birthday party - food help, plz

jettagurl

We're doing the basic/generic "cook-out" for the twins' birthday next weekend....I'm looking for something to jazz up our menu a bit....or other suggestions...

hamburgers/hotdogs/brats

potato salad

mac n cheese (anyone have a good recipe for baked?)

chips

nachos/cheese dip/salsa

 fruit tray (pineapple, watermelon, strawberries, grapes)

soda/lemonade/Capri Sun or Koolaid pouches for the kids 

 

Any suggestions for another side that's kinda unique?  I thought about a broccoli salad or some type of salad.  I typically buy a veggie tray, but our family friends always eat the carrots and nothing else...so I really don't want to do that anymore.

Dessert is cupcakes/ blue punch.

 TIA! 

 

Jamaica_Bride

Salad:

https://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/03/my_most_favorite_salad_ever_ever_ever_ever/

Mac and cheese:

https://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/02/mac-cheese-meatballs-and-the-winners/

...and I know you didn't ask for a fruit dip but mix 50-50 vanilla pudding and sour cream- YUMMY!

karen6784

Here is a link for buffalo chicken mac and cheese.  It makes a TON of food and is really good.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/buffalo-chicken-macaroni-and-cheese-recipe/index.html

Grantand

Broccoli salad always goes over well and I think you need some kind of veggie as the menu is kinda carb-heavy. I found a great potato salad that wasn't the typical tons of mayo gloppy goop - much lighter and even the guys loved it! https://www.skinnytaste.com/2009/06/baby-red-potato-salad.html. Or you could do a pasta salad instead...

Mickschick

I make a spinach salad that my MIL RAVES over.

 Baby Spinach, diced red onion, unsalted sunflower seeds, baby peas, chinese noodles (the ones that crunchy- know what I mean? LOL) and then balsamic vinagrette. YUMMY.

 I'm making that salad for dinner with DH's family Sunday night- I'm making dinner for FIL and BIL bdays.

michelcreek

This is more of an appetizer, but it's filling:  Salami with cream cheese and pepperchini in the middle, wrapped up.  It's so good, and easy and fast.  Also, maybe some hot sausages next to the hot dogs, the guys always like that!

shiloh17

Ever make hoagie dip? Its pretty much an italian hoagie minus the roll. You can google the recipe. Its so good. Here is how i make it: 1/2 lb ham (lunchmeat), 1/2lb amer cheese, 1/2lb salami, lettuce cut up small or shredded 1/2 cup, diced tomato, 1/2-1 cup mayo, 1 french baguette cut into slices. Lay 1piece of ham, cheese, salami on top of each other. Roll up and cut ( i use scissors) into lil 1/2 in pieces. Use up all lunch meat, and place into a bowl. Add mayo, lettuce, oregano, and mix until coated w mayo ( start w lil mayo and add more to taste--dont want overkill!). Add tomatoes before serving. Arrange baguette slices around the bowl, and serve. Its always a hit, and is so easy. Great for partirs, or sports gatherings.

scullyhoyy

We had a tomato cucumber and onion salad with fresh basil at my DS's party last week. So yummy!

AggieCouple

This is the America's Test Kitchen recipe I use for mac and cheese:

https://www.food.com/recipe/classic-macaroni-and-cheese-americas-test-kitchen-260199

When I throw a party for a large crowd (and with my huge family, any get-together is a large crowd), I'll usually rely on frozen appetizers. Taquitos are always a hit, as are the honey chicken fingers from Any'tizers.

If you feel like cooking, there are stuffed mushrooms, some sort of crostini (I usually top mine with a mash up of avocado/grape tomatoes/s&p/squeeze of lime).  Easy to do sides on the grill, especially if you have a grill pan, are red bell peppers or a mixture of squash/zuke (I just toss mine with olive oil and kosher salt &pepper).  You could also grill corn or skewered shrimp. 

 

eclaires

You could do a tomato, mozzarella, basil salad or even put that on skewers if you wanted it to look a little fancier.  Fresh mozz is so yum - I think Costco sells the small little balls of them marinated if you did skewers or even in the salad (I think Panera does that).

Or you could grill veggies on skewers too for a side, instead of a veggie tray.

AnnapolisLari

eclaires:

You could do a tomato, mozzarella, basil salad or even put that on skewers if you wanted it to look a little fancier.  Fresh mozz is so yum - I think Costco sells the small little balls of them marinated if you did skewers or even in the salad (I think Panera does that).

Or you could grill veggies on skewers too for a side, instead of a veggie tray.

My regular grocery store sells the boccacini (I think that's what they are called) or the salad on the olive bar.

A skewer of grape or cherry tomatoes, the mozz and basil leaves is awesome. I drizzle them with a tiny bit of olive oil and balsamic rather than buy the marinated cheese.