July 4th cookout menus

[mbcdefg]

Is anyone throwing a cookout for the 4th of July? What will you be serving?

Want to critique mine?

MH contacted a bunch of people to see if they'd come over, since our block is one of the best places to view the town fireworks. Surprisingly (since we live 30 minutes away from most people but they act like we live in Siberia), most of them said they'd come. So that's maybe 20 people? I'm working on a menu now.

I won't serve all these things, obviously - I'm just throwing out ideas. The only person with a dietary concern is my vegetarian sister. 

Apps:
Mini peppers with a piece of sausage inside
Chips, pretzels, corn chips, salsa

Mains:
Burgers (and a few veggie burgers)
Hot dogs
Chicken drumsticks
MH may do a smoked pork shoulder if he feels like it; I don't think it's necessary

Sides:
grilled vegetables (squash/zucchini, eggplant, peppers, asparagus, onion, portobello mushroom caps ... ?)
Or should I do a caprese pasta salad instead of all the vegetables?
corn on the cob
cole slaw
I'm sure people will bring stuff

Desserts:
watermelon
ice cream bars
I'm sure people will bring stuff
We have a firepit - how about s'mores?
Should I get apple pie for AMURRRICA? The store-made pies are only $3 each. (I'm not baking anything myself - I refuse to turn on the oven.)

Drinks:
beer (MH may get a keg)
lemonade
sodas
water
MH made limoncello recently so we'll have that 
MH also suggested white sangria - thoughts? I don't think we need that. Maybe a bottle of liquor so people can add it to the lemonade?

[Pom]

Would the pasta salad be more filling for your sister? That sounds delish.
I don't think you need the pie, but if you want to buy one, nice variety. S'mores sound good if it's not too miserably hot around the fire pit.
I wouldn't do the Pork shoulder or sangria.

It all sounds perfect.

[dexteroni]

Caprese salad instead of vegetables - yes. Everyone likes it, some people are picky about some vegetables like eggplant, and grilled vegetables tend to go soggy pretty quickly. If you want to grill a couple veggies for your sister, that's fine and would be nice. One sliced zucchini and a couple small portobellos would be plenty for her, and easy. You could also make her a couple peppers with a non-meat stuffing.

Skip the pork shoulder.

S'mores - yes.

Apple pie - for $3, why not. Not necessary but the 4th of all days is the day to have apple pie. Or cherry.

I love sangria and always vote yes, but I agree that it's not necessary.

And I actually *would* make all of the dishes you listed. It's a great basic selection that people can flesh out with their potluck dishes.

ETA: Looking back over your menu, as long as your sister is vegetarian and not vegan, there's plenty for her. The stuffed peppers and grilled entrees are the only things that contain meat, and you'll have veggie burgers. If she's vegan I would definitely grill some veggies for her, and make her a dish of pasta salad without cheese. And if she's contributing to the buffet, that's another dish she'll eat.

[raangoli]

I vote pasta salad and s'mores.

[mbcdefg]

Thanks all!

dexteroni, Sis is not a vegan. She loves cheese (she actually gave that up for Lent in lieu of meat, lol).

@foodielicious, I'll probably be making that corn and black bean dip as well. My friends all love it! It's great as an appetizer, a salad, or on top of burgers!

[Deleted]

I'm a vegetarian and I love your menu. I prefer fake chicken patties to fake burgers. Obviously this is your sister's preference but if you're buying them I'd ask if she had a preference.
I'd think a salad would be better than grilled vegetables as PP said since they get soggy.
I had a stuffed cheese portobello mushroom burger. And the mushroom was marinated in a balsamic marinade before being placed on the grill. I die. I die. God it was good. I need to look at the restaurant's menu to see if I can recreate.
For the mini peppers, I usually stuff mine with goat cheese and wrap in prosciutto. For the vegetarians, I just don't wrap in prosciutto. They grill very well and are a hit.

[irene adler]

I was just going to suggest corn and black bean dip!

This menu sounds great. And yes to roasting marshmallows/smores

[winnied]

I agree re: the caprese pasta salad since grilled veggies get soggy fast. I vote s'mores AND apple pie because FREEDOM.

My Menu:

Chips & Guac
Jalapeno Goat Cheese Burgers on Brioche Buns
Beef Hot Dogs
Watermelon and Feta Salad
Roast Tomato Caprese Salad
Basil Corn Salad
Cherry Pie and Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

A few friends are brining another dip, mac n cheese, and another side/pasta salad situation. I can't wait! I love summer food.

[jennistarr1]

for your sangria...you can do blueberry's and strawberrys so it's red white and blue

I think your menu is great...and more than enough meat without pork

you have condiments right?

no keg...I don't think 20 people will kick a keg, it's better to have leftovers in cans/bottles and that allows you to get a variety

[winnied]

Jun 30, 2016 14:50:50 GMT -5 @foodielicious said:

winnied tell me more about this basil corn salad?

It's an Ina recipe - you can find it here. So great for summer!