Cookout Menu

[WolfpackWife]

DH and I are hosting the people he's doing research with in the lab this summer. They are all PhDs from Italy and they've had us over for dinner and are really great people. They've served us delicious cheeses and spreads from Italy, succulent Italian-style pork loin, and real sfogliatelle.

Well, they've also found out they LOVE American bbq, because...well, duh. DH makes a KILLER boston butt so we wanted to have them over for our kind of cookout - slow smoked boston butt served in the form of pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw. We'll also serve grilled corn. For dessert I'm going to do a chocolate chess pie with amaretto whipped cream.

What should we do for apps or salad? I feel like a salad is redundant with coleslaw, but that's technically for the sandwiches. I'm also having a hard time coming up with app ideas, since usually I do a fontina appetizer or some iteration of bruschetta/cheese plate, or hummus, etc. But we're trying to keep it all-American since they are loving some of the American food over here. Ideas?

[WolfpackWife]

I'm doing some Pinterest research and am seeing lots of bacon wrapped Lil' Smokies type things. That, or jalapeno poppers. I'm going for something a little less heavy so I can do a couple of apps. Also, I'm not serving Lil' Smokies.

[alotofyarn]

Some options: pasta salad, potato salad, fruit salad, deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail.

I love this salad a lot too, but I usually use Greek yogurt instead of mayo and use no more than half the amount of poppyseeds: allrecipes.com/recipe/strawberry-romaine-salad-i/

[alotofyarn]

Ooh, I've made some bacon wrapped chicken before that was really good: http://www.food.com/recipe/sweet-chi...la-deen-146427

Or meatballs in a crockpot (I generally buy frozen meatballs): http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cocktail-meatballs/

[WolfpackWife]

Ohhh, thanks so much! These are great ideas. I definitely tend to keep an arsenal of less American-traditional appetizers. I'm always doing some sort of caprese or humus or Thai something. I'm having trouble brainstorming!

That salad looks great! What's a Bermuda onion?

[GreyhoundsRUs]

You probably don't want to run the oven that day, either What about some cornbread that you can make ahead? Baked beans?

[WolfpackWife]

You probably don't want to run the oven that day, either What about some cornbread that you can make ahead? Baked beans?

No i'm trying to minimize oven use and think of things I can do Friday evening/Saturday morning. It's going to be HOT this weekend with DH running in and out smoking the butt (sounds so weird), the last thing I want to do is be over the stove/oven all evening.

Also great ideas! Finally, the wheels are turning.

[alotofyarn]

I have no idea about the Bermuda onion - I've made it with thinly sliced red onion or just left them out entirely because my husband doesn't care for onions.

Here's another good one, except again, I mostly didn't use the mayo, and you should cut the recipe in half at least (or you can just do the block of cream cheese with the pepper jelly over it):

Mardi Gras Cheese Dip

2 cups chopped pecans
3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (1 lb. bag)
1 8 oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese--soft style
1 cup chopped green onion
Mayonnaise to soften
1 jar Tabasco Pepper Jelly (red)

Put pecans, cheddar cheese, green onions and cream cheese together in a bowl.
Stir until well mixed. Add mayonnaise to soften.....about 2 heaping TBSP. Mix well.

Put the mixture in a bowl (for the shape) lined with plastic wrap and cover the top. Refrigerate overnight. When you take the bowl out
of the fridge, turn it over into a serving dish and peel off the plastic wrap. Coat the top with
pepper jelly. Serve with crackers (Wheat Thins are best).

[alotofyarn]

Ooh, or Buffalo chicken dip? http://allrecipes.com/recipe/buffalo-chicken-dip/ (This is a temperature hot one though, and you probably want cool, but I love this stuff)

[WolfpackWife]

YUM!! That chicken dip looks delicious!

[WolfpackWife]

This is so not in the realm I wanted to be in, but this is looking incredible:

http://www.insockmonkeyslippers.com/...uteed-tomatoes

[Bittersweet]

This is so not in the realm I wanted to be in, but this is looking incredible:

http://www.insockmonkeyslippers.com/...uteed-tomatoes

No ideas for you (sorry) but this recipe looks amazing!!!

[ides]

I posted a Mexican style cheesecake dip in the appetizers section of this site. It's awesome! You can make it ahead and serve with tortilla chips. I also suggest a salad either basic green or potato.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Broccoli salad is awesome and yummy!

[migirl]

We just had that broccoli salad for dinner last night (cut-up broccoli, shredded carrot, raisins, pine nuts) and it's so yummy and easy!