Not sure if you are looking for hot or cold side dishes/salads. So here are a few ideas:

No-Fuss Party Potatoes (Slow Cooker)

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
4 1/2 ounces chopped green chiles
1 1/2 cups shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
32 ounces frozen hash brown cubes -- Southern style
3 green onions -- sliced
1/2 cup nacho flavored taco chips -- finely crushed


Spray 4 to 6 quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. In medium bowl, combine soup, sour cream, chiles and cheese; mix well. Arrange half of potatoes in sprayed slow cooker. Top with half of sour cream mixture; spread evenly. Top with remaining potatoes and sour cream mixture; spread evenly. Cover; cook on high setting for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours. Just before serving, sprinkle top with onions and chips.

Make Ahead Tip: Cook the potatoes ahead; keep them warm on low setting for up to 2 hours. Add the chips just before serving.


Strawberry Spinach Salad (A family favorite for the past several years - from another PG I belonged to)

1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup vegetable/canola oil
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons seasame seeds
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 (12 oz) package fresh spinach, torn
2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced

Combine sugar, oil, vinegar, onion, paprika, salt and Worcestershire sauce in a blender. Process until smooth. Pour into a salad dressing cruet. Add sesame and poppy seeds and shake well.

Rinse spinach; pat dry. Combine with strawberries in a large bowl. Add dressing before serving; toss lightly. Serves 8.

(to make this a more substantial *meal* I'll add grilled cubed chicken some times ).



Other Ideas:
When I have large family gatherings and not much time to pull a lot of dishes together, I'll often do a big veggie tray (that includes a lot of color w/ sliced yellow/red/orange peppers, cherry tomatoes, cauliflower, carrots, snap peas etc). I generally make one hot and one cold dip to go with (if you'd like some recipes/suggestions here just let me know).

Also, I cube and skewer fruit - ALWAYS a huge hit! For the fruit skewers I like to use tropical as well as regular fruits and berries for a prettier presentation (and of course it tastes great! ). Not always, but every so often I'll put a fruit dip with the skewers.

Both the fruit and veggie trays are done using the big silver party serving trays so that I can accommodate larger crowds.

Thanks everyone I have some great ideas and recipes to follow now.

I dont have any recipes....just wanted to say GOOD LUCK!