Please help me think of side dishes for grad party!
06-12-2012, 08:32 AM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Illinois
Posts: 909
I'd go for a cold fruity dish of some sort. The Watergate salad or the orange jell-o salad that was mentioned on another thread.
A salad I make alot I call Dad's Fruit Salad (cuz he liked it)
1 lg. can fruit cocktail w/juice
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1 sm can pineapple tidbits, drain but save the juice (if salad seems to thick)
1 sm. box vanilla instant pudding
1/2 box lemon instant pudding.
Mix all together and refrigerate.
Can be made the day before and the best part is that it thickens up and doesn't run around on the plate (popular with kids
A salad I make alot I call Dad's Fruit Salad (cuz he liked it)
1 lg. can fruit cocktail w/juice
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1 sm can pineapple tidbits, drain but save the juice (if salad seems to thick)
1 sm. box vanilla instant pudding
1/2 box lemon instant pudding.
Mix all together and refrigerate.
Can be made the day before and the best part is that it thickens up and doesn't run around on the plate (popular with kids
06-12-2012, 11:30 AM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Posts: 627
Seafood Salad - cook up about 2 cups of the mini seashell macaroni until al dente. Drain, and rinse with cold water. Let cool. Meanwhile, cut up 1-2 stalks of celery (fine), one small onion, and a few radishes for color. Cut up one package of the imitation crab meat. Salt and pepper to taste, add about 2 tsp. of Old Bay Seasoning, mix in mayo until all is combined and enjoy with some club crackers.
06-12-2012, 03:01 PM
#24
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Florida - formerly Montana
Posts: 3,504
Seafood Salad - cook up about 2 cups of the mini seashell macaroni until al dente. Drain, and rinse with cold water. Let cool. Meanwhile, cut up 1-2 stalks of celery (fine), one small onion, and a few radishes for color. Cut up one package of the imitation crab meat. Salt and pepper to taste, add about 2 tsp. of Old Bay Seasoning, mix in mayo until all is combined and enjoy with some club crackers.
06-12-2012, 03:11 PM
#25
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,827
I didn't see this suggestion ... because of his age, and that this new grad is of the male variety .... I bet he'd be most appreciative of his Auntie if she were to include in the menu plans .... a keg of beer!!!!! 
06-12-2012, 03:30 PM
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Posts: 1,987
"Kitchen Sink" pasta salad.....cook up a box of any kind of pasta, add a small bag of shredded cheddar, canned olives (drained), any kind of raw veggies in small pieces, a jar of bacon bits and whatever else sounds good, then pour about 2/3 bottle of zesty Italian dressing over it all....make it a day or two ahead and then stir in the last of the dressing at serving time. Different every time but good no matter what you do it it.
Easy Cobbler....in a 9 x 13 pan, spread two cans of cobbler fruit filling. Sprinkle a box of dry cake mix over it all, breaking up large lumps with your fingers. Slice two sticks of butter over it all and arrange evenly. Bake at 350 for about 45-50 minutes or until browned and all cake mix is moistened. Use the cake/fruit flavors that you like.....ours are butter cake with blueberry, apple or peach with spice cake and cherry with devil's food cake. I usually make two or three of these at a time for parties, in different flavors.
Easy Cobbler....in a 9 x 13 pan, spread two cans of cobbler fruit filling. Sprinkle a box of dry cake mix over it all, breaking up large lumps with your fingers. Slice two sticks of butter over it all and arrange evenly. Bake at 350 for about 45-50 minutes or until browned and all cake mix is moistened. Use the cake/fruit flavors that you like.....ours are butter cake with blueberry, apple or peach with spice cake and cherry with devil's food cake. I usually make two or three of these at a time for parties, in different flavors.
06-12-2012, 04:03 PM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 572
What about a pot of chili. That is always good. If you have small bags of chip and then they can put chili on the chips in the bag and than top with shredded cheese. It is really good and simple to make.
06-12-2012, 04:25 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Western New York
Posts: 524
Rigatoni , can prepare ahead of time and then put it in the crock pot (use a little extra sauce, then it won't dry out in the crock pot), sliced french bread and butter
Good old toss green and watermelon is always a hit.
Your a loving Aunt with a kind heart.
Good old toss green and watermelon is always a hit.
Your a loving Aunt with a kind heart.
06-13-2012, 06:10 AM
#30
Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 56
My niece asked two years in advance of her grad party for my homemade cheese potatoes:
Peel, slice and cook potatoes. Put one layer in crockpot, dot with margarine, sliced Velveeta cheese, sprinkle with a good measure of dried minced onions, small amount of milk, repeat, top with cheddar and dried chives. Crumbled bacon, bacon bits, or small chunks of ham are also good mixed in. Can be made the day before and warmed on party day. And can be baked @ 325 degrees if you don't want to use a crockpot. The onions are what make the potatoes taste so good (even better cold the next day according to my guys).
And my grandsons always want my lazy mom's fruit salad for EVERY occasion:
Large can of fruit cocktail - drained
Large can of pineapple - drained
Large can of mandarin oranges - drained
Seedless grapes
Several apples (your favorite but Gala are good) - cut into bite-sized pieces
Dump everything into a very large bowl, add 1 large bag of mini marshmallows and 2 cups of sour cream or plain yogurt.
Can also add canned peaches and pears cut into bite sizes pieces. Or anything else your family likes. But for some reason, my grandsons and one son refuse any other fruit salad and will eat this (and nothing else) until it is gone.
Peel, slice and cook potatoes. Put one layer in crockpot, dot with margarine, sliced Velveeta cheese, sprinkle with a good measure of dried minced onions, small amount of milk, repeat, top with cheddar and dried chives. Crumbled bacon, bacon bits, or small chunks of ham are also good mixed in. Can be made the day before and warmed on party day. And can be baked @ 325 degrees if you don't want to use a crockpot. The onions are what make the potatoes taste so good (even better cold the next day according to my guys).
And my grandsons always want my lazy mom's fruit salad for EVERY occasion:
Large can of fruit cocktail - drained
Large can of pineapple - drained
Large can of mandarin oranges - drained
Seedless grapes
Several apples (your favorite but Gala are good) - cut into bite-sized pieces
Dump everything into a very large bowl, add 1 large bag of mini marshmallows and 2 cups of sour cream or plain yogurt.
Can also add canned peaches and pears cut into bite sizes pieces. Or anything else your family likes. But for some reason, my grandsons and one son refuse any other fruit salad and will eat this (and nothing else) until it is gone.
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