to serve build-your-own tacos with several types of meats for everyone to choose from. Our first option was Pulled Pork, slow cooked in the crock pot all day. We substituted the coke for 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of apple juice for a slightly healthier alternative.

Ground Beef Tacos

Our second option for the tacos was Ground Beef, made with a homemade taco seasoning blend. Along with meat, we served a variety of other taco toppings, such as finely chopped red onions, cilantro, chopped green onions, crumbled feta cheese, and Cholula hot sauce. Sour cream, chopped cabbage and diced tomatoes would be great topping options as well.

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Mexican Chocolate Pie

For dessert, we indulged in this Mexican Chocolate Pie complete with a sugar cookie crust and a delicious chocolate filling. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how the gooey chocolatey goodness would pair with the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cayenne but I can now attest that it was absolutely divine. That being said, we felt that we should have let the pie set for a bit longer, so if you are making this recipe, be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to let the pie fully set before serving.

This fiesta night was full of flavor and fun, but what made it truly special was the shared laughter and the conversations that lingered long after the table was cleared. If you’ve been longing for belonging, may this be your nudge to open your door, try out a few recipes and invite others in. Meaningful moments are often found in simple invitations and meals shared around the table.