Can someone give me some suggestions please?

[Dutchie]

This coming Sat. we are throwing a 'come and say bye-bye' party for our daughter. She is leaving to go to London for a placement for 6 months. We have invited family friends/her friends/family and neighbors.
Whether the weather is good or not we will be grilling/bbq-ing (sorted out the inclement weather option).

I have the drinks sorted out and part of the food but I need a couple of more ideas.
They have to be simple, not expensive (for Holland) and use the grill/bbq if possible (dh just LOVES his toy).

There will be about 40 people.

I have planned already:

- hamburgers (with all the trimmings - rolls/fried onions/lettuce/
tomatoes/sauce etc.)
- a huge green salad with dressing
- a huge plate of mozzarella with tomatoes/basil and pesto
- homemade potato salad
- homemade potato and onion tortillas (my neighbor is bringing this)

I am looking for one or two more things from the grill/bbq that are easy and cheap and filling (not asking for much am I LOL?)

Dh wants to do hotdogs. But our hotdogs are the type that you just heat up and put with trimmings on a bread roll. The kind that you can buy here for the BBQ/grill aren't really all that good on a roll.

Also I am looking for ideas for an easy dessert. I can do tiramisu/trifle/cheap cream cake from the supermarket but these are the 'normal' things that I do. So if possible I would like some new ideas.
Can anyone help?

Thanks for any trouble taken!!
(((HUGS)))

[Palooka]

What about Kabobs for the grill? If you want more meat, you can do that and add a ton of veggies with that. Make different ones. Grilled peppers topped with cheese.

A fruit bowl, or even brownies or cookies pre-made. Cupcakes!

What about adding some dips, like hummus or salsa. But it sounds like you are pretty organized.

Congrats to your DD!

[Dutchie]

What about Kabobs for the grill? If you want more meat, you can do that and add a ton of veggies with that. Make different ones. Grilled peppers topped with cheese.

A fruit bowl, or even brownies or cookies pre-made. Cupcakes!

What about adding some dips, like hummus or salsa. But it sounds like you are pretty organized.

Congrats to your DD!

Thanks for the congratulations. She is getting more and more nervous about moving (making everyone's life a misery lol).

Great ideas thanks.
Regarding the peppers topped with cheese - how do you do make that? It seems like something I would love.

A fruit bowl is also something that I always make so would like to do something else if possible. I absolutely LOVE the idea of brownies.
(MMMMM warm brownies with ice cream - now you have me craving that.)

I really like the idea of the dips (would go great with the kabobs).
Thanks for the ideas.

[Palooka]

Well I didn't say what kind of peppers, did I.

Just the jalapenos kind, whatever you have, small. Just split them apart, take out the seeds and put on the grill. When they feel a little soft like you like, sprinkle some cheddar cheese until melted. OMG, so yummy, and you can make a great platter of these and the perfect finger food.

ETA, any kind you like will do. Just make sure to cut them small into strips.

[Englishlady]

For desert how about making mini cheese cakes using biscuit
cutting rings as the "mold" or to save time make a big one and cut out smaller ones using the aformentioned biscuit cutters?


I like vol au vonts (sp?) you can fill them with anything and they are great "finger food" for a party.


What a nice mam you are making party for your DD ((((hugs))))

[Dutchie]

Well I didn't say what kind of peppers, did I.

Just the jalapenos kind, whatever you have, small. Just split them apart, take out the seeds and put on the grill. When they feel a little soft like you like, sprinkle some cheddar cheese until melted. OMG, so yummy, and you can make a great platter of these and the perfect finger food.

ETA, any kind you like will do. Just make sure to cut them small into strips.

I'm liking this!! Easy and del.

[Dutchie]

For desert how about making mini cheese cakes using biscuit
cutting rings as the "mold" or to save time make a big one and cut out smaller ones using the aformentioned biscuit cutters?


I like vol au vonts (sp?) you can fill them with anything and they are great "finger food" for a party.


What a nice mam you are making party for your DD ((((hugs))))

Thank you.

Do you have an easy idea for the cheese cake since I LOVE it but I have never made it thinking it too difficult to make?

[Englishlady]

Well, I am Vegan so I make mine with a mixture of dairy free cream cheese and tofu and just add chocolate or whatever flavour I am wanting to make.

I have just googled "Cheese cake recipes" and lots came up too many for me to pick for you, but they seem pretty simple again the main ingredient is cream cheese ( dairy kind) the main difference is that non Vegan ones seem to have butter and eggs added.

The choice of base is the thing. I LOVE to make mine with crushed ginger biscuits as it adds a bit of oomph but most people use crushed digestives.

If you want to be really fancy you could crush chocolate digestives and make it a chocolate-on-chocolate one..... woah, getting all hungry now

The bottom line is the recipes all vary a little depending on choice of flavour and size so it isn't me being lazy not giving you an actual recipe ~ honest!

[Darlene]

How about grilling some veggies to put in those tortillas your neighbor is bringing?
Some fresh fruit, especially watermelon, would be a refreshing easily prepared ahead of time dessert.
Wishing your dd a wonderful adventure!

[Siebrie]

Put little cuts in a banana (peel on), then put little chocolate squares in them (from a tablet), wrap in aluminium foil and lay on the coal. Done after about 20 minutes. We usually do this after we've finished the meat, and the fire is dying.

You may want to check the time beforehand if you don't have a coal bbq.

[Ceashels]

Grilled pineapple rings, peaches and bananas
Grilled onions (can be sliced and put in a foil pouch with butter and garlic or a zesty seasoning and olive oil)

grilled zucchini, eggplant, peppers, asparagus, greenbeans, carrots (I would blanch the tougher veggies first)

What a wonderful memory to send your daughter off.

[Josephhgoins]

I agree with the grilled fruits, they taste awesome!

I usually half bananas long ways and sprinkle with Cinn/sugar and grill. The Peaches I just half and sprinkle and grill.

Have you thought of Smores? Fun for kids of all ages.

Grilled corn is good also as a side. I have a friend who pulls the shuck back, picks off the silk and then wraps the shuck back and grills that way. They are great as they are or with butter.

[Saule]

Grilled vegetables is my vote too - I once brought a selection of veggies to a party - green beans, zucchini, peppers, potatoes are good if you parboil them, scallions, asparagus, eggplant They should be sliced. Baby new potatoes parboiled and skewered are great. Make an herb oil - mix chopped fresh herbs with olive oil to brush on the veggies. The grilled veggies disappeared in a flash, even the green beans, which were an enormous surprise to folks.

Serve with flavored mayonnaise - things like aioli or green goddess type - chopped herbs or chipotle if that is available - or just some hot sauce stirred into mayo You don't need a lot of it, but a selection of flavored mayos would be nice.

[frugalfranny]

Wow....lots of ideas.......I have nothing to add for the ideas. But there are some great ones here!!

Just wishing your DD all the best.......and good luck.

Have fun at the party!!

[goldeneyez]

for the cheesecake idea, you can make them like cupcakes. You use the papers that are made for cupcakes, then I put a ginger snap cookie on the bottom and then drop a tablespoon or so on top of the cookie. You can then add a fruit topping like strawberries or raspberry and some whip cream. The cream cheese mixture softens the cookie if you make it the day before the party and they are yummo.