Labor Day BBQ?

[Little Cupcake]

I'm having a Labor Day BBQ. We're definitely having BBQ chicken & ribs. A friend always brings homemade potato salad. Now I'm trying to decide on the rest of the menu. Suggestions?

[gottasay]

-Spicy Mango Guacamole with tricolor tortilla chips (see my recipe below)

-Heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad over Arugula
-Potato Salad
-Grilled Seafood Salad (scallops, shrimp, squid with lemon, garlic, herbs, olive oil)

-BBQ chicken & Ribs
-Grilled corn on the cob (husks on) with a beaurre compose (2nd tryalot's recommend.)
-Grilled Baby vegetables (fingerling potatoes, baby squash, baby eggplant, baby onions, baby carrots, etc.)

-Exotic Fruit Kabobs (glaze with ginger spread/marmalade)
-Ice cream sandwiches (2nd Gail's recommend!)

Spicy Mango Guacamole with Whole Grain, Red & Black Bean tortilla chips

3 ripe avocados, mash with super clean hands with all other ingredients
1 really ripe mango, diced
4 tomatillos, diced
1 small bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
2 shallots, finely chopped
1 oz. fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 garlic clove, minced -or- roast garlic and add 3 cloves
Juice of 1 lime
1 tbsp Cumin seeds
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper (or to taste)
2 tbsp Chipotle Tabasco Sauce
1 tbsp Fresh Ground Black Pepper (or to taste)
Sea Salt to taste

Plocky's chips are my favorite to serve. They are available in the organic or gourmet chip or snack sections of supermarkets.

For more traditional Spicy Guacamole, change out the tomatillos for 4 peeled, chopped, seeded tomatoes and change out the lime for Lemon. The ginger and cumin is delicious with it, but can be eliminated if you're going for a more traditional taste.

[newfie29]

Grilled polenta topped with fresh tomatoes, basil and parmesan.

[JungMann]

Some in-season roasted or grilled eggplants. Of course grilled corn, great with a composed butter though I recently had a superlative rendition with chili mayo and shredded coconut. Ribbons of in-season summer squash tossed with mint, olive oil, salt, pepper, white wine vinegar. Roasted vegetable couscous. Watermelon salad with feta and mint. I also love guacamole at this time of year with roasted tomatillos.

[Gail]

Maybe this has been over done, but I would love a caprese salad with this menu. I'm not much of a bread eater, but maybe your group is so you would need that. For dessert, ice cream sandwiches.

[itryalot]

BbQd corn on the cob (husks on) with a beaurre compose
Grilled fruit or fruit kabobs on BBQ
Coleslaw
Orzo salad with roasted vegetables
Grilled veg platter (you can make before starting to bbq meat)

[Val]

Epicurious has a fantastic recipe for Orzo with Everything...it's a wonderful cold salad, pretty healthy too! Oh, also they have a Quinoa with Black Beans and Tomato that is also very tasty and even healthier.