Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Friday night help request: the not-so-potluck potluck
Note to self: "bring a side" is not good guidance for a group of singletons in their mid-20s.
Apparently no one in my class cooks. So today after class when they asked what to bring and I said, "just make whatever you feel like to go with grilled meat. If you were gonna buy something store-bought, just bring alcohol and I'll cook instead." Practically everyone kinda squeaked and said they had planned to bring chips and then said they'd bring alcohol. Oy.
Any time I've been involved in a potluck - work, friends, DH's boss, whatever - it's understood that you make something. Only one person, generally the 40yo bachelor, brings something store-bought...and no one touches it. And chips are never a side for a potluck lol
So, then, onto emergency meal planning. Estimated 16 people. (Oh, and I talked to kids guy: "you were just kidding about bringing your kids, right? because I have a non-tempered glass coffee table and dogs that get nervous around kids" and he said they'd found a sitter. Good!)
Apps: chips & salsa, crackers & dip & cheese
Entree: grilled chicken and steak
Confirmed side: twice-baked potatoes
Possible side: veggie tray
Confirmed dessert: homemade cake
Confirmed beverage: enough alcohol for us to swim away lol
Ladies, help me fill in the rest. I'll go grocery shopping tomorrow morning.
Re: Friday night help request: the not-so-potluck potluck
If it were me, I'd do a big green salad and then some kind of roasted vegetables (asparagus, broccoli, or cauliflower are my go-tos, easy to make a big sheet pan full of for a group).
It sounds like everyone in the group is more casual than the company you're used to, so I wouldn't let this stress you out.
Since your grilling anyway toss on some corn on the cob. Slice up a watermelon. My baked beans get rave reviews too- 3 to 4 cans of baked beans, 1 can whole berry cranberries, 4 slices of partially cooked bacon. Bake for an hour.
If you want another dessert I'd get some ice cream and a bowl of Hershey's kisses. Since they are all so casual nobody will care.
Yeah, I'd definitely go with grilled veggies as the other sides. If you really want, throw together an easy pasta salad.
For dessert, I'd go with ice cream and/or a fruit salad. If you're feeling ambitious and want to make something else, just do a batch of cookies.
I agree about doing a big green salad. This squash dish would also work. It has a whopping total of 6 ingredients and is really easy to make. You can serve it warm (I'd just do a low oven) or at room temp, I've found.
http://lechevre-thesoutherngourmand.blogspot.com/2009/09/feels-like-summer-is-winding-down.html
OMG. That's crazy! I'm sorry I didn't read this last night... I'm glad PITA got a baby sitter though.
Have Fun! and let us know how it goes
sides:
grilled corn on the cob
green salad
veggie kabobs