Sides with macaroni cheese?

[bumchic]

Got big group coming to us after a day out a football match for dinner this weekend. Planning to do a big macaroni cheese but not sure what sides.

Garlic bread? (Will we need more carbs?)
Salad? (Not much nice salad veg in season)
Coleslaw? (too creamy?)
Steamed veg? (Which ones? How to keep warm while everyone serving themselves?)

Garlic bread and salad if the crowd is posh enough to need it.

I’d go for Bajan style:
Mac pie, coleslaw, rice and peas, tossed salad
jerk chicken or blackened fish for any non vegetarians
Yummy!

Something green, I would probably do a green salad with french dressing or some tenderstem broccoli, or maybe some green beans. Then some crusty bread or garlic bread on the side as well. Some battered onion rings would go nicely too.

In that case, @bumchic, I’d:

. Open a jar of pickled beetroot
. Put a couple of tins of sweetcorn on to simmer
. Fry or bake some tomatoes
. Fry some mushrooms or simmer a tin of mushrooms
. <controversial> Open a jar of black olives
. Put salt and pepper on the table
. Have some bread

It doesn’t have to turn into Fallow. It’s footie afters.

Vegetarian chicken bites and vegan bacon lardons for a little crispiness, broccoli, peas and green beans in an alforno sauce that can be heated at the same time as macaroni. Roast cauliflower, Stuffed mushrooms and always garlic bread for those who enjoy it.

Throughout the years I've been on Mumsnet I have often found your replies well considered and I have found myself agreeing with you on many topics and even if I haven’t, I have understood your point perfectly and would imagine in real life you are a very good person. I always liked you.
Until I read you aren’t a double carber. I fear I may have gotten you all wrong with this one sided possibly parasocial relationship I have created here.

MTP, garlic bread with cheese always belongs with pasta.
Crisps always belong with a sandwich.
Curry always requires rice and chapatti.
Roast dinners always require roast potatoes and yorkshires.
Chinese food - noodles/rice and chips with your curry sauce.
English breakfast needs toast and hash browns.
Chips generally are a welcome addition to any dish.

HTH 😁

Salad
pigs in blankets
green beans
roasted gammon joint
garlic mushrooms and spinach

Proper LOL.

Bonus points for ‘one-sided, possibly parasocial…’.

OK fine, I have (fucking hell I can’t believe I’m admitting this) sometimes enjoyed chips with lasagne. Now I have to apologise to everyone in Italy. I hope you’re happy!

😂

Roasted veg with garlic.

😉

Macaroni cheese isn’t a side to me, it’s a main, just like any other pasta dish!
Also definitely think garlic bread is fine, it’s so normal to have garlic bread with pasta surely. I’d do garlic bread and a big side salad, like the idea of baked tomatoes that someone suggested. I love chorizo in a Mac n cheese but I know you’ve said it has to be veggie. Could you do some honey covered chorizo on the side for the non veggies?

MrsTerry, you really have to sample a Scottish macaroni pie. That’s macaroni cheese encased in a (preferably) watercrust pastry.

When I’m back there (showing DD the Auld Country [according to her granddad]) I will!

Roast ham and a green veg or crispy salad. MIL loves tomatoes with it.

Double carbs are great! Garlic bread and salad, and sometimes I have veggie sausages.

Boiled sprouts, and lots of them, for the delicious bitterness to cut through the fattiness of the mac n cheese.

Chicken goujons

I’d go for corn ribs, slaw, salad. I would do some breaded chicken or similar on the side for protein perhaps?

then a massive chocolate cake.

I’d do a slightly spicy tomato salad: vine tomatoes, spring or red onions, garlic, parsley or coriander, squeeze of lemon.

You have to know your audience, but generally we’d do a big crunchy green salad and maybe garlic bread. Or lots of green veg. I think salad likely easier for a crowd.