casual backyard dinner party -- need ideas for menu

[Anonymous]

I have a vision of a very casual backyard dinner party. It would involve a long table with benches and jugs of wine on the table, kids in attendance. I'd rather not grill (too hot, too much work). Instead I'd prefer a big bowl of pasta or something similar, to be served on a separate buffet table. Any suggestions for menu?

[Anonymous]

You could do several different salads - pasta and potato with the mayonnaise, another one that's more light with bow-tie pasta, tons of different colorful veggies cubed cheese and italian dressing, and a green salad with different dressings on the side. Get a honeybaked ham and serve it cold with applesauce.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could do several different salads - pasta and potato with the mayonnaise, another one that's more light with bow-tie pasta, tons of different colorful veggies cubed cheese and italian dressing, and a green salad with different dressings on the side. Get a honeybaked ham and serve it cold with applesauce.

uh-oh, the "vulgar" lady is gonna get you

I would also do:

Caprese
Platter of olives, meats, cheese, prosciutto, mortadella, artichoke hearts, etc.
A pesto dip or red pepper dip with breads and/or crackers
Cold asparagus with lemon
A spinach salad with whatever

[Anonymous]

I made this Chinese Chicken salad as the main course for my sister's baby shower (casual, outdoor affair) and it was a huge hit:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/chinese-chicken-salad-recipe/index.html

You could also try doing something like a platter of cold chicken skewers with various dipping sauces.

I can't remember what we did for sides, but I think some sort of green salad plus a platter of good breads would go nicely.

Alternately, what about doing a taco bar? You could stew some meat in a slow cooker, make some good guacamole, and offer all the fixings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could do several different salads - pasta and potato with the mayonnaise, another one that's more light with bow-tie pasta, tons of different colorful veggies cubed cheese and italian dressing, and a green salad with different dressings on the side. Get a honeybaked ham and serve it cold with applesauce.

uh-oh, the "vulgar" lady is gonna get you

I would also do:

Caprese
Platter of olives, meats, cheese, prosciutto, mortadella, artichoke hearts, etc.
A pesto dip or red pepper dip with breads and/or crackers
Cold asparagus with lemon
A spinach salad with whatever

LOL I'm the pp you quoted and I LOVE the idea of cold asparagus with lemon (and maybe throw some capers on the dish?) YUM!!


All this talk makes me want to have an outdoor casual dinner party with all these dishes.

[Anonymous]

You could do a plate of endive leaves. In each leaf, put a schmear of goat cheese, and then something on top. The something on top could be: a strip of roasted red pepper; some sun-dried tomato pieces and pine nuts, some sprinkled chopped basil, a few raspberries, what have you.

Roasted red pepper, goat cheese, and sauvignon blanc is one of my favorite outdoor flavor combinations.

[Anonymous]

Also, +1 on the caprese.

[Anonymous]

fried chicken?

[Anonymous]

Maybe something like a make your own salad bar, you could have chopped chicken, steak and maybe shrimp all cold that were done ahead of time. Then lots of different veggies and cheeses. It would be a lot of prep but could be done the day before and very unique.

[Anonymous]

Low country boil: Potatoes, shell-on shrimp (buy USA wild caught, frozen is fine), kielbasa, and corn on the cob cooked in a stockpot with either Old Bay or Zataran's seasoning and bay leaves. Serve with crusty bread and cold beer or white wine. So good.

[Anonymous]

We use hot italian sausage for the low country boil. It flavors the whole mix--I like it better than Old Bay. And by the time it's done, the sausage itself isn't that hot.
I bet chorizo would also work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Low country boil: Potatoes, shell-on shrimp (buy USA wild caught, frozen is fine), kielbasa, and corn on the cob cooked in a stockpot with either Old Bay or Zataran's seasoning and bay leaves. Serve with crusty bread and cold beer or white wine. So good.

People so seem to like this. I must be the only one who thinks it's gross.

[Anonymous]

Just don't forget the citronella candles. The mosquitos are really bad this year with all this rain.

[Anonymous]

or one of these: http://www.harrietcarter.com/product/picnic-table-food-tent/

Those candles don't work for me at all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could do a plate of endive leaves. In each leaf, put a schmear of goat cheese, and then something on top. The something on top could be: a strip of roasted red pepper; some sun-dried tomato pieces and pine nuts, some sprinkled chopped basil, a few raspberries, what have you.

Roasted red pepper, goat cheese, and sauvignon blanc is one of my favorite outdoor flavor combinations.

Miss Goat Cheese Endive is that you?

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/255050.page