If you were going to a potluck dinner, what would you make?

[bobcat]

There's a community one in a couple days, and I could use a suggestion.
I was thinking perhaps a pot of chili, but no way to keep it warm, since I got rid of my slow cooker.

 

[Pinky]

Hawaiian meatballs .. or potato salad .. or a vinaigrette pasta salad.

 

[CallMeKate]

Pasta salad... or broccoli salad... the kind with little pieces of broccoli, cauliflower, red onion, little cheese cubes, and bacon. The dressing is... I think just mayo, vinegar, and sugar.

 

[dobielvr]

Taking an idea from Pinky........
Swedish meatballs in gravy. Stick toothpicks in them for easy eating.

 

[Jeni]

i never want to go because of all the dietary restrictions people seem to have ... last time i went to our community one someone wanted to ask about every single ingredient ........ i buy cookies form a store lol

 

[bobcat]

Pasta salad... or broccoli salad... the kind with little pieces of broccoli, cauliflower, red onion, little cheese cubes, and bacon. The dressing is... I think just mayo, vinegar, and sugar.

That was one of Pinky's suggestions as well. So is the broccoli cooked or raw, and is the bacon cooked crispy or just regular?

 

[bobcat]

Taking an idea from Pinky........
Swedish meatballs in gravy. Stick toothpicks in them for easy eating.

Well, I know how to make a meatloaf, but I think I'd better not try something I've never done before on other people.
Besides, meatloaf or meatballs are best served hot or warm, and with no crockpot, it may not work.
That's kinda why I was thinking chili, because it's good even lukewarm. JMO

 

[CallMeKate]

That was one of Pinky's suggestions as well. So is the broccoli cooked or raw, and is the bacon cooked crispy or just regular?

It's raw... let me see if there's a recipe like mine online... if not, I'll come back and type it out.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I’d stick with a good potato salad, then mix in crisp bacon pieces and diced hard boiled eggs. I add red pepper and green olives.
( a bit of nice grated cheese is delicious in this. )

Bacon and Egg Potato Salad
Pasta Salad is nice too
Have fun!

 

[CallMeKate]

Here's what I use... I'll put notes with the ingredients.

Broccoli Salad

Broccoli bite-sized pieces (I prefer small pieces... I buy the broc/cauli already cut and in those bags... produce dept.)
Cauliflower bite-sized pieces (again, they're better small)
Bacon (1/2 lb) Fried & crispy, then diced (I buy the already cooked bacon and just dice it up)
Red onion, finely diced
Cheese - jack or cheddar - small cubes

Dressing... mix together:
1/2 c. mayo (1 cup for larger batch)
1 tbsp. vinegar (2 Tbsp for larger)
1/4 cup sugar (1/2 cup for larger)

It's better made the day before.

 

[bobcat]

I’d stick with a good potato salad, then mix in crisp bacon pieces and diced hard boiled eggs. I add red pepper and green olives.
( a bit of nice grated cheese is delicious in this. )

Bacon and Egg Potato Salad
Pasta Salad is nice too
Have fun!
View attachment 307895

I do have a great recipe for potato salad that my wife used to make when she was alive. I think I could pull that off, and I wouldn't have to keep it warm. Should I use turkey bacon or the real thing?

 

[Jace]

A dessert..cake...brownie(s)

 

[againstthegrain]

What's left around the garden, BC?

I made some ratatouille w end of season veg last week. It's vegetarian, good hot or at room temp, not typical and it's tasty.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I do have a great recipe for potato salad that my wife used to make when she was alive. I think I could pull that off, and I wouldn't have to keep it warm. Should I use turkey bacon or the real thing?

Yesss! A good potato salad is underrated.
Everyone remembers a great potato salad. Make your wife’s salad just like she’d make it however turkey bacon is probably more expensive than real bacon so I’d go with
real bacon, real eggs, a bit of real grated cheese and Hellman’s real mayo. It’s always a winner dish.

 

[dilettante]

Banana bread, pumpkin bread, etc. Where I used to work they loved my carrot cake even though it was based on a boxed mix.

 

[bobcat]

A dessert..cake...brownie(s)

I do have a dark chocolate brownie mix in the pantry. All I would need to add is walnuts. Maybe I could make those and the potato salad ... Too much?

 

[PeppermintPatty]

A dessert..cake...brownie(s)

yummm ! Brownies.

 

[bobcat]

Yesss! A good potato salad is underrated.
Everyone remembers a great potato salad. Make your wife’s salad just like she’d make it however turkey bacon is probably more expensive than real bacon so I’d go with
real bacon, real eggs, a bit of real grated cheese and Hellman’s real mayo. It’s always a winner dish.

I could do that. I think I even made it once when she was no longer able to, and it turned out just the way she made it. I think her secret ingredient was just a little splash of red wine vinegar to brighten the taste (If I remember it right - but I do have the recipe).

 

[feywon]

I haven't been to one in decades, even the last office party one was over 12 years ago. But two regular ones i made were 1) a fruit salad with jellied cranberry sauce, berries (whatever looking good fresh at the time) and shredded coconut and 2) potato salad with bacon bits and shredded smoky cheddar cheese. If asked to bring a desert my go to was a friend's son dubbed a "Reese's Cake", made a chocolate cake in what amounts to a giant tart base shape (they called them Tiara pans i think), filled the depression with a peanut butter filling (similar texture to PB frosting) then enrobed it in chocolate fudge frosting.

If it was a good sized and diverse group i didn't worry about dietary issues there's usually enough variety and nobody is required to eat some of everything.

 

[bobcat]

Banana bread, pumpkin bread, etc. Where I used to work they loved my carrot cake even though it was based on a boxed mix.

Ha ha, you're making me hungry now. I love carrot cake, but I think I'll leave that to the pros.
I have done banana bread but with mixed results.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I could do that. I think I even made it once when she was no longer able to, and it turned out just the way she made it. I think her secret ingredient was just a little splash of red wine vinegar to brighten the taste (If I remember it right - but I do have the recipe).

Absolutely. Make it your own. Red wine sounds exquisite. I usually add a splash of apple cider and add whatever fresh herbs on hand from the garden. A dash of fresh dill and pinch of Dijon mustard is nice too.

 

[bobcat]

I haven't been to one in decades, even the last office party one was over 12 years ago. But two regular ones i made were 1) a fruit salad with jellied cranberry sauce, berries (whatever looking good fresh at the time) and shredded coconut and 2) potato salad with bavon bits and shredded smoky cheddar cheese. If asked to bring a desert my go to was a friend's son dubbed a "Reese's C

I guess now I'm kinda leaning in the direction of the potato salad, but the smoky cheddar sounds like a great idea. Not sure if the local market has it, but I'll check.

 

[dilettante]

Yeah, this is putting me into the old Autumn mindset and now I have myself craving a hearty pea soup with ham in a brown bread bowl.

 

[bobcat]

Absolutely. Make it your own. Red wine sounds exquisite. I usually add a splash of apple cider and add whatever fresh herbs on hand from the garden. A dash of fresh dill and pinch of Dijon mustard is nice too.

I do have dijon mustard, so it's goin' in.

 

[Pinky]

I was also going to suggest, as Jace has .. dessert, such as brownies, cake, or cookies.