By Dawn Hall, author of the Busy People’s Cookbook Series

This menu is perfect for graduations or any other festive occasion!

Menu Plan Serves 8
Click on the links below to view the recipes

No-Cook Bean Dip
Beefy Chili Enchilada Casserole
Spicy Spanish Rice with Tomatoes and Green Chiles
Fiesta Chili Soup
Southwestern Celebration Salad

Edible Centerpiece
Place a candy-filled piñata in the middle of the table. After dinner, hang it up, blindfold one child at a time, and let the child try to break the piñata open by hitting it with a stick or a bat.  Place photos of the graduate around the piñata and down the center of the tables.

Supplies
Large, round, microwave-safe casserole dish
Piñata
Stick to break the piñata (tie pretty ribbons around one end of the stick)

Timeline
1. Set your table and place a candy-filled piñata in the middle.
2. About 1 hour before serving time make the No-Cook Bean Dip, cover, and place in the refrigerator until serving time.
3. Assemble the Beefy-Chili Enchilada Casserole and place in the refrigerator. 4. Thirty minutes before serving time, start the Spicy Spanish Rice with Tomatoes and Green Chiles.
5. Start cooking the Fiesta Chili Soup.
6. While the rice is simmering, put the Beefy-Chili Enchilada Casserole into the microwave to heat.
7. Turn off the rice and keep it covered so it will stay hot.
8. Make the Southwestern Celebration Salad.

Last 15 minutes
9. Make the Virgin Cranberry Daiquiris. You will make this recipe twice, because it will not all fit in your blender at one time. Put the daiquiris into glasses and take them to the table.
10. Ladle the soup into bowls and take all of the food to the table.

This Mexican themed graduation party was created for Precious Moms by Dawn Hall, the author of the award winning Busy People’s Cookbook Series including the just released title: Busy People’s Super Simple Menus Cookbook, (137 healthy, home-style-meals made in 30-minutes or less); Slow Cooker Cookbook, Low-Carb Cookbook, Diabetic Cookbook, Christmas Cookbook, Low-Fat Cookbook, Busy People’s Down Home Cooking Without the Down Home Fat Cookbook and 7 Simple Steps to a Healthier You.  Her books are currently available at all fine bookstores and on the internet.  For more free recipes and cooking ideas go to her website: www.Dawnhallcookbooks.com