What are you taking to 4th of July parties?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ps- please stop with the mayo based items on July 4th. Yuck.

PS, please get over yourself.

It’s not a judgement it’s a health concern.

Most people aren’t eating globs of mayonnaise on a daily basis. Fourth of July is a holiday. People want to eat special food because it’s a special occasion. You do not have to eat it if you’re concerned about your health.

I think perhaps PP meant health concern interns of mayo sitting out for hours at a time. It doesn’t really concern me, we keep the food indoors and on ice, and most people eat right when we arrive (dinner time).

I don’t eat mayo, so I’m no expert. But I see bottles of mayonnaise out on tables in restaurants all the time. Not sealed mayo packets, but big half empty bottles of Hellman’s which appear to have been out all day. I don’t think anyone is switching them for refrigerated ones at the local dive diner.

What gives? Why is ok for that mayo to stay out all day, but not potato salad made with it? My personal theory is that grocery store mayo is perfectly fine and potato salad made with it won’t go bad as quickly as people think. All the preservatives prevent the bacteria from growing. Just like homemade whipped cream goes bad far before the commercial stuff does.

Sealed mayo at room temp is fine. Mayo based items sitting outside at length in 80-90 degree heat breeds bacteria like salmonella (it’s egg based).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get the appeal of watermelon and feta salad. Every time I have tried to make it, the water draining from the watermelon "melts" the feta and the salad becomes a ugly mess.

Hmm this has been my experience as well. I wonder what I’m doing wrong!

I love watermelon and feta but I find that you need to eat it immediately. It's not a salad that sits well. The watermelon can't be too ripe. It does better with the crisp watermelon if that makes sense.

This is why doing the skewers works so much better. The feta isn’t sitting on the wet/absorbing watermelon. Another trick is to use feta crumbles instead of chunks. Less melting of the feta.

[Anonymous]

A case of Billecart Salmon and a beach blanket.

[Anonymous]

A case of Corona and a bag of limes.

[Anonymous]

We are hosting at our house. 40 people with different preferences - vegetarians, non beef eaters, non vegetarians, kids, old people, keto, dairy free, gluten free, shrimp allergy, sesame allergy, peanut allergy, Indians, white Americans, Cubans. Not potluck! My party lady is coming to help.

We are serving-
Samosas
Grilled minty masala paneer cubes on sticks
Masala Chas
Mini quesadillas veg
BBQ chicken legs
Loaded burgers
Chicken biryani with Raita
Pasta salad
Mango lassi

Chopped watermelon
Jalebi
Rabdi
assortment of icecreams

Lots of booze and soft drinks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ps- please stop with the mayo based items on July 4th. Yuck.

PS, please get over yourself.

It’s not a judgement it’s a health concern.

Most people aren’t eating globs of mayonnaise on a daily basis. Fourth of July is a holiday. People want to eat special food because it’s a special occasion. You do not have to eat it if you’re concerned about your health.

I think perhaps PP meant health concern interns of mayo sitting out for hours at a time. It doesn’t really concern me, we keep the food indoors and on ice, and most people eat right when we arrive (dinner time).

I don’t eat mayo, so I’m no expert. But I see bottles of mayonnaise out on tables in restaurants all the time. Not sealed mayo packets, but big half empty bottles of Hellman’s which appear to have been out all day. I don’t think anyone is switching them for refrigerated ones at the local dive diner.

What gives? Why is ok for that mayo to stay out all day, but not potato salad made with it? My personal theory is that grocery store mayo is perfectly fine and potato salad made with it won’t go bad as quickly as people think. All the preservatives prevent the bacteria from growing. Just like homemade whipped cream goes bad far before the commercial stuff does.

Sealed mayo at room temp is fine. Mayo based items sitting outside at length in 80-90 degree heat breeds bacteria like salmonella (it’s egg based).

I don’t think this is true. The mayo bottles are not factory sealed anymore - they have been opened and exposed to air and are sitting out on tables in the sun. I

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ps- please stop with the mayo based items on July 4th. Yuck.

PS, please get over yourself.

It’s not a judgement it’s a health concern.

Most people aren’t eating globs of mayonnaise on a daily basis. Fourth of July is a holiday. People want to eat special food because it’s a special occasion. You do not have to eat it if you’re concerned about your health.

I think perhaps PP meant health concern interns of mayo sitting out for hours at a time. It doesn’t really concern me, we keep the food indoors and on ice, and most people eat right when we arrive (dinner time).

I don’t eat mayo, so I’m no expert. But I see bottles of mayonnaise out on tables in restaurants all the time. Not sealed mayo packets, but big half empty bottles of Hellman’s which appear to have been out all day. I don’t think anyone is switching them for refrigerated ones at the local dive diner.

What gives? Why is ok for that mayo to stay out all day, but not potato salad made with it? My personal theory is that grocery store mayo is perfectly fine and potato salad made with it won’t go bad as quickly as people think. All the preservatives prevent the bacteria from growing. Just like homemade whipped cream goes bad far before the commercial stuff does.

Sealed mayo at room temp is fine. Mayo based items sitting outside at length in 80-90 degree heat breeds bacteria like salmonella (it’s egg based).

I don’t think this is true. The mayo bottles are not factory sealed anymore - they have been opened and exposed to air and are sitting out on tables in the sun. I

Good luck.

Check out the FDA guidance when you’re having diarrhea.

[Anonymous]

We’re hosting just 4-5 other people, not a pot luck. For now menu includes a corn and squash salad, a take on my grandma’s Italian pasta salad, Pimms cup, TBD meat (likely some mix of Italian sausage, burgers, grilled chicken and/or pulled pork), and watermelon. Debating if I should add another side and/or dessert-browsing here for ideas.

Pp at 12:15 - that sounds great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are hosting at our house. 40 people with different preferences - vegetarians, non beef eaters, non vegetarians, kids, old people, keto, dairy free, gluten free, shrimp allergy, sesame allergy, peanut allergy, Indians, white Americans, Cubans. Not potluck! My party lady is coming to help.

We are serving-
Samosas
Grilled minty masala paneer cubes on sticks
Masala Chas
Mini quesadillas veg
BBQ chicken legs
Loaded burgers
Chicken biryani with Raita
Pasta salad
Mango lassi

Chopped watermelon
Jalebi
Rabdi
assortment of icecreams

Lots of booze and soft drinks.

I want to crash this party!

[Anonymous]

Smores dip. I just saw it on Instagram today.

[Anonymous]

Patriotic fruit pizza, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want all of the above.
But if you are going to the WASPY-iest of WASPY picnics, take "millionaire bacon." (Probably should be renamed "billionaire bacon" to account of inflation.)
Broil bacon coated with brown sugar. Maybe a little fresh ground pepper if you're so inclined.
Put it out on a tray. Hot, or room temp, is fine.
Watch it disappear before you turn around.
Leftovers (of which there are never any, but you can hoard some for yourself later) can be crumpled in a salad or in scrambled eggs.

A good twist on this is to wrap the bacon around a breadstick before broiling. This will always go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are hosting at our house. 40 people with different preferences - vegetarians, non beef eaters, non vegetarians, kids, old people, keto, dairy free, gluten free, shrimp allergy, sesame allergy, peanut allergy, Indians, white Americans, Cubans. Not potluck! My party lady is coming to help.

We are serving-
Samosas
Grilled minty masala paneer cubes on sticks
Masala Chas
Mini quesadillas veg
BBQ chicken legs
Loaded burgers
Chicken biryani with Raita
Pasta salad
Mango lassi

Chopped watermelon
Jalebi
Rabdi
assortment of icecreams

Lots of booze and soft drinks.

I want to crash this party!

OMG! Really? I am glad to hear this. I felt that my family has put together this hodge-podge menu with an identity crisis.
DH wanted N.Indian food, kids wanted traditional July 4th food! But now I am thinking that maybe people will like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are hosting at our house. 40 people with different preferences - vegetarians, non beef eaters, non vegetarians, kids, old people, keto, dairy free, gluten free, shrimp allergy, sesame allergy, peanut allergy, Indians, white Americans, Cubans. Not potluck! My party lady is coming to help.

We are serving-
Samosas
Grilled minty masala paneer cubes on sticks
Masala Chas
Mini quesadillas veg
BBQ chicken legs
Loaded burgers
Chicken biryani with Raita
Pasta salad
Mango lassi

Chopped watermelon
Jalebi
Rabdi
assortment of icecreams

Lots of booze and soft drinks.

I want to crash this party!

OMG! Really? I am glad to hear this. I felt that my family has put together this hodge-podge menu with an identity crisis.
DH wanted N.Indian food, kids wanted traditional July 4th food! But now I am thinking that maybe people will like this.

Add me to your guest list! Fantastic variety

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ps- please stop with the mayo based items on July 4th. Yuck.

PS, please get over yourself.

It’s not a judgement it’s a health concern.

I have actually never heard of anyone getting sick from eating mayo at a picnic