641975 Tue Aug 04 12:18:10 -0700 2009 15 31 Home Cooking 0 4916800 Am hosting a bbq this weekend for several families. Nothing fancy...new grill so hubby will be grilling chicken and steak. Burgers and dogs for the kids. Making a corn, tomato and basil salad and need another good side--something relatively simple--make-ahead is a plus--maybe a starch? Any ideas?? Tue Aug 04 12:18:10 -0700 2009 195118 mom22tots 1 4916858 Potato salad? couscous salad? macaroni salad? All taste better when made a day ahead anyway. Tue Aug 04 12:31:20 -0700 2009 4916800 137495 dagwood 2 4917437 Also love a potato salad that's mixed while still warm to soak in the cider vinegar, or sometimes I use dill pickle brine ;). Orzo salad is another option. We like ours with roasted peppers, feta & olives. And if you have some ripe avocados, add them to your tomato/corn salad and dress with lime juice. Out of this world, simple! Also, if you have fresh baby veggies from the farmer's market, they're nice and pretty when pickled. Or just steam them and serve with an aioli or your favorite dip. Tue Aug 04 15:13:15 -0700 2009 4916858 90755 Phurstluv 3 4919274 Agreed! Mixing while warm is the key. I add to mine: mayo, pickle brine, spicy mustard (like Guldens), boiled egg, vinegar, sweet relish, diced pickles, salt, pepper, and a dash of sugar....mmmmmmm....... Wed Aug 05 08:26:56 -0700 2009 4917437 137495 dagwood 1 4916885 we have 2 standards that I have to make by popular request at family bbq's - neither is fancy, both are easy & better the second day. One is baked beans the easy way - fry a pound of bacon, crumble into a large pot of a couple cans of baked beans. Add one or two diced onions fried in a little bacon fat. Cook on low to med-low, stirring now & then, for at least 1/2 hr, until it is reduced down. Reheat on stove or in crock pot the next day. Not good for you, but a pound of bacon is a wonderful thing! #2 is MIL's potato salad - red potato boiled, then de-skinned ( I leave some skins on), mixed with mayo WHILE HOT and seasoned with celery salt. Excellent the next day, may need to add some mayo before serving. Again, sounds simple, but is very tasty. My kids & nephews love them, too, which is always a plus. Tue Aug 04 12:38:16 -0700 2009 4916800 249405 elfcook 2 4917462 Baked beans are a bbq staple for us. There's something called hobo beans (or settler's beans) that is good too. A trio of beans (Kidney, cannellini and pork n' beans) mixed with onions, browned ground beef, chopped bacon, ketchup, brown sugar, cider vinegar, mustard and worcestshire. They are always a hit among varying tastes. http://www.grouprecipes.com/sr/15140/hobo-beans/recipe/ For the more sophisticated palettes, I'd make baked beans from scratch. Soak beans overnight, mix up and let cook all days, low & slow, with lots of bacon. Mmmmm Oh yea, don't forget the deviled eggs!!! Tue Aug 04 15:19:18 -0700 2009 4916885 71241 lynnlato 3 4917501 Oooh, yes! Deviled eggs are a must! Tue Aug 04 15:33:04 -0700 2009 4917462 10532 LindaWhit 1 4916979 I'd go with an orzo salad or a macaroni salad. Also, baked beans. I've made this recipe many times for potluck gatherings (despite the recipe title saying "not for potluck" <g>) at former places of employment, and it's gotten rave reviews. (this was copied/pasted directly from an old AOL message board I had posted it on by the person who submitted it to cookingcache.com - the notes at the bottom are mine - another note I have on it does say I used molasses as a thickener). It's an oven-baked recipe, but you could probably also do it in a crockpot. http://www.cookingcache.com/toogoodforpotluckbakedbeansincognacandthyme.shtml?rdid=rc1 Tue Aug 04 13:06:26 -0700 2009 4916800 10532 LindaWhit 2 4917466 They sound good, Linda. I may have to put them on my "to try" list. I love me some baked beans. :) Tue Aug 04 15:20:44 -0700 2009 4916979 71241 lynnlato 1 4917174 Grilled Pineapple Spears.... Grilled Corn on the Cob........ Tangy Mustard Potato Salad..... Cole Slaw....... Tri-Color Rotini Salad..... Tue Aug 04 13:59:40 -0700 2009 4916800 65057 Uncle Bob 1 4917512 You could take some mushrooms, wrap in bacon, skewer, baste with bbq sauce and grill 'em. Or take some mushroom caps, and stuff with a mixture of ricotta, pesto, garlic, and sprinkle with parmasan and broil or grill. I second the macaroni/pasta salad too, something nice and cool that tastes better the day after anyway. Tue Aug 04 15:37:00 -0700 2009 4916800 285186 Popkin 1 4918257 Coleslaw - fresh cut, tart and tangy sauced coleslaw or maybe jicama cole slaw, to offset all the greasy good flavors. Tue Aug 04 19:59:34 -0700 2009 4916800 225234 KiltedCook 1 4918873 I made a grilled vegetable salad a few weeks ago- was able to make ahead and serve with dinner. Just grilled up some ears of corn, zucchini, peppers, onions, mushrooms, and some half heads of romaine lettuce-cut the corn off the years, chop the lettuce, and mix it all together with a light citrus-y dressing. It got rave reviews- and I ate the leftovers for a couple of days. Wed Aug 05 06:08:15 -0700 2009 4916800 180029 fmcoxe6188 1 4921080 I think corn muffins, a three-bean salad, coleslaw, a potato salad, a pasta salad, or a cold sesame noodle salad would all be good. You can make any of these things ahead of time. This is a really moist sweet cornbread: Coyotes Blue (Or Yellow) Cornmeal Bread http://www.recipezaar.com/coyotes-blue-or-yellow-cornmeal-bread-383642 If you want a starchy salad: Garlic Bread, Green Bean and Tomato Salad http://www.recipezaar.com/Garlic-Bread-Green-Bean-and-Tomato-Salad-129614 Tabbouleh http://www.recipezaar.com/worlds-best-tabbouli-tabouli-tabbouleh-tabouleh-salad-379639 Three-Bean Salad with Edamame, Black Beans & Black-Eyed Peas http://www.recipezaar.com/Three-Bean-Salad-With-Edamame-Black-Beans-Black-Eyed-Pea-353863 Other yummy salads: Green Beans With Sweet Onion Vinaigrette http://www.recipezaar.com/green-beans-with-sweet-onion-vinaigrette-379970 Cucumber and Feta Salad http://www.recipezaar.com/cucumber-and-feta-salad-381106 Cooking Light's Citrus-Marinated Mushrooms http://www.recipezaar.com/Citrus-Marinated-Mushrooms-Cooking-Light-351664 Wed Aug 05 16:50:09 -0700 2009 4916800 179628 toveggiegirl 1 4922031 Thanks for all the suggestions!! I now have some great ideas not only for this weekend but for many bbq's to come!! Thu Aug 06 05:52:05 -0700 2009 4916800 195118 mom22tots 1 4923269 Corn Avocado Salad Ingredients: ¼ C lime juice 1 T red wine vinegar 1 T Olive Oil 1 ½ t salt ½ t. pepper ¼ t ground cumin 1/8 t cayene 1 bag frozen corn 1 red bell pepper – seeded and diced ½ C. red onion - diced ¼ C Cilantro – finely chopped 3 firm, ripe avocados – pittled and cut into 1” chunks 1. In a large bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup lime juice, 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin, and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne. 2. Rinse corn under cold water until thawed. Add to bowl and mix gently. 3. Add bell pepper, 1/2 cup red onion, and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro to bowl; stir into dressing. 4. Add avocado to bowl and gently mix, taking care not to smash the avocado too much. 5. Garnish with a few Cilantro leaves. 6. Chill or serve immediately. Thu Aug 06 12:02:13 -0700 2009 4916800 21396 normalheightsfoodie