HELP - Cinco de Mayo snack for school kids

[comabri]

I need ideas for a snack/dish to take to my son's 3 & 4-year-old's class this Friday. The theme is Cinco de Mayo or Mexico. Someone's already signed up for Chips and Salsa. Any ideas? It would probably have to be something that would keep through the day in the fridge.

Any cold mexican casseroles? Mexican sandwiches?

Thanks all!

[Terrytx]

How about some sort of tortilla wrap with cream cheese and chopped vegetables or fruit.

[cdm]

Im thinking of that 7 layer bean dip. Im sure their would already be more than enough chips to go around.

[Susan]

How about a sweet treat? Mexican wedding cakes (otherwise known as "snowball cookies", "Russian Tea Cakes") come to mind or sopaipillas. Here's a link to a recipe on Epicurious for sopaipilla ice cream sundaes-yum! http://www.epicurious.com/run/recipe/view?id=101397

~~Susan~~

Here's a recipe for RUSSIAN TEA CAKES

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup finely chopped husked hazelnuts, toasted
Powdered sugar

Sift flour and salt together. Using electric mixer, cream butter in large bowl until light. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar and beat until fluffy. Add vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients in 3 batches. Mix in hazelnuts. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 12 hours.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Form dough into 1-inch balls. Space 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until just firm to touch, about 15 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool slightly. Roll in powdered sugar. Cool completely. Roll cookies in powdered sugar again. Store in airtight container.

Makes about 3 1/2 dozen.


Bon Appétit
December 1990




[This message has been edited by Susan (edited 05-02-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Susan (edited 05-02-2001).]

[ewatkins]

How about quesadillas with salsa? My kids will eat them room temp (leave in fridge during the day).

[This message has been edited by ewatkins (edited 05-02-2001).]

[browneye]

How about a simple cold Taco Salad? I make one very simple one that includes chopped lettuce, kidney beans- drained and rinsed, grated cheddar, green onions, crushed tortilla chips, sliced olives, chopped tomatoes, and a small amount of taco meat prepared with a mild taco seasoning mix such as Schilling, Lawry's, etc... Chill all ingredients, then toss all together with a NOnfat Thousand Island Dressing or a Southwest Dressing which is just Salsa mixed with lowfat sour cream.
You can vary the ingredients quite a lot and make this ahead- children really love this.

[schuh]

How about something sweet?

Two common flavors in Mexican desserts are cinnamon/chocolate and lime. I have a recipe for cinnamon chocolate sheet cake that's awesome -- a lot like Texas sheet cake -- you could just add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon to the CL Texas sheet cake recipe (although this may be messy for kids that age). I also have a recipe for Mexican chocolate cutout cookies -- you could just add cinnamon to your favorite chocolate cutout. You could cut into shapes like a cactus or sombreros. Martha Stewart has a recipe for lime meltaway cookies -- a lime flavored dough is shaped into a log and cut about the size of nickels then tossed in confectioner's sugar afterwards.

[Jewel]

What about Churros? Kind of a doughnut dough baked or fried and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar? I don't have a recipe but I'm sure there's one online somewhere!

If you're going for a Mexican sandwich of any kind, I vote for Quesadillas. They're so easy, and kids love them! Flour tortillas, chicken, beef or ground beef, some mild salsa and lots of cheese. I would cut into wedges and serve a bowl of Salsa dip in the middle of the plate. Salsa Dip is just a block of cream cheese mixed with an electric mixer with one cup of Salsa, then chilled! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif