Recipes

[LovingLife2]

I am looking for some good suggestions for a pot-luck I am attending where I do not know many people-I want to make a good impression-ideas?  THANKS!

[adoreqvc]

For pot lucks, Church events, and many large social gatherings I have brought Chicken Ala King and Steamed Rice which is great comfort food.

Everyone loves Chicken Ala King & RIce, and I also   brought quantity in two very large Nesco Electric cookers/warmers.

Many came back for 2nd helpings, and I always made sure to have enough to please everyone.

These 2 dishes were always a big hit, and who does not love Chicken Ala King comfort food?  

[Mz iMac]

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@LovingLife2 wrote:

I am looking for some good suggestions for a pot-luck I am attending where I do not know many people-I want to make a good impression-ideas?  THANKS!

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Oxtails & rice

[sabatini]

Hi @LovingLife2! How about a great salad? If you're a 'Buffalo' fan, a Buffalo Chicken Salad is yummy. Use Romaine, diced celery, halved cherry tomatoes, and some Buffalo chicken - either breaded or not. You can add blue cheese crumbles to some Ranch dressing, or cut the sharpness of regular blue cheese dressing w/ some sour cream. Serve on the side.

Do you like pressed sandwiches? They're wonderful for a crowd, and can be done ahead of time. Buy a long crusty loaf of sourdough, split in half, hollow out a bit, and layer on the ingredients. Wrap tightly. Slice when needed.There are lots of recipes online.

You might enjoy the classic Muffuletta.

Here's a pasta salad recipe that was posted ages ago by @MissButtercup - she contributed some excellent recipes back then. I've C&Ped it here. You could make a vinaigrette for the dressing if it's more to your liking.

Have fun at the party! 

Different Macaroni Salad

‎08-09-2011 05:31 PM

I made this many years ago and kept the recipe and it was requested for a BBQ recently and I just made it again and it was the hit of the table. I used smoked gouda cheese mixed in and halfed the amount of garlic and salt. The horseradish powder is the same as wasabi powder which you can get in the asian section fo the store or you can just use fresh horseradish but use a bit more. The dicing is a lot of work but this is delicious and people always love it!

Macaroni salad

Ingredients

• 1 (16-ounce) package salad macaroni (or ditali pasta)
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1 cup red onion, diced
• 1 cup yellow or white onion, diced
• 1 cup medium cheddar, diced
• 1 cup Swiss cheese, diced
• 1/2 cup Parmesan, grated
• 1 cup dill pickles, diced
• 1 cup salami, diced
• 1 (6-ounce) can large pitted black olives, drained (or 1 cup diced or sliced)
• 1 to 2 tablespoons Lawry's garlic salt
• 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon dried horseradish
• 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1 to 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
  
• 1 (3-ounce) jar diced pimentos, rinsed and drained
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise

Directions

Add 2 quarts of water to a medium stockpot and bring to a boil. Add macaroni and cook until it is al dente, approximately 9 minutes. Do not overcook the pasta or it will fall apart when the salad is tossed together. Rinse macaroni until cool. Drain well and let it dry out slightly.

Add pasta to a large bowl. Carefully fold in celery, onion, cheddar, Swiss cheese, Parmesan, dill pickles, salami, and black olives. Refrigerate the mixture, uncovered, overnight (or refrigerate for at least 2 hours).

Mix the Lawry's garlic salt, minced garlic, white pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, dry mustard and celery salt together. Add to salad. Fold in the pimentos. Fold in 1 cup of mayonnaise to start. Add up to a 1/2 cup more of mayonnaise if needed. Refrigerate again for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

ETA: When I make the sauce for Buffalo chicken (Frank's Red Hot, butter, splash of white vinegar Worcestershire sauce), I add a few squirts of honey to tone it down a bit. Taste as you go...

[sabatini]

I made this many years ago and kept the recipe and it was requested for a BBQ recently and I just made it again and it was the hit of the table. I used smoked gouda cheese mixed in and halfed the amount of garlic and salt. The horseradish powder is the same as wasabi powder which you can get in the asian section fo the store or you can just use fresh horseradish but use a bit more. The dicing is a lot of work but this is delicious and people always love it!

Macaroni salad

Ingredients

• 1 (16-ounce) package salad macaroni (or ditali pasta)
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1 cup red onion, diced
• 1 cup yellow or white onion, diced
• 1 cup medium cheddar, diced
• 1 cup Swiss cheese, diced
• 1/2 cup Parmesan, grated
• 1 cup dill pickles, diced
• 1 cup salami, diced
• 1 (6-ounce) can large pitted black olives, drained (or 1 cup diced or sliced)
• 1 to 2 tablespoons Lawry's garlic salt
• 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon dried horseradish
• 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1 to 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
  
• 1 (3-ounce) jar diced pimentos, rinsed and drained
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise

Directions

Add 2 quarts of water to a medium stockpot and bring to a boil. Add macaroni and cook until it is al dente, approximately 9 minutes. Do not overcook the pasta or it will fall apart when the salad is tossed together. Rinse macaroni until cool. Drain well and let it dry out slightly.

Add pasta to a large bowl. Carefully fold in celery, onion, cheddar, Swiss cheese, Parmesan, dill pickles, salami, and black olives. Refrigerate the mixture, uncovered, overnight (or refrigerate for at least 2 hours).

Mix the Lawry's garlic salt, minced garlic, white pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, dry mustard and celery salt together. Add to salad. Fold in the pimentos. Fold in 1 cup of mayonnaise to start. Add up to a 1/2 cup more of mayonnaise if needed. Refrigerate again for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

ETA: When I make the sauce for Buffalo chicken (Frank's Red Hot, butter, splash of white vinegar Worcestershire sauce), I add a few squirts of honey to tone it down a bit. Taste as you go...

[vabreeze]

Meatballs are always a good idea foer a potluck.  You could get frozen ones ( like Costco's Italian style frozen ones), cook them in a slow-cooker with babecue sauce or chili sauce And grape jelly , cranberry sauce, etc., 

[DiAnne]

@sabatini

That macaroni salad sounds great!

[DiAnne]

I always try to bring something healthy to a pot luck like a large green salad with cheddar cheese and sliced apples, etc.   It seems like everyone brings their crock pot and comfort food.  

[LovingLife2]

The Pasta Salad sounds good. I apperciate the recipes and ideas-keep them coming!

[joannecha]

Maybe you could ask for host/hostess if she has any indication what kind of dishes others are bringing. Sometimes there are 300 desserts and no main dishes. Guess it also depends on what you like to make. Love the pasta salad  or meatball idea. I also have a great baked bean/hamburger dish that I make that everyone loves. For desserts, I have a peanut butter sheet cake that goes fast. Grown up mac & cheese? Think about what you like to grab up at a pot luck & go from there. Good luck with your ideas & have fun with this.

[sabatini]

​How about making a few of these Strombolis, using Pillsbury's ready made pizza dough? Have some marinara sauce for dipping. Yum!

Easy Stromboli recipe from Pillsbury.com

Pillsbury's Easy Stromboli

Ingredients
1/2 lb. lean ground beef (I used sweet Italian sausage)
1  (13.8-oz.) can Pillsbury™ refrigerated classic pizza crust
1/4 cup pizza sauce
4  oz. (1 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup chopped green and/or red bell pepper, if desired
1/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

Directions
 1. 1 Heat oven to 400°F. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Brown ground beef in medium skillet over medium-high heat until thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain. Set aside.
 2. 2 Unroll dough; place on sprayed cookie sheet. Starting at center, press out dough with hands to form 12x8-inch rectangle.
 3. 3 Spread sauce over dough to within 2 inches of long sides and 1/2 inch of short sides. Place cooked ground beef lengthwise down center, forming 3-inch-wide strip and to within 1/2 inch of short sides. Top with cheese, bell pepper and Italian seasoning. Fold long sides of dough over filling; press edges to seal.
 4. 4 Bake at 400°F. for 15 to 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown.