Budget friendly summer lunch for a crowd

[semo233]

We put in a pool last year and it's finally summer in New England!! I love having our family and friends over too! But I am getting sick of hot dogs and hamburgers! Our friends and family are great about bringing stuff to serve also. I'd like to keep a few things handy though for those unexpected afternoons.
What are some inexpensive easy hot day lunches to put together for visiting families?

 

[java]

Pasta salad?

Sandwich fixings?

I don't really know because honestly when we go to my friends pool I'm just happy to be there and I don't expect her to feed me.
We are heading there today and she is BBQing (chicken and ribs) but that's because it's the weekend. During the week we will just order in a pizza and call it a day!
We are bringing the "adult beverages" today. (Have to get on that!)

 

[Soulsearching]

You can always make different kinds of quiches and freeze them. Take one out in the morning the day company is coming over and let it defrost till ready to heat up. Serve with a salad and cut up fruit.

I always double the recipe and make large quiches.

Check out these recipes, quick and easy.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Quiche/Detail.aspx

 

[ChrisinNJ]

How about BBQ pulled pork sandwiches.

I put into a crockpot:

Pork (can be anything from a roast to picnic shoulder piece. I go for less expensive cuts for this because it cooks so long it is tender everytime). If it is a large piece, I cut it into smaller pieces & cut away as much fat & skin as possible.

1 bottle of favorite BBQ sauce (we like sweet baby rays)

any other seasonings you may like, salt, pepper, mustard seed, garlic, onion

and enough water to cover meat or almost fill crock.

Cook on low for 10 hours. I often cook this overnight.

When it is done, take out pieces of meat & shred them with 2 forks, and place them in a bowl or pot. Add more BBQ sauce to taste & some of the liquid it cooked in to make it moist, but not soupy.

Serve on crusty rolls with coleslaw, beans, corn...whatever you like. If you are having a party you can serve it from your crockpot on warm setting, but you may want to add extra liquid so it doesn't dry out.

Make a big batch...leftovers can be frozen & reheated for an easy meal another day.

 

[semo233]

How about BBQ pulled pork sandwiches.

I put into a crockpot:

Pork (can be anything from a roast to picnic shoulder piece. I go for less expensive cuts for this because it cooks so long it is tender everytime). If it is a large piece, I cut it into smaller pieces & cut away as much fat & skin as possible.

1 bottle of favorite BBQ sauce (we like sweet baby rays)

any other seasonings you may like, salt, pepper, mustard seed, garlic, onion

and enough water to cover meat or almost fill crock.

Cook on low for 10 hours. I often cook this overnight.

When it is done, take out pieces of meat & shred them with 2 forks, and place them in a bowl or pot. Add more BBQ sauce to taste & some of the liquid it cooked in to make it moist, but not soupy.

Serve on crusty rolls with coleslaw, beans, corn...whatever you like. If you are having a party you can serve it from your crockpot on warm setting, but you may want to add extra liquid so it doesn't dry out.

Make a big batch...leftovers can be frozen & reheated for an easy meal another day.

It's so funny that you posted this because this is the one thing I always have in the freezer!! I don't eat pork, neither does my daughter, but I make it for my DH and any friends that like it. It is Very inexpensive and real easy to prepare and freezes easily.

 

[disneycountrygirl]

I can suggest a budget friendly side dish for large crowds - you could probably easily feed 30 people with this. The key is having a Costco or the like near you. And the other key would be finding some sort of meat on sale to accompany it.

It's my absolute favorite salad - Strawberry Spinach Salad, and it's obviously everyone elses too as it is still rated a solid 5 out of 5 stars with 1028 reviews: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Strawberry-Spinach-Salad-I/Detail.aspx

Here's how much it costs me to make, purchasing at Costco:
2 foot long bag of spinach: 3.99 (that huge bag alone could feed 50 people)
5 lb box of strawberries: 4.99

I have all the rest of the stuff (that are staples for me) at home.

It's so yummy! If you make it, don't skimp on the sugar like I did the first time. Make the dressing exactly as listed.

 

[LKHomemail]

make chicken salad sandwiches , serve them on nice croissants with a little fruit

or do vegie kabobs

or maybe a pizza on the grill

 

[MoniqueU]

My husband won't let me near the grill even though it is a stove type one that you just turn on. We are having people over for labor day weekend and luckily my husband will let my male neighbor touch it. But when I can't do the grill I always do a stouffers lasagna and guacamole and chips.

 

[vicb]

My teen daughter said that at several graduation open houses she attended this summer the parents served sloppy joe bar. They had sloppy joe meat in a crock pot, buns then several toppings. I thought that was a good idea and something a lot of folks would like.

Along those lines you could do a taco bar, have meat, shells, tortillas, cheese, lettuce, tomates, salsa, sour cream... make your own.

Good luck.

 

[stsomewhere]

Baked potato bar

 

[TiffanyK]

Pasta Salad with grilled chicken

Hawaiin Cole Slaw or Quick Cole Slaw or Hashbrown Casserole to go with sandwiches.

Chicken Salad with Cheddar Muffins

Picnic Pita Pockets

It's nice to think that summer is not really over, even though the kids are back to school. I need to take time to really enjoy the rest of summer. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[semo233]

In the northeast, we don't go back to school for another two weeks or so. So, for us, it is still summer!

Great ideas everyone! Keep em coming!

 

[shortbun]

Travelling Tacos!!! Buy all frito little bags(Sams or Costco). Make taco meat, grate cheese, dice lettuce and tomatoes. Cut the top off the little frito bags and load up the taco ingredients-provide spoons and there you go!! This recipe was discussed earlier in the summer, I think it was on the Community Board by Papa Deuce. Maybe you can do a search and find some other methods or improved methods of making them.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

I thought this was a nice lunch at our cousin's yesterday...

She put out italian bread, breadsticks, crackers,
two different italian salami (soppresata), sliced mozzarella, roasted red peppers, pickled mushrooms, black and green olives, watermelon, cashews

we picked on that and it was so good

 

[TiffanyK]

Travelling Tacos!!! Buy all frito little bags(Sams or Costco). Make taco meat, grate cheese, dice lettuce and tomatoes. Cut the top off the little frito bags and load up the taco ingredients-provide spoons and there you go!! This recipe was discussed earlier in the summer, I think it was on the Community Board by Papa Deuce. Maybe you can do a search and find some other methods or improved methods of making them.

That sounds fun!

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

It's so funny that you posted this because this is the one thing I always have in the freezer!! I don't eat pork, neither does my daughter, but I make it for my DH and any friends that like it. It is Very inexpensive and real easy to prepare and freezes easily.

couldn't you substitute a cheap cut of beef for the pork?