June 2009 Weddings
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Side Dishes

I kind of volunteered to bring a side dish to a 4th of July picnic Saturday. But I have not one clue what to make. Since I don't eat the typical pasta salad/macaroni salad/whatever salad, I don't think I'd feel comfortable in MAKING such a thing. 

Any other ideas?  

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Lucy Elizabeth 10.27.12

Re: Side Dishes

  • ... if any of you suggest lemon bars you're gonna get it. 
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    Lucy Elizabeth 10.27.12
  • I was watching Food Network the other day and saw Ina Garten do a Greek-style panzanella that looked awesome. I think it'd be nice and light too, good for the hot weather.

     

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  • Oh, I forgot to add no things with cheese or vinegar-based anything. I think I'd throw up. 

    But thanks, KB. :)   

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    Lucy Elizabeth 10.27.12
  • You're killing me Smalls.
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  • Sorry! I'm a food weirdo. I fully admit it. Now you see why this is hard? Practically all picnic side dish things are full of things I hate. 
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    Lucy Elizabeth 10.27.12
  • MrsE20MrsE20 member
    fruit salad
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  • Chips & Guac.

    Buy the chips.

    Take an avocado. Take out the pit and skin it. Mash it up with a fork. Add onions, cilantro, peppers (fresh jalapenos are my fave), and lemon juice. Mix together.  

    Done and done.

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  • A fresh fruit salad? And if you're feeling crafty you could carve a little bowl/basket from the melon rind to make it puurdy.

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  • I was going to say fruit salad, too.

    What about baked beans? They don't have cheese or vinegar, lol.

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  • oops! i missed that MrsE already said fruit.

    These are fantastic, though they're more of an appetizer than a side dish: http://www.allrecipes.com//Recipe/bacon-wrapped-smokies/Detail.aspx 

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  • I would go with a green salad...

    Spinach + strawberries/blueberries/mandarin oranges + red onion + candied pecans - great with a poppyseed or raspberry vinaigrette dressing

    Romaine or mixed greens + corn + black beans + onions/jicama + tortilla strips - great with a spicy ranch or cilantro lime dressing

    Mixed greens + tomato + mozzarella + basil - great with an Italian or balsamic dressing

    Fruit salad would also be great. 

    As would grilled veggies - just marinate them in some Italian dressing or balsamic and grill them up.  They are great served at room temperature.

    Or do some sort of a potato dish - au gratin potato, roasted new potatos... it doesnt have to be potato salad.

    Do you like Asian coleslaw?  It does have vinegar but it doesnt taste vinegar-y and it takes 5 minutes to prepare.  2 packages ramen oriental flavor, 1 bag coleslaw or broccoli slaw mix, 1 cup canola oil, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup sugar.  Mix the oil, vinegar, sugar, and spice packets together.  Soak noodles about 5 minutes until soft and mix with cabbage mix.  Pour dressing over the top and sprinkle with slivered almonds or sunflower seeds. 

     

  • Thanks guys. I'll have to ponder all of your suggestions and figure out which one I have the least chance of screwing up. :-/ 
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    Lucy Elizabeth 10.27.12
  • The lazy route...Bush's baked beans or watermelon slices.
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  • hmmm, my go-to side is pesto pasta salad, but that's pasta and it has parmesian cheese in it, so I'm guessing that's out.

    My mom always did a fruit tray thus: buy a pineapple.  Cut off the top and reserve as a garnish.  Slice the body of the pineapple top to bottom into long wedges.  lie them skin side down.  cut off the hard core at the top of each wedge to make a flat canoe shape.  remove the skin of each canoe in one piece.  set the fruit back on the skin and pin every inch or two with toothpicks.  Slice between the toothpicks so that you have 6-8 chunks held onto the pineapple skin canoe.  arrange the canoes like sunrays around the top of the pineapple (It looks like a tree in the middle of your platter).  Feeling fancy?  Add cherries, blueberries, strawberry pieces or whatever berry-sized fruit you like on top of each pineapple chunk.  Then, when people pull out a toothpick they get a berry and a piece of pineapple.  You can also fill in the spaces between the pineapple rays with fruit - chunks of melon, apple slices, grapes, berries, whatever.

    Takes, like 10 minutes and people are always crazy impressed.

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