First sorry about the loss of your dad. If you do not like to cook I would cater especially if you are having a family clan come to your house. I only used them several times but TRIGGS café in Humble is really great about coming up with a feast with many sides.

Good for you lynnsgirl...I am thinking here for you....if you doing BBQ, then it should be ez breezy for ya...got the pot salad, devil eggs then go for baked beans, cold slaw..throw in a few sweets and you have a feast! I am sure there will be some tasty suggestions here for you....I will keep thinking also.added note...I like cpc210's idea...get it catered! More fun, less stress and more time with the fam!

Or ask each family to bring an appropriate side, enough to feed however many people you think will be there.

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese, simple and delicious!1 12 oz can evaporated milk
1 cup regular milk
1 stick of butter
8oz elbow macaroni (I like the smaller ones, the medium get too big!)
dash of salt
1 block of Velvetta cheese cut up in cubes
5 slices of American cheesePut all ingredients in crock pot while macaroni cooks. After macaroni cooks put in crock pot on LOW and cook for about 3 hours. It is simple and delicious!!! Good luck and God Bless!

@Bearfin: omg ...I am gonna use this one MYSELF! Thanks!

@cbp210: Thank u
Hubby ques real well and I'm cooking sides just need some simple side recipes and casserole dishes to serve along

Lots of great sides for BBQ!Tomato and Onion Salad - Just slice up some ripe tomatoes and sweet Vidalia onions, then make a dressing (about 1/4 cup olive oil to 2 T of white or red wine vinegar...about a T of white sugar, salt & pepper and toss all together and let marinade for a couple of hours. Serve on a big platter and sprinkle the top with chopped, fresh basil).You have to do coleslaw with BBQ. Easiest thing in the world to make. If you don't want to shred your own cabbage, etc., just buy a bag of coleslaw mix. Mix about 1/2 cup of mayo with 2 T or so of white wine vinegar, 1 heaping T of sugar, a little garlic powder salt/pepper to taste and toss with the slaw. I always add thinly sliced red onion to mine, plus a little celery seed and some cayenne pepper (we like it spicy). Tons of recipes online.Baked/BBQ beans in a crockpot. IMO, not necessary to use dried beans and go through all that...just dump a bunch of cans (drained) of pinto beans (or pork and beans) and add your own spices/sugars. (usually molasses, brown sugar, mustard/ketchup, diced onions, apple cider vinegar, bacon, etc.). Tons of recipes online for ideas....throw it all in a crock pot and keep it on until hot and ready to serve. (Google Baked Beans Recipe Using Canned Beans.)I've been hooked on this weird salad the last few times we've BBQ'd...sounds weird, but it's so good! Just cut up some watermelon into small cubes, then toss with crumbled feta cheese, very thinly sliced white onion, and a little chopped/fresh mint leaves. Make a little vinaigrette out of olive oil and red wine vinegar, salt/pepper, pinch of sugar and mix well, then pour over the watermelon/onion/mint. You can substitute torn arugula (love that stuff - has a peppery little bite) if you're weirded out by the mint. Yummy! What about corn on the cob? Just boil it!

Also, broccoli rice casserole goes great with bbq...you can make it the day before and just reheat before dinner.

Great ideas I want to do most of the mixing on wed ready to bake on ThursdayThanks so much I'm getting a lil happy over this

Those Dump cakes are quick and ez also...you know the ones that you just put a yellow cake mix, dump in the canned fruit and sliced butter ...HEB has an awesome strawberry/whipped creme pie usually around the holidays with a dollar coupon off...very light.

Lots of green salad and garlic bread - good French bread.

Brownies - everyone loves Brownies and you can make the day before.Duncan Hines decadent brownie mix is good. They look neat when you cut them with a wet plastic knife after they cool.

Bump

Hey lynnsgirl...hope you are feelin' much better now!How bout Chocolate Delight for an easy dessert....CHOCOLATE DELIGHT
Crust...mix 1 cup flour, 1 cup pecans and 1 stick butter together and then pat in the bottom of a 9x12 pan. Back on 350 until browned...usually 10 to 15 minutes and then cool...I usually make my crust the night before so it has plenty of time to cool.LAYERS....Mix 8 oz. of Philadelphia Cream Cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar and one tub of cool whip...then layer that on top of the cooled crustNext...Mix one package of Instant Chocolate Pudding and one package of Instant Vanilla Pudding with 3 cups of cold milk...That will then be spread on top of the last layer...FINALLY ... top the whole thing with one tub of cool whip and refrigerate! ENJOY!

oops on that CRUST...shoulda been one stick MELTED Butter!