How to Bring the Perfect Sidedish to a Party

Many people who are invited to a barbecue, block party, picnic or any other outdoor get-together typically wind up asking the host, "What should I bring?" Eliminate this question--and the brainwork behind it--by finding the right side dish to bring to any occasion. Read on to learn how to bring the perfect side dish to a party.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Knowledge of the event
• Knowledge of what the main dish(es) will be
• A recipe or two that has netted good feedback
• An easy way to transport and serve that recipe

1. Determine the theme or environment of the get-together. Pay special attention to details like how many people are coming, the proper attire, time of day, location and the main dishes of the get-together.

2. Think about the weather and how easy it will be to transport and serve a dish at this occasion. Keep in mind how hot it will be, if you have the proper containers and serving pieces for this dish, if the dish will be hard for people to eat while standing up (for example, if you bring soup then they'll have to use both hands to eat it and, therefore, won't be able to enjoy any other food during that time) and if you will have to do any preparation or freshening of the dish at the party site.

3. Think about a few dishes you make that have gotten rave reviews. Determine if any of these dishes are party appropriate.

4. Creating a unique salad (Chinese chicken salad, caprese salad, spinach and artichoke salad), cold pasta dish (a summertime pasta salad, a cold version of a stuffed ravioli) or mini versions of popular American foods (sliders, one-meatball sandwiches) are always popular at outdoor get-togethers.

5. Go online to Web sites like All Recipes to search for a recipe by ingredient or by type of dish.

6. Make your dish in large quantities and try not to add too many unique, spicy, herby or tangy ingredients, as these tastes may turn people off from your dish. Many people do not like to experience these types of culinary surprises when they're eating a familiar food.

7. Keep an eye on your dish throughout the get-together to see how many people try it and go back for seconds. If possible, also try to gauge the guests' reactions to your dish as they take their first couple of bites. At the end of the party, note how much of your dish is left to see if this is a recipe that could become an outdoor get-together favorite.

Tips & Warnings

• When you're setting up your dish, note how many other dishes on the table are similar to yours. If you bring a salad and you see that there are four other similar-looking salads sitting next to yours, you may want to opt for a pasta dish next time. To ensure this doesn't happen, you can always ask the host what other guests have volunteered to bring and what types of dishes he still needs help with.