The Everything Potluck Cookbook

by Linda Larsen

  THE

  POTLUCK COOKBOOK

  Dear Reader,

  Peg Bracken, in her inimitable I Hate to Cook Book subtitled her chapter on Potluck Parties as “How to Bring the Water for the Lemonade.” If it were only that easy! Potluck parties do take some work, but they are so much fun.

  I think that any occasion can be cause for a party. A job promotion, a birthday, the beginning of the school year, the end of the school year, the holidays, or just a need to relax and eat with friends are all excellent reasons for a party.

  With the economy struggling and everyone feeling the pinch of rising prices, we need to get together with family and friends more than ever. But hosting a party can be very expensive, and it takes a lot of energy and work. The solution? A potluck party. One of the best lessons I’ve learned in my life is to always bring something to a party. It could be a friendly smile, stories to share, a bouquet of flowers for the hostess, or food. A potluck party can be anything from a wedding celebration to a bridge party for four people. The underlying theme is always fellowship.

  I find myself throwing potluck parties more and more these days. Not only is everyone so busy, but also with food costs skyrocketing, feeding even a group of four people a good meal can easily top $100. And that doesn’t include all the time preparing the food.

  Any way you choose to organize your party will be fine with your guests. With these tips, recipes, and information about throwing a potluck party, yours will be the best yet. Whether you ask guests to bring completed dishes or ask them to bring a few ingredients and cook together, you’ll find that an informal potluck party is just plain fun.

  These handy, accessible books give you all you need to tackle a difficult project, gain a new hobby, comprehend a fascinating topic, prepare for an exam, or even brush up on something you learned back in school but have since forgotten.

  You can choose to read an Everything® book from cover to cover or just pick out the information you want from our four useful boxes: e-questions, e-facts, e-alerts, and e-ssentials.

  We give you everything you need to know on the subject, but throw in a lot of fun stuff along the way, too.

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  PUBLISHER Karen Cooper

  DIRECTOR OF ACQUISITIONS AND INNOVATION Paula Munier

  MANAGING EDITOR, EVERYTHING SERIES Lisa Laing

  COPY CHIEF Casey Ebert

  ACQUISITIONS EDITOR Katrina Schroeder

  DEVELOPMENT EDITOR Brett Palana-Shanahan

  EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Hillary Thompson

  EVERYTHING SERIES COVER DESIGNER Erin Alexander

  LAYOUT DESIGNERS Colleen Cunningham, Elisabeth Lariviere, Ashley Vierra, Denise Wallace

  Visit the entire Everything® series at www.everything.com

  THE

  POTLUCK

  COOKBOOK

  Linda Larsen

  BS in Food Science and Nutrition

  To my nieces and nephew,

  Grace, Maddie, and Michael.

  Copyright © 2009 by F+W Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

  An Everything® Series Book.

  Everything® and everything.com® are registered trademarks of F+W Media, Inc.

  Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.

  57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A.

  www.adamsmedia.com

  ISBN 10: 1-59869-990-3

  ISBN 13: 978-1-59869-990-6

  Printed in the United States of America.

  J I H G F E D C B A

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  is available from the publisher.

  This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

  —From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

  Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

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  Contents

  Introduction

  1 All about Potluck Parties

  2 Crowd-Pleasing Party Drinks

  3 Appetizers to Share

  4 Easy Bread Recipes

  5 Easy Pork Recipes

  6 Beef Entrees

  7 Chicken Entrees

  8 Elegant Seafood Entrees

  9 Healthy Vegetarian Choices

  10 Side Dishes and Vegetables

  11 Salads on the Side

  12 Hot and Cold Soups and Stews

  13 Cookies, Brownies, and Candies

  14 Pies and Cakes

  15 Sumptuous, Easy Desserts

  Appendix A: Suggested Menus

  Appendix B: Resources

  Index

  Introduction

  POTLUCK PARTIES SEEM OLD-FASHIONED; just the name evokes an image of ladies wearing hats and gloves clustered in the kitchen, unwrapping their creations to the “oohs” and “aahs” of the others. They evolved from “covered-dish” dinners usually held by churches, back in the nineteenth century when just putting food on the table every day was a struggle. No one could afford to feed a crowd of people! Having each guest bring his or her most treasured recipe was an easy way to entertain even in the hardest times.

  This type of party does take more organizing on the part of the host, but with lists and some attention to the details, you can have a great time at your own party. And you’ll save money too.

  There are two basic types of potluck parties: one where guests bring a completed or almost-completed dish, and one where guests bring individual ingredients and you cook together. Both are fun; choose the type that best fits your style of entertaining, temperament, and kitchen size.

  And the party can be very free form; just ask guests to bring anything they want! You’ll run the risk of having four desserts and two main dishes, but that’s part of the fun. Or if you like to have more control, include the course or even the recipe you’d like the guest to bring along with the invitation.

  A theme is important but not necessary for a potluck party. Some parties, especially those around the holidays, naturally evoke a theme. A Halloween party could revolve around pumpkin dishes and hearty meat stews, while a spring party could have a menu of cold salads, soups, and fruit muffins.

  The most important part of a potluck party is making sure that the venue is clean and comfortable. Since you, as the host, don’t have to focus as much on the food, put that energy into decorating the dining room and making sure that the kitchen is a cozy and welcoming place. You don’t have to spend a fortune: a small lamp on the counter, some new dish towels and kitchen utensils, or
a colorful rug on the floor add a warm and fresh feeling to any room.

  Many of the recipes in this book are to be made ahead of the event, because that’s the best type of food to transport any distance. You’ll also find tips and hints for the best way to move food, and how to keep it safe. There are also last-minute recipes, just in case a guest’s recipe doesn’t turn out or if someone unexpectedly can’t attend. You’ll find ways to get organized, too, that will make the planning and execution of the party a breeze.

  So join the crowd and make your next party a potluck. You’re guaranteed a good time!

  CHAPTER 1

  All about Potluck Parties

  The word potluck literally means “food you are lucky to find.” A potluck party is a gathering where every invited guest brings something to the party. While rather an old-fashioned way of entertaining, potluck parties are becoming popular again. These parties are casual and informal. They give cooks and bakers a chance to shine, and even those who aren’t comfortable in the kitchen can participate.

  Why a Potluck Party?

  In these days of ever-increasing food prices, most of us aren’t even thinking about entertaining. Feeding our own families is becoming more difficult, so the thought of feeding six, eight, or more guests is quite daunting. The potluck party comes to the rescue! Not only are these parties fun, but they also spread the cost of food among all the guests. Potluck parties are quite the bargain. For the cost of one dish, each guest will be fed a meal worthy of any restaurant.

  The Pluses of a Potluck

  A potluck party is a wonderful way for experienced and new hosts to get together with friends. Parties don’t have to have a purpose, but if they do, there’s a built-in icebreaker. Coming to the door with a delicious dish in hand will help even the shyest guest feel involved in the party.

  If you’re feeling adventurous, try hosting a true potluck party. Just ask every guest to bring a favorite recipe . If you get five desserts and one main dish, so be it! You may want to have a backup plan of ordering pizza, just in case, but these types of parties are memorable and very fun.

  Everyone is so busy these days. Just the thought of throwing a party can be exhausting. A typical party involves lots of planning, coordinating the menu, shopping for the food, cleaning the house, making all the recipes, serving, then cleaning up. Just the thought of that much work can put an end to entertaining. But a potluck party is different.

  As the host, all you have to provide is a space for the party, and usually the main dish. The guests bring the rest! You can assign specific recipes to your guests, or just ask them to bring their favorite salad, potato side dish, dessert, appetizer, or whatever.

  Spreading out the cost and the work this way is very efficient and, in these tough times, provides a way to get together with friends and family without prohibitive costs.

  If you’re hosting the party, of course, you’ll need to have a presentable venue. But you don’t have to host a potluck at your house! A beautiful park, the beach, or even your backyard can be the setting for a wonderful party.

  There are two types of potluck parties: where guests bring finished dishes that may need to be baked or reheated, and where guests bring ingredients and everybody cooks . If you have a large kitchen, or an outdoor kitchen with lots of room, a cooking potluck party can be lots of fun.

  “Many hands make light work” is a common saying, and it’s very true. You will probably find yourself hosting more parties if they are potluck parties, just because they are so easy. The communal experience of dining together is a basic part of every society, and it strengthens bonds between friends and family.

  Finally, a potluck is a great way to save money. Because you don’t have to provide every course of a dinner, you can splurge and make something a bit more expensive. You can serve steaks, use exotic cheeses, or provide out-of-season items like strawberries in January.

  If You’re the Host

  As the host, you do still have the most responsibilities for the party. Make sure that the venue you choose is comfortable for all the guests, that you have serving pieces and eating utensils, and that there is enough food for everyone. But all of this effort doesn’t have to be difficult; it just takes some planning. When you’re prepared for the party, you can relax and enjoy it too.

  The Theme

  A theme always helps to get a party off the ground. It can be an obvious choice, like a birthday party or a holiday, or something more unusual, like a job promotion, housewarming, or the anniversary of an important date. If a theme doesn’t readily suggest itself, think about having a bridge party, or a “Night at the Movies” fling.

  POTLUCK PARTY IDEAS

  • Potluck picnic

  • Dessert party

  • Oscar’s party

  • Big Game appetizer party

  • Back-to-school gathering

  • Celebrate summer party

  • Wine and cheese party

  • Housewarming

  • Garden party

  • Chocolate party

  Other good ideas include a party to celebrate your nationality, where you bring a dish prepared in your grandparents’ homeland, or an All-American potluck, with a plethora of American dishes like macaroni and cheese, Caesar salad, and brownies.

  The Plan

  As with any project, a party needs to be carefully planned. Make lists—lots of lists! List the guests you’ve invited, what each person is bringing to the party, the serving utensils and equipment you’ll need, and a timetable for cooking.

  It may help to keep all the information in a notebook or binder. You should have a guest list, the menu, shopping lists, timetable for cleaning and preparing the kitchen, and a plan for organizing the house as well as borrowing or buying any needed equipment.

  When you’re planning the menu, consider the number of dishes you are serving as well as the number of your guests. Each recipe has a general yield. Serving sizes may vary, but this is a general guide. The more dishes at the party, the more people each dish will serve. This is just human nature: if you’re offered a choice of four entrees, you will take less than a regular serving size of each one.

  SERVING SIZES AND AMOUNTS

  Guest List

  A potluck party can be a gathering of old friends, or it can be a way to introduce people to each other. Since the party has an automatic built-in ice breaker, you don’t have to worry about compatibility. There will always be something to talk about: the food!

  Make sure that you don’t invite more people than your house or venue can comfortably hold. Take bathroom facilities, available seating, and kitchen space into consideration too.

  Invitations

  Invitations can be as casual as a phone call or e-mail, or as fancy as mailed, handwritten invitations. If you’re throwing a theme party, the invitations can match to set the stage. Handwritten invitations, especially when created and made by kids for a family party, can be very charming. You can include the food you’d like each participant to bring in the invitation.

  Be sure to request a response, especially if you’ve asked that person to bring a specific dish. If you want control of the party, include one of the recipes from this book instead of requesting a general category of food.

  Put It Together

  Once you’ve settled on the theme, the guest list, and invitations, it’s time to start planning the meal. Sometimes the theme will suggest the menu, as in a Hawaiian party or a Christmas brunch. Other times, you may want to serve a special new dish you have created and have your guests bring accompaniments.

  Compose your menu with your guests’ cooking skills in mind. If one of your guests is a great baker, ask him to bring a cake for dessert. If another loves to grill, ask her to bring a grilled appetizer. Be sure to balance the menu for color, texture, temperature, and flavors.

  RECIPES FOR HEALTH-CONSCIOUS GUESTS TO BRING

  • Vegetable salads

  • Green salads

  • Vegetarian main di
shes

  • Fruit desserts

  • Whole-grain side dishes

  • Fish and seafood main dishes

  • Mediterranean dishes

  • Low-fat soups and stews

  Now you write, e-mail, or call your guests and tell them about the party. Make sure they can attend on the day of the party. Tell them the food you would like them to bring. Ask if they can make the recipe and if they’re confident in their abilities. And be sure to ask if they have any special dietary needs or food allergies. Your party is on the way!

  If You’re the Guest

  If you’ve been invited to a potluck party, get ready for a fun time! Dig out your best recipe for the food you’re asked to bring, or practice the recipe the host gives you. Always bring something else to the potluck too: a good mood and a willingness to have a good time.