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View Full Version : Which June CL salad for family BBQ? Or other suggestions?



CompassRose
05-29-2004, 09:41 AM
A.'s family is getting together for a big potluck reunion BBQ next week, and after I'd racked my brain over what to bring -- the June CL arrived!

So I think a salad. I see three very likely candidates.

White Bean, Tomato, and Green Bean Salad
Couscous-Chickpea Salad with Ginger-Lime Dressing
Orzo-Bell Pepper Salad (only I might make it with barley instead)
Or maybe even the Sesame Farfalle with Roasted Tofu, to give A. some non-dead protein options

I know someone made the Orzo salad already and liked it -- any thoughts on the others? Part of the family contingent will be the usual frozen-dinner unadventurous-with-small-fast-food-eating-kids branch of A.'s family tree, but (fortunately for me and conversation) the interesting, artistic side will be coming as well. They will probably eat anything, even the tofu, while the others won't touch anything that looks even the slightest bit strange...

so what should I do? Go with a crowd-pleaser? Or please myself? And which one would likely be the crowd-pleaser?

I also thought I'd make a sweet. A.'s mother is making a cake, but I contemplated either a pie (reduced in fat) with a custard filling and either apples or some other fruit (depending what I can find) and a streusel topping. Or else, I could make Galaktobourekos -- I ran into this as I was looking through Richard Sax's Classic Home Desserts seeking pies. It's that Greek pastry thing, kind of like baklava only with a creamy cream-of-wheat custard filling and syrup topping. I could reduce the fat in that pretty easily too, and it would be exciting and be easy to make in a mungous panful.

But will anyone eat it? That is the question.

I'm so bad at this. My tastes are so off the wall, even what I think is "safe" is just as likely to get conspicuously ignored at this kind of gathering, and I SO do not want to be dragging home big sad pots of wallflower food. :(

golden1225
05-29-2004, 10:32 AM
The White Bean, Tomato, and Green Bean Salad and the Couscous-Chickpea Salad with Ginger-Lime Dressing are both on my list to make this weekend. If you make them first, let me know! I will post my review afterwards as well.
What about the Sweet Potato Trifle - I saw there was a thread on it but haven't read it yet. Someone from our supper club is contemplating making it for our next get-together.
Good luck with your BBQ!

:)

wallycat
05-29-2004, 10:53 AM
I didn't see the June issue.
My all-time favorite is still the Southwestern Bean salad I've posted here before.

Kathy B
05-29-2004, 11:01 AM
I am also planning to make the White Bean, Tomato and Green Bean Salad this weekend. I think that might be a good choice for you, as it is similar to a bean salad (common at potlucks and BBQs) so maybe the non-adventurous would still eat it. Not TOO different, but different enough to please the rest as well.

patsyk
05-31-2004, 10:46 AM
I made the White Bean, Tomato & Green Bean Salad this weekend and it was very good... definitely something I would take along to a BBQ or summer potluck.

CompassRose
05-31-2004, 11:03 AM
thanks! I saw your review. I did think that might be the best bet.