Looking for easy, make ahead, crowd pleasing "pool party" food for baby's 1st BD!

[IvyandLace]

My sweet baby girl is turning one on Saturday, May 25th, and my husband and I are holding a small family birthday party at our home. We have an in-ground pool and want this get-together to be as casual as possible...but still special too! I just don't want OR need any additional stress so I am trying to find some crowd pleasing recipes for summer foods that I can make ahead as much as possible. We have a "cupcake" theme so I will be making cupcakes for dessert and possible a strawberry pie. We have decided to just grill hot dogs, and I will do the requisite veggie tray with dip, chips, fruit and deviled eggs. What other ideas do you guys have out there?

Thanks!!
IVY

 

[MeeskaMomma]

I was recently at a luncheon where someone brought the most amazing watermelon salad. It sounds weird but it was amazing. It had watermelon, jalapeño, feta, and basil. It my have had mint in it to. I can't wait to have a bar b que so I can try to make it!

 

[cluvsdisney]

Pulled pork or chicken in the crock pot can be prepared ahead and served right from the crock pot. I'd probably do chicken since you're already serving hot dogs.

 

[JeRmS]

We love Sausage and Peppers

3-4 packs of Italian Sauasage - we use the mild but you can use sweet or hot depending on your crowd. 3-4 packs should be 15-20 sausages total so you may need more depending on party size. - Cut them in 1/2

2-3 large onions - cut them in rings, and then cut the rings in half so you have 1/2 moons.

3-4 large Greeen/Red Peppers - cut them in strips

2-3 large cans of Tomato Sauce

5-6 garlic cloves Minced

Salt & Pepper, Oregano, Garlic Powder, Onion powder

Open your sauce and season with S&P, Oregano, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder

Mix all the sausage, peppers, onions and minced garlic in a large Tin Pan. Cover with the Tomato Sauce and bake covered until done.

We serve them with Chicago Rolls and Parm Cheese!!!

We usually make a huge tray and they are always gone, but if not leftovers are good too!

 

[wiigirl]

Pulled pork or chicken in the crock pot can be prepared ahead and served right from the crock pot. I'd probably do chicken since you're already serving hot dogs.

Pulled pork is always a croud pleaser!

 

[skw444]

What about side items like potato salad, broccoli salad or baked beans? All make ahead items.

 

[teacup princess]

Soak some sweet corn in water and then grill it on the grill, slice some watermelon wedges, make a salad of some sort and you're done. Added to your already mentioned menu of hot dogs, chips, veggies, and deviled eggs, I think that's plenty.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Cole slaw is an easy make / buy ahead and goes well with dogs and bbq.

Not as easy, but a fantastic summer entertaining treat is strawberry jello pretzel salad. My kids and cousins and their kids line up for this one, and I took it to the teacher luncheon at school and got chided b/c it ran out before my kids' teachers had their lunch...

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/strawberry-pretzel-salad-2/

I use this recipe, but I cut the sugar by about 1/3 all the way around (no-one misses it). I buy a large bag of frozen (NOT sugared) strawberries at WM, thaw half and cut them up. This guarantees that it gets made again soon. You can also buy tubs of already cut up frozen strawberries - these will make your salad too sweet, as they have sugar added already. Don't buy the low-fat versions of the dairy; the recipe won't work out as well.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Pasta Salad is nice and you could add cheese if you wanted to make it an entree in case someone does not eat hot dogs. Does you little person eat hot dogs, or will they be other babies that parents may not give them hot dogs or chips yet? Maybe some plain pasta and some plain cheese from the pasta salad with the fruit would be great for the little ones.

 

[minnie1012]

We have family over every year for a pool party for my daughter. For appetizers I do these Mexican pinwheels or a taco dip, spinach dip and sometimes artichoke dip then veggies etc. For the main I usually try to change it every year a bit, I have done sausage and peppers, pulled pork, cocktail meatballs and BBQ chicken. Most can be done ahead of time and I have my own stereo racks & a crockpot for easy heating. i have also done mac & cheese & baked beans. Also for sides i have done a green salad, coleslaw, peaches with fresh mozzarella & basil, pasta salad ,couscous salad.

 

[mmaikisch]

We love to do cooler corn on the cob. Its so easy too! Give your cooler a good wash and scrub, then lay out your corn on the cob. Poor two pots of boiling water over your corn. Close the lid of the cooler and let your corn sit for about 30 minutes. Voila!! The corn comes out perfectly cooked and should be able to sit and remain a good temperature, for a couple of hours.

 

[Halle]

Chck out Paula Deen's recipes on Food Nemtwork .com, she has some wonderful, easy make ahead recipes. Corn salad, coleslaw with dried cranberries and roasted almonds are two that come to mind. Happy Birthday to your little one.

 

[McKelly]

I think what you are serving sounds like enough already. However, in the event someone doesn't like hot dogs, I would maybe do a pasta salad with meat/cheese that could also serve as the "main dish" and be filling enough in case someone doesn't want a hot dog. I like this one and it can be made ahead.......in fact you SHOULD make it ahead, it tastes better when it sits overnight!

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Deli-Style-Pasta-Salad-3

 

[zilp]

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/strawberry-pretzel-salad-2/

I use this recipe, but I cut the sugar by about 1/3 all the way around (no-one misses it). I buy a large bag of frozen (NOT sugared) strawberries at WM, thaw half and cut them up. This guarantees that it gets made again soon. You can also buy tubs of already cut up frozen strawberries - these will make your salad too sweet, as they have sugar added already. Don't buy the low-fat versions of the dairy; the recipe won't work out as well.

I was intrigued by the name and looked at your link. I will definitely try this recipe! Thanks for sharing your modifications, I like the fact that you add less sugar.

 

[sarah4770]

You could bake a ham the day before and serve it cold with the usual sides.. baked beans, potatoe salad or pasta salad, etc.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

I was intrigued by the name and looked at your link. I will definitely try this recipe! Thanks for sharing your modifications, I like the fact that you add less sugar.

You will not regret it, unless you get tired of making it every time you have a gtg planned!

 

[IvyandLace]

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions!!! Looking forward to good food and lots of great memories for M's 1st BD!!!

IVY

 

[Minnesota!]

I was recently at a luncheon where someone brought the most amazing watermelon salad. It sounds weird but it was amazing. It had watermelon, jalapeño, feta, and basil. It my have had mint in it to. I can't wait to have a bar b que so I can try to make it!

Recipe, possibly?

OP - I would do a taco dip platter with tortilla chips, beans, and maybe a pasta salad. Real casual

 

[Whyowhy116]

Pretzel jello is to die for!! . For our pool parties we always make duck dip. It is equal parts duck sauce and cream cheese, beat with mixer until smooth then served with fritos corn chips (for the salty/sweet). I buy 1 big (and cheap) container of duck sauce for the summer, and I'm all set for at least 4 batches of dip! It's always a hit and nobody ever guesses what the ingredients are. Simple, cheap and delicious!