Menu help?

[bullygirl979]

We are doing a family reunion in a couple of weeks and I've been tasked with menu planning and menu assignment. What do you all think about this? The mains we are getting catered and the sides will be prepared by me, my sister and my mom. My goal is that no one has to actually be cooking during this event and we can all just relax.

Mains:
Pulled pork
BBQ Brisket

Sides:
Ambrosia salad (don't ask. My mother is insisting on making this)
Macaroni salad
Baked beans or a bean salad of some sort
Mustard based coleslaw
Veggie dish (either salad or cajun corn)
Corn bread

Thoughts? You think I need another side? I'm trying to balance BBQ theme with some fairly healthy options. My mother suggested four dishes that were all mayo-based and I had to squash that. Also, dessert is a given, which is why it isn't listed here

[tiramisu]

It all sounds good! I'm not a coleslaw fan, but I know lots of people like it. If you wanted one more BBQ type side, what about a more German-style potato salad? I think it's also mustard based.

It all sounds like it goes pretty well together and is doable. Cajun corn sounds really interesting, so maybe a salad *and* Cajun corn instead of a potato salad.

[bullygirl979]

tiramisu, Cajun corn is really big here. Don't ask me why. All the BBQ places serve it as a side (along with mustard based coleslaw, lol). I'll look at the potato salad recipes--thanks!

[udscoobychick]

Yum. The big question is, where is the BBQ catered from?!

Hot sauce for the mac salad, for sure! I'd give you a recipe, but I haven't conned my godfather's secret recipe out of him yet...he supposedly got it from one of the places up there that's best known for it. There's a few recipes online that look reasonably authentic. It reheats well, so you can totally make it ahead of time (and freeze leftovers for your next cookout).

A vinegar-based cucumber salad (with or without tomatoes and/or onions) would still kinda fit the BBQ theme but be light. I feel like with the pasta salad and cornbread, that's a decent amount of carbs (especially since corn and beans are kinda carb-y veggies), so I lean toward a green veggie, rather than potatoes. A sweet potato salad might be a good compromise, though.

And I adore ambrosia salad lol.

[bullygirl979]

udscoobychick, that is a good idea! And I'm more LOLing about the ambrosia salad because my mom thinks it's a healthy dish.

[neonpink]

I like the cucumber salad idea.Something to cut the bbq sauce.