Party food?!
Party food?
what specifically should I have for food at my summer party? It's gunna have a little over 30 people. Don't suggest catering because I am not going to do that. We are going to be grilling also. 10 points to best answer. Thanks!
Answers:
Always at a summer party you have to have a BBQ type theme. Burgers and Hot dogs are a must have! Corn on the cob too! Maybe even some skillet steaks. You can get them in the meat section of your grocery store. They are cheaper then regular steaks, but they taste great
! Potatoe salad, chips, baked beans, and tons of soda, water, juices, and of course, if legal, alcohol! Deviled eggs are always a big hit as well as watermelon and fuits and stuff! kiwis are great this time of year, a little expensive, but your guests will see that you went all out! Good luck and have fun!
BBQ, that's the best
crab balls chicken wings baby carrots celery nuts watermelon
With a party of that size it may be easier to ask everyone to bring somthing, and you supply the meat. It usually works out good for everyone.
I think just a few basic light things, like a fruit tray with a good fruit dip, I just mix a package of cream cheese with a 7oz jar of marmallow cream. It's great with just about any kind of fruit. You could also do a veggie tray with dressing, maybe add a few diff. kinds of dressing to add a little variety. Remember when it's hot sometimes lighter is better.
I like chicken whirls. Flatten some chickent breast with a rolling pin/meat hammer. Mix together some tomato puree garlic and fresh chopped basil. Lay out a chicken breast cover with parma ham/bacon (trimmed) spread the tomato mixture over the top and roll up. Slice a roll off the chicken breast approx 1 inch thick and thread onto a skewer. Continue doing this with the rest of the breast, one breast should cover one skewer. Chill in the fridge, when ready grill for 10-15 mins until cooked. These are a bit fiddly to make until you get used to it but people can help you and they can be prepared in advance the day before and kept in the fridge. Good luck.
Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Apples
INGREDIENTS
2 large sweet potatoes, sliced
1 apple - peeled, cored and thinly sliced
ground cinnamon to taste
white sugar to taste
1/2 cup butter
DIRECTIONS
Preheat an outdoor grill.
In a bowl, toss the sweet potato and apple slices with the cinnamon and sugar. Divide the mixture into 4 portions, places each on a large piece of aluminum foil. Top each with an equal amount of butter. Tightly seal foil around each portion.
Place foil packets on the grill, and cook 40 minutes, turning every 5 to 10 minutes, until potatoes and apples are tender.
or
Drunken Grilled Asparagus
INGREDIENTS
1 cup Burgundy wine
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon prepared brown mustard
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed
DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, whisk together Burgundy wine, olive oil, brown mustard, garlic powder, black pepper and salt.
Place asparagus in a large glass bowl, and cover with the Burgundy wine mixture. Cover bowl, and marinate asparagus in the refrigerator at least 2 hours, turning occasionally.
Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil grate.
Grill asparagus 10 minutes, or to desired tenderness.
or
Mexican Corn on the Cob (Elote)
INGREDIENTS
4 ears corn, shucked
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup grated cotija cheese
4 wedges lime (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat.
Grill corn until hot and lightly charred all over, 7 to 10 minutes, depending on the temperature of the grill. Roll the ears in melted butter, then spread evenly with mayonnaise. Sprinkle with cotija cheese and serve with a lime wedge.
You don't say if you've chosen WHAT to grill....but I'd suggest a build-your-own-kabob party. Just have all the usual kabob ingredients (with at least 2 meat choices), and lots of skewers. Each guest can bring their skewer to the cook, which makes them have a 20 minute conversation together!
(or with others that are waiting)
Have a giant bowl of mixed fresh veggies--carrots,celery,cucumb... slices, cherry tomatoes, raw broccoli & cauliflower, and snow pea pods---and a big dish of dill dip to go along.
A cheese & sausage tray with crackers is always great.
Set out a taco dip (google for recipes) and make a nacho dip with equal parts velveeta & canned chili with no beans, have tortilla chips for dipping. (keep it in a crockpot)
Hot wings, or wings baked in half water/half soy sauce are always good.
And tortilla roll-ups, of which there are HUNDREDS of varieties---google for a recipe you think is best.
And lastly, it wouldn't be a summer party without a huge bowl of fresh mixed fruit--melon cubes (3 kinds, for color), strawberries, blueberries, red & green grapes, and some slice kiwi for garnish.
Have a blast--most of these things can be made at LEAST a day ahead, so you can ENJOY your party!
All the other people have good stuff, but to keep it simple...
*BBQ hot dogs and burgers
*different varieties of chips...potato chips, nacho chips, Doritos, Fritos
*varieties of sodas (Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew)
*order up some pepperoni and cheese pizza
Hope that helps!!!
if you're doing it outdoors, i'd go with simple things that don't need to be kept hot or cold (mini-frittatas, pasta salads, roumakki). if you'll be closer to the kitchen, put a new twist on some classic bbq sides like calico (baked) beans, coleslaw, french fries made from sweet potatoes. you can find easy (and inexpensive!)recipes for all these at foodnetwork.com
chicken ribs baked beans
soda,chips,hambergurs.pizza,ca...
Bring a dish party! I would reccomend some selection in the meat that you cook though.. I wouldnt just have hamburgers or hot dogs. I would throw some chicken and steak in with the mix or some ribs if youre feeling froggy. But I also reccomend having alot of food people can walk around with.. That way they can mingle with the crowd as aposed to having to sit down to eat. All good things for out door cooking, deviled eggs, potato salad, pasta salad, etc. Also set out fruit and vegetable platters. Throw some chips and various dips around. Have lots of different kinds of things to drink. Sodas, juices, water, and whatever alcohol you might serve. But the best thing I have always found is to have a nice selection of everything for everybody.
I like the idea of a kebab party another person posted!
A good please-everyone kinda-Italian menu is:
rosemary-balsamic grilled chicken
grilled zucchini/yellow squash/red onions (can be done in a basket or on skewers)
orzo salad (orzo with olive oil vinaigrette, halved cherry tomatoes, finely diced mozzarella or chunks of goat cheese, chopped yellow bell pepper, and baby spinach)
crudite platter with aoli dip
pound cake trifle with lemon curd and fresh berries
fresh melon wedges
I like this because the orzo salad, veggie platter, melon, and trifle can be made ahead, plus you can cut up the squash ahead too. Set the chicken to marinate the night before.
Since you will be grilling how about shrimp kabobs, alternate shrimp with peppers, onions and pineapple, baste with sweet and sour sauce and grill, you can do this with chicken also.
For the meat eaters you can use beef, onions peppers and a teriyaki sauce. Which every you do let the kabobs marinate about 1 hour.
You could go totally kabob crazy and do fruit kabobs, using pineapple, banana, oranges, etc. put a marshmallow on and a maraschino cherry on the end.
You can make mini pizza's using small pitta breads as the base just add, sauce, cheese and what ever toppings you like.
Make a big salad with a vinaigrette dressing put the salad and dressing in a clean plastic garbage bag, shake and pour into a bowl.
Fruit salad, cut a watermelon in half length wise scoop out mix with other fruit, like blueberries, strawberries etc. and mix in some Sangria put back in watermelon, you don't have to add the Sangria just enjoy.
For drinks make spiked and unspiked fruit punch.