Afternoon Girlfriends GTG - Suggestions?

[BethIrish]

Hi Ladies!

I'm having a few of my girlfriends over tomorrow (about 8 of us) and I need some help on what to serve. It's going to be hot, so I don't want to have to turn on the stove.

They are coming over at 2. We're going to just hang out on my back deck with munchies & frozen drinks etc. I wanted to serve something more substantial around 5 or 6, before we head out to another party where there will be munchies and drinks, but no real dinner.

So far I've thought of:

spinach dip w/baked pita chips
salsa & chips (or maybe seven layer dip? )
veggies & dip


and for "more substantial" I was thinking of grilled chicken and....

Any input would be great!!! I don't want to make too much food, but I definitely want to have enough to eat! :)

[bookworm]

Those sound good!

I might add a fruit tray or fruit salad (refreshing in the hot weather). For the chicken, I'd probably just serve it over a green salad, maybe with a citrus vinaigrette, and pick up some good crusty bread from the bakery.

[Juliana]

What you have so far sounds great! One idea I had that is super easy, yummy, and best of all, requires little if any cooking, is a tomato, avocado, corn salad from Paula Dean's recipe book. Here it is if you're interested:

Corn, Avocado & Tomato Salad
Serves 4 to 6

2 cups cooked corn, fresh or frozen
1 avocado, diced into ½-inch pieces
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup finely diced red onion

Dressing:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
½ teaspoon grated lime zest
¼ cup chopped cilantro
¼ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

1. Combine the corn, avocado, tomatoes, and onion, in a large glass bowl.
2. Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a glass bowl or measuring cup. Pour over the salad and toss gently to mix.

Easy, easy easy!! I also second bookworm's suggestion of fruit- maybe you could cut them up in small pieces and put them on some wooden skewers for fruit kabobs!

[BethIrish]

Thanks for the suggestions ladies! I think I'll marinate the chicken is some type of citrusy marinade (any suggestions?) and have a green salad with a similar dressing. That salad sounds great, Juliana!

So, I'm going to have munchies mentioned above. Grilled chicken, tossed salad, avocado salad. I think I'll do fruit skewers of fresh pineapple, strawberries and melon and have a yogurt dipping sauce.

For drinks I'm going to do a slushy (nonalcoholic) strawberry lemonade (I'll have vodka to add if they want), margaritas, white sangria and some sweet tea. :D

Yay! I'm so excited...our husbands are all off camping so we're having a fun girly day :D

[jarm]

Have tons of fun! I need a day like that...without the DH and the DD!