Cooking Need BBQ food ideas - appetizers and desserts

[CJK]

I'm hosting my annual family bbq next weekend, and I need some creative ideas for both appetizers and desserts. In the past, I've done veggies w/dip, nacho dip layers, tortilla pinwheels, etc.. I need a new idea, preferrably something I could do in advance. Also, any dessert ideas? I usually make an assortment of squares with one main dessert. I do this annually, so I'm running out of ideas! Thanks for any input! FYI - the ages of my guests range from 2 to 86!

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would add a big bowl of summer fruit like water mellon or stawberries!!

Also some fun ice cream treats for the kids is fun too.

 

[MazdaUK]

I make a big bowl of fruit salad (the lemony fruit salad recipe on Recipezaar is good), otherwise I make a sponge flan case (or two!), put some fruit all over the bottom - frozen is OK, or use raspberries, sliced strawberries or a mixture of what is to hand - then make up a suitable jello BUT (and this is the important bit) once you have dissolved it in the hot water, instead of topping up with cold put in ice cubes and stir until they melt and the jello starts to jell. Then spoon it evenly over the fruit - as it is so close to setting point it shouldn't soak through the sponge base. (You can use a bought sponge base but I don't think they taste very nice).

For starters is generally dips - houmous etc. - with chips and crudites. I've got a small kitchen and only a worktop-height single fridge so I can't have too much that needs chilling, as the fridge is full of the salads If you make the jelly dish on the day, as long as its not too hot it won't need to go in the fridge til you take the salads out.

 

[piratesmate]

How about something like an antipasto platter or hoagie dip? I nkow you've done the veggies & dip, so how about fruit & dip? Depending on how many people you're talking about, one of our favorite desserts is a fresh fruit taco. Of course that could be used as an appetizer also. If you have access to a couple crockpots/slow-cookers there are at least three different dessert recipes for desserts on the Crockpot Crazy thread. Although the list of ingredients & directions look, ummm... weird, they're good & are extremely easy to do.

 

[rhondadriscoll]

Look into something called chimichurri - I guarantee you will love it.

 

[MazdaUK]

There's a recipe for that from Disney - we had it at Coronado Springs

 

[Imzadi]

Here's some grilled fresh veggies & fruit recipes that look interesting:


Grilled Watermelon and Pineapple Skewers

Grilled Watermelon without all the sugar.

Easy Grilled Pineapple

Grilled Fennel and Orange Salad

 

[kimbac3]

I've made some ritz cracker bites. Melt mozerella in between two ritz crackers and use a marina sauce dip.
For dessert how about make your own sundaes. Fun to do and easy for you the hostess. Chocolate covered anything can be done in advance and brought out at dessert time.