Come On, Vamonos over for a Great Adventure!

Explore the FUN with Dora, Boots, Isa, Tico, Fiesta Trio, Benny,  Senor Tucan and, of course, Map.  But keep an eye open during your party for Swiper the Fox so he doesn't steal all of your goodies.  If you see him say " Swiper no Swiping, Swiper no Swiping, Swiper no Swiping!"  Don't be surprised if you here him yell back "OH MAN!"

Dora the Explorer

 
 
Start off by greeting each guest with an explorers' kit!
In the goodie bags include a plastic magnifying glass
,some assorted Dora favors ,and a map you've designed
of your house and the days festivities.
Set up adventures for the children to participate in just like Dora. Choose a destination and 3 different landmarks they need to get to before they reach their destination. Get as elaborate as you want. Create Blueberry Hill by making child size trees with blueberries in them. Make a bridge for Troll Bridge.  The possibilities are endless.  

Be sure to drop me an email at partiesbyalli@aol.com if you want more help with any of your planning! (Remember...tips and ideas are always FREE!)

Have some fun with pinatas by choosing one of the three below......

Dora the Explorer PinataTreasure Chest PinataSombrero Pinata

FOOD AND DRINK

Empanadas

A Latin version of meat pot pie, empanadas make great all-in-one finger sandwiches.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup shortening
1/3 cup cold water
2 ½ cups cooked chicken, finely chopped
2 tablespoons blanched slivered almonds
¼ cup raisins
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 tablespoons mild salsa
 1 egg

Start Cooking!
1. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Using either a pastry cutter or your fingers, work the shortening
into the flour mixture. Add the water and toss the mixture together until it forms dough.
2. Divide the dough into 12 small balls. One at a time, roll each ball on a lightly floured surface into a 3-inch circle.
3. Make the filling: Combine the chicken, almonds, raisins, chili powder, salsa, and egg in a medium-mixing bowl.
4. Put 2 tablespoons of filling mixture onto half of each circle. Fold the halves over and press the edges together to seal the empanadas.
5. After all the empanadas are made, you can either fry them in hot oil for 3 minutes on each side or bake them in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15 minutes.
 

Makes 12 empanadas
 
 

 

 
Chicken Quesadillas:
 Slap these special sandwiches together for a fast and easy lunch that rivals PB&J! These simple quesadillas can be filled with nearly any cooked meats or vegetables. Using leftovers, you can make an easy meal in minutes!

Ingredients
½ cup cooked chicken, diced small ½ cup mild salsa
¼ cup corn kernels, either fresh or frozen
½ teaspoon ground cumin
4 6-inch flour tortillas
½ cup grated cheese (such as mozzarella, Monterey jack, Mexican white cheese or mild cheddar

Start Cooking!
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
2. In a small mixing bowl, combine the chicken, salsa, corn, and cumin.
3. Put on 2 tortillas on an ungreased baking sheet. Spread the chicken mixture evenly over each tortilla. Sprinkle the cheese over the chicken mixture. Top with a second tortilla and press down slightly.
4. Brush the top tortillas with olive oil and sprinkle with a pinch of chili powder.
5. Once the quesadillas have cooled slightly, cut into wedges and serve while hot.!

Makes 2-4 servings

TACO BAR

Have a taco bar and let the kids choose their fixings.  Be sure to have

chicken

beef

lettuce

tomatoes

grated cheese

sour cream

taco sauce

 

 

Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding)

Finish off your fiesta with this sweet and sticky dessert. Dora's sweet rice pudding gets its extra zest from spicy nutmeg and cinnamon. And since it is made on top of the stove instead of baked in the oven, it can be whipped up pretty quickly!

Ingredients:

8 cups whole milk
1 ½ cups sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup converted rice
1 large egg
2 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup raisins

1. Bring the milk to a boil over medium high heat. Stir in the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Reduce the heat to medium and continue stirring the mixture until the sugar dissolves. Add the rice, cover the pot, and let the rice cook for 45 minutes, or until soft and creamy.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg with the egg yolks and vanilla. Remove the rice from the heat. Begin adding the egg mixture to the hot rice, by quickly whisking it in one tablespoon at a time. Once all the egg mixture has been added, return the saucepan to the heat and continue cooking and stirring it for another 3 minutes.
3. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and raisins. Let the mixture cool to room temperature, then
refrigerate it. Serve warm or chilled. Makes 8 servings


Postre de Mango

Fruit fans will dig Dora's cool custard, featuring tangy mangoes!

1 14-ounce can condensed milk
1 30-ounce ounce can mangos, drained, or use 2 pounds fresh, ripe
mangos (peeled, cores removed, sliced)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 cup chilled heavy cream

1. Place the condensed milk, mangos, and lime juice in a blender. Blend until the mixture is a smooth puree.
2. Whip the cream until it is almost stiff and fold it into the mango puree with a spatula.
3. Pour into individual dessert dishes or one large container. Chill for at least an hour before serving
 

FUN AND GAMES

Dora, Boots, Swiper

A variation on the classic game Duck, Duck, Goose. One child is "it," and walks around the circle of kids, tagging each lightly and alternating the names "Dora, Boots, Dora, Boots" until deciding to tag one child as Swiper. "Swiper" then chases "it" around the circle, trying to catch "it" before he or she sits down. Then it's Swiper's turn to go around the circle until a new Swiper is tagged.

Dora Dice

Dice" (pronounced dee-say) is the word for "says" in Spanish. As in the classic game of Simon Says, the children take turns being "Dora" and direct the other guests to pretend to do Dora-like activities, such as climbing a rope, swimming across the lake, hopping like a frog, and jumping over crocodiles.

Adventure Obstacle Course

Help Dora and Boots get through the forest! Use objects from around your house-chairs for the slippery rock, cardboard boxes with sandpaper for icky-sticky sand—to create an obstacle course. Hang green crepe paper streamers from the ceiling for vines. When the kids complete the obstacle course, compliment them with Dora's line, "We did it!"

Make Binoculars

Let kids make their own binoculars to check out their world, just like Dora does. When everyone is finished, play a game of I Spy!

Help the children tape rolls together side by side. Cover the ends with colored plastic wrap secured by rubber bands. Let kids decorate the tubes with nature stickers, paint, and glitter glue. Use yarn or ribbon to make a hanging

Two toilet paper tubes, or paper towel rolls cut in half, for each child
Masking tape
Colored plastic wrap
Rubber bands
Stickers and markers for decorating
Yarn or ribbon

Sing Happy Birthday in Spanish

Here are the words; the tune is the same!

Feliz cumpleaños a ti, Feliz cumpleaños a ti,
Feliz cumpleaños a ti, Feliz cumpleaños a ti.

Listen to the song the way they sang it on Dora the Explorer!

Dora the Explorer Videos