A little Spanish fun that your family will love.

In Spain, dinner is not just about enjoying colourful, expressive and tasty meals – it’s about eating and sharing food with the people you are closest to. With the help of Knorr Sidekicks, a little imagination, and some good family spirit, it’s easy to turn your family dinner time into a full blown Spanish fiesta!

Here are some great ideas to help bring your Spanish theme night to life:

• Make your own piñata out of newspaper, a balloon and paper mâché paste. If you’ve never made the paste before, it’s easy – just mix three parts water with one part flour until the texture is smooth and creamy. Dip strips of newspaper into the paste, spread them onto the balloon and watch your paper mâché masterpiece start to take shape. Once the piñata has dried, your family can have fun decorating it with colourful paper and paint. When you’re all finished, hang your creation up in the backyard and let the fun times begin!
• Take your dinner outside! Many Spanish fiestas take place outdoors so people can enjoy the nice weather. You can bring your table to life with a brightly coloured table cloth and some fresh cut carnations- the traditional flowers of Spanish Flamenco dancers. Patio lanterns will also add a little splash of colour to your evening festivities!

• For dinner, try serving your meal tapas-style, where different items are served in separate dishes for the whole family to share. This is a great way to inspire conversation since everyone will be passing around dishes and sampling a little bit of everything! Add some classic flamenco guitar music to the mix and you will have created a little piece of Spain in your own backyard!
• Once you’re satisfied with dinner, it’s time to bring out a yummy treat. Try Churros – a sweet and crunchy snack, originating from Spain. These are best eaten when dipped in a thick hot chocolate and accompanied with fresh fruit!
• Need to get rid of some energy? Soccer, or Fútbol as it’s called in Spain, is the country’s most popular recreation sport. Strike up a friendly game in the backyard to see who has the best foot work and dribbling skills! If soccer doesn’t strike your fancy, why not tap into your inner diva with a little Tango or Salsa dancing? This will allow you to forget about your worries and dance the evening away.
• After the fresh air and running around has worn everyone out, take your family inside for an imaginary trip across the Atlantic. Read to them about the rituals, festivals and celebrations that are part of Spain’s rich cultural history. When story time is over, it’s off to bed for a night full of colourful dreams and visions of the next family theme night to come!