by Steven Stern
Caught in a dinner rut? Put some fun in the mix by designating one dinner every week as Theme Night, and give each member of the family a chance to plan (and help cook!) the night's menu, soundtrack and decorations. Will Thursday be a Royal Luau, Indoor Picnic or a Big Easy Blowout? No matter what, it'll be a night to remember -- and it'll get the whole family talking around the table. Here are our tips for shopping, planning, cooking and involving family members of all ages.
Two Weeks of Family Fun
Big Easy Blowout
Don't wait for Mardi Gras to have a New Orleans style feast. Crank up the tunes and enjoy a night of Cajun and Creole classics.
The Mood:
You can go crazy stocking up on beads, masks and other Crescent City style decorations, or you can just improvise with what you have, using the official Mardi Gras colors: purple, green, and gold. Whatever you do, make sure to include some authentic music, whether it's old fashioned jazz or accordion-driven zydeco . Parading around the dinner table between courses is optional, but recommended.
The Food:
A hearty Cajun gumbo or some chicken and sausage jambalaya is the way to go. For a real treat, finish the meal with bananas Foster.
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Indoor Picnic
No need to worry about bugs or bad weather --just move the dinner table out of the way, spread a blanket on the floor and dig in to the perfect no-fuss picnic.
The Mood:
Make everything earlier in the day and pack it up in baskets. Kids can be enlisted to help with the wrapping, but no tasting until mealtime. Dig that old portable radio out of the closet for tunes. For the full outdoor effect, you can supply your own (plastic) ants.
The Food:
It isn't a real picnic without deviled eggs and potato salad. Classic fried chicken tastes just as good -- if not better -- cold. Finish up your trip to the great indoors with some gooey brownies.
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Rodeo
You probably can't do much roping and riding in the dining room, but you can serve up a night of Lone Star State food and fun.
The Mood:
There's plenty of great rodeo action available on video-not to mention a bull-riding Wii game. But for a calmer dinner hour, some Willie Nelson or old Bob Wills tunes would set the right tone. For table settings, have people pick out their own cattle brands, and draw them on place cards.
The Food:
Serve up some chicken fried steak or smokey brisket and make sure to include a side dish of cowboy baked beans and sausage. Finish up with a lush pecan pie.
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Wrap Party
From pigs in blankets to turnovers-everything's more fun to eat when it's wrapped.
The Mood:
Extend the theme to décor by wrapping furniture in sheets and scarves; wrap up yourself however you'd like. The music? Some old-school (w)rap, of course.
The Food:
Use pre-made crescent rolls and sausage to create appetizers; serve lasagna roll-ups or stuffed cabbage rolls as a main course. Finish up with a nutty rocky road wrap or some tasty cherry turnovers.
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Bollywood Fantasy
The wacky, colorful world of Indian musicals can serve as inspiration for a meal of spicy, subcontinental delicacies.
The Mood:
Move the chairs and table away, drape every surface with the brightest cloths you can find, and eat on pillows, reclining like rajas. The soundtrack to last year's hit movie 'Slumdog Millionaire' will put you in the right spirit. If you feel like choreographing your own family production number, don't let us stop you.
The Food:
Restock the spice shelf and whip up some authentic Indian dishes like tandoori chicken, rice pilaf with lime and cashews, and potato curry with peas. Finish up with a decadent mango bread pudding.
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Royal Luau
This year is the 50th anniversary of Hawaii's statehood. Party down as they do in the islands-there's a reason the Aloha State has been inspiring celebrations for decades.
The Mood:
There are plenty of online sources for tiki-themed decorations. You can also use the web to find hula lessons-but if you decide to just fake it, we wont tell. Some authentic music will help get the whole family moving their hips-grass skirts or not.
The Food:
You might not be able to cook a whole pig, but some tropical glazed roast pork will do the trick-or a ginger-steamed fish. Polynesian fried rice is a great side dish; end the meal with some refreshing pineapple-coconut sorbet.
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