Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with potluck

No Prep Potlucking

krippledkonscious — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:23:45 -0800

Late to the party, no time to prep: I'd like to have a collection of recipes that can be manufactured just-in-time; dishes that I can throw together in under 10 minutes with minimal use of kitchen tools. Bonus points if you can assemble the entire dish right out of the shopping bag. MacGyver me some meal ideas! For example, this past weekend I was headed out late to a BBQ. I'd left straight from work so had zero prep time and when I called to see what was already on the table, all the usual suspects were covered. After wandering the grocery store for a bit, I ended up grabbing a tray of portobello mushrooms, a stick of butter, a jar of minced garlic (for convenience), and beer. Assuming that the host had foil (which he did), all I had to do was put a slice of butter on the inside of the 'shroom, add a dollop of garlic, and then soak it with beer; wrap everything in foil, apply to grill, and 10 minutes later it was all yummers.

I get into this situation all the time, whether due to procrastination on my part or because a party situation has evolved without prior notice. It would be great to have several of these recipes to suit different types of parties and venues, using ingredients that can be found in most grocery stores. For me, it beats buying something already prepared, but at the same time I don't want to impose on the host and require extensive use of their fancy knives or kitchen appliances. Recipes for dips are fine, though I would appreciate creative, unexpected combinations that somehow work out - like pouring a jar of chunky salsa on top of a block of cream cheese. Which I heartily recommend.

Great dish for a Thanksgiving potluck?

miskatonic — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:34:13 -0800

Help me think of something delicious to bring to a Thanksgiving potluck. As you might expect, there are a few limitations. This will be for a fairly sizable group - let's say 40 to be safe - so it needs to be something that's easy to make in large quantities. Additionally, and probably most problematically, I can't guarantee I'll be able to heat anything or keep it cold on site, and we won't be eating until we've been at the venue for at least three or four hours. Other people mostly have the sweets and desserts covered, so I'd like to avoid those.

So I need something savory I can make a lot of and which will be tasty and safe to serve at room temperature. So far the only idea I have is something bready, but straight-up cornbread seems too dull. Any other suggestions?

Consider the lowly potato... now make it awesome.

1f2frfbf — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:01:58 -0800

Not necessarily my grandmother's potato salad... What are your tips, tricks and recipes for awesome potato salad? I'm a reasonably experienced and equipped chef, I'm open to vegan, vegetarian and meat options.
Kind of previously.

Rock star themed potluck

Jupiter Jones — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:56:59 -0800

Costume / recipe conundrum: We're hosting a rock star themed potluck near Halloween. The dishes we supply need to be in a theme that corresponds to the costume. We need help! So we're trying to continue a potluck tradition with a group of friends. The last one was a success (theme: anything on a stick). This time we're going to play Rock Band and theme the potluck around rock stars costumes and dishes that go along with that. We need idea for me and for my wife. We're both larger people, and I've got a goatee that I'm not willing to shave off for this. Really, I don't think it has to be too fussy about being on topic, as long as the costume is music related, and the food is at least related to the costume via a pun.

Ideas I've thought of so far for myself:
- Meat Loaf (where am I going to find a frilly shirt in my size?)
- Chuck Berry (I could use either beef chuck or berries). I would look terrible.
- James Brown (brownies!)
- Chef from South Park (salty chocolate balls!)

I'm stumped for my wife. Any other ideas that are going to make us seem super-cool or at least funny?

What is your favourite non-alcoholic refreshment?

KathyK — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 07:33:28 -0800

Help me rock the office potluck lunch! What's an awesome non-alcoholic refreshment? We're having a potluck lunch at the office next week and I decided to sign up for refreshments. There's always been juice and pop at previous potlucks which I find uninspired. I'm looking for tried-and-true, non-alcoholic and creative refreshments for about 30 people.

Thanks!

What can I cook without any ingredients?

croutonsupafreak — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:55:31 -0800

What should I bring to a potluck dinner, when many people attending have food allergies and dietary problems and the list of banned foods is huge? (No meat, dairy, onions, garlic, tomatoes, potatoes, and many, many other things, listed inside.) Recipes needed. I've been invited to a potluck dinner where half of the guests in attendance have dietary restrictions.

The following ingredients are banned:

Seasonings: onions, leeks, scallions, green onions, onion powder, garlic, garlic salt, roasted garlic, garlic powder, cumin , dill , chili pepper, Parsley, nutmeg, MSG, black pepper, vanilla, chocolate, cocoa, savory that lists "spices" or "natural flavors" without details

Fruits: grape juice, orange juice, and very especially apple juice, Lemon and grapefruit, blueberries, watermelon, apples, plum and pineapple

Protein: peanuts, eggs, almonds, walnuts, meats of any kind (fish, fowl, land animals, etc.)

Vegetables: tomateos, eggplant, bell peppers, spicy peppers like jalepeños (anything in the Nightshade family), potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, lima beans, green peas, lentils, other legumes

Dairy: only trace, no yogurt.

Grains: Wheat, oat, barley, (soy sauce is OK)

Additives: phenylethaline tyramine aspartame FD & C Blue #1

---

Right now I'm leaning toward acorn squash stuffed with brown rice, and I'll experiment with different allowed spices to see what works for the rice. I've love other options, too.

Potluck Dinner Party Menu Ideas

theora55 — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 17:06:01 -0800

It's time, once again, for a menu idea for an annual potluck at my house. Past successes have included veggie lasagne, rice noodles w/ peanut sauce, chicken/spinach curry, potroast, chicken wings, potatoes au gratin, corn pudding. Health conscious, veggie friendly, no red meat (the potroast was popular, but I made a nonmeat alternative, and that's a lot of extra work). Preferably not incredibly untidy to eat, as it's buffet and laps. No Canned "Cream of" Soups. Money is not unlimited, so no lobster or caviar. I like to cook, but nothing terribly complicated. @ 15 people. Considering: Pad Thai or Thai Spring Rolls. White Bean, Green Chili & Chicken Soup. Chicken pot pie (biscuit top crust).

Do you have a favorite breakfast casserole recipe?

kechi — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 02:27:03 -0800

I have a potluck brunch to go to tomorrow and would like to make an egg/bread type casserole. Does anyone have any good recipes they can share (that don't require refrigeration overnight)?

Bad, but good!, potluck dish.

treebjen — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 13:50:42 -0800

I'm looking for a potluck-type recipe that is a) horrifying, but b) tasty. Something like an entree or side dish that makes use of vegetables, meat, and jello.

Buying for potlucks.

DaShiv — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 03:54:57 -0800

What to bring to a potluck if one is completely inept in the kitchen? It seems like almost all the get-togethers among my friends -- regardless of which social circle -- are potlucks of one sort or another. I love this in concept but am always at a loss for how to contribute, given that I can barely cook pasta for myself without burning the kitchen down. Although I always bring beer for myself, I don't bring booze for others since just about everyone else is more discerning/knowledgable about wines/liquor than I am. Therefore, what are some suggestions for tasty foodstuff to pick up somewhere, items that can travel a bit (i.e. that don't have to be prepared hot in the kitchen) and won't seem too out of place next to home-cooked dishes? For example, maybe something special from an out-of-the-way local bakery? I'm in the SF Bay Area, for those who would like to share their favorite shops and specialties.