Work potluck easy dishes
April 3, 2018 7:50 PM Subscribe
Help, I need a super easy potluck dish to make! I have little time and no ideas.
I just realized that a work party on Friday is a potluck. Eek! I'm on a deadline and with my commute, I'll be gone 10-12 hours / day Wednesday and Thursday. Plus I have a toddler, so I have no time. My husband can buy whatever is needed at the grocery store, but I work with a bunch of great people (and suspected potluck overachievers!), so I'd like to do better than like, chips and salsa. What's an easy potluck dish that doesn't scream "I bought this at the deli counter?"
Bonus for something easily portable on a long, crowded commuter rail trip with said toddler (i.e., something I can throw in a bag or backpack in a Tupperware). And maybe even something kind of healthy? But I'm open to anything. I always need easy potluck dish ideas, so feel free to include ones that will be too bulky to take this week. Thanks!
I just realized that a work party on Friday is a potluck. Eek! I'm on a deadline and with my commute, I'll be gone 10-12 hours / day Wednesday and Thursday. Plus I have a toddler, so I have no time. My husband can buy whatever is needed at the grocery store, but I work with a bunch of great people (and suspected potluck overachievers!), so I'd like to do better than like, chips and salsa. What's an easy potluck dish that doesn't scream "I bought this at the deli counter?"
Bonus for something easily portable on a long, crowded commuter rail trip with said toddler (i.e., something I can throw in a bag or backpack in a Tupperware). And maybe even something kind of healthy? But I'm open to anything. I always need easy potluck dish ideas, so feel free to include ones that will be too bulky to take this week. Thanks!
Make chocolate chip cookie dough (maybe a fancy one, like add dried cherries or brown the butter or something) earlier in the week, portioned out, in the fridge. That morning, throw on cookie sheet and bake before work. People are more excited for good chocolate chip cookies than they'd like to admit.
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:55 PM on April 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:55 PM on April 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
My #1 recipe for this sort of thing:
- 1/2 box of rotini
- 1/2 container ish of spinach, roughly chopped
- some basil
- a container of cherry tomatoes, halved
- a cucumber, diced
- a roasted chicken (generally store-bought), picked into pieces
- a container of feta
- 1/4 cup Olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- salt & pepper to taste
Mix it all up. Can make it the night before - it's best the next day at room temp.
As a dinner (by itself) it serves 3-4, as a side dish it serves many more. You can leave out the chicken and make it just a veggie salad if you want.
posted by brainmouse at 7:59 PM on April 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
- 1/2 box of rotini
- 1/2 container ish of spinach, roughly chopped
- some basil
- a container of cherry tomatoes, halved
- a cucumber, diced
- a roasted chicken (generally store-bought), picked into pieces
- a container of feta
- 1/4 cup Olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- salt & pepper to taste
Mix it all up. Can make it the night before - it's best the next day at room temp.
As a dinner (by itself) it serves 3-4, as a side dish it serves many more. You can leave out the chicken and make it just a veggie salad if you want.
posted by brainmouse at 7:59 PM on April 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
I literally made this for a work potluck on Monday: tangerine glazed carrots with ricotta and chives. I made it in an instant pot in the morning before work, but you could simmer on the stove until the carrots are soft. I brought the toppings in ziplocks (and a small container of full fat ricotta), microwaved the refrigerated carrots for a couple min to warm, and assembled at lunchtime. It was great!
posted by permiechickie at 8:10 PM on April 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by permiechickie at 8:10 PM on April 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Crustless quiche is my go-to potluck item lately, but with your extra challenge of carrying it on a train while holding a toddler's hand I say heed fingersandtoes' excellent advice and do cookies. Or boxed brownies. Or possibly a store-bought pie, from a store right next to your work. When you have littles there's no need to be a hero, someone else can do that for a while.
posted by vignettist at 8:20 PM on April 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by vignettist at 8:20 PM on April 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Salad? Make rotini. Add frozen peas to cool it. Add some decent vinaigrette, Newman's Own makes good dressings. Add a can of artichoke hearts, cut a bit smaller, black olives, sliced red pepper, maybe some baby spinach. Aim for it to be half veg. It's tasty, reasonably healthy, transports well, doesn't need to be heated. Honestly, schlepping food on your commute is heroic.
posted by theora55 at 8:22 PM on April 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 8:22 PM on April 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Okay, here's what you want to do.
1. Get chocolate chip cookie dough. Whatever kind you want, I used the box mix, it doesn't matter, because you're going to mix it and layer it on the bottom of a greased baking dish.
2. Now you're going to get a package of double-stuff Oreos. Take those oreos and make a layer on top of the cookie dough. A nine-by nine pan is I think sixteen oreos.
3. Eat the remaining oreos.
4. Now you're going to make up some brownie mix. Again, box mix is great. You're gonna pour that on top of the dough and Oreos. You're gonna put it in the oven. In a few minutes,
5. congrats, you have a deliciously over-the-top frankenbrownie.
Caveat #1: Depending on your oven and your cookie mix, the cookie dough may need more baking time than the brownies. I usually stick it in the oven to bake a little bit while I'm making the brownie mix.
Caveat #2: Your natural inclination will be to slice this in line with the oreo grid in your middle layer. That is an honorable choice and I encourage it. But also, that will be a lot for some people, so when I make this for potlucks I usually cut it so each slice is half an oreo.
posted by jameaterblues at 8:23 PM on April 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
1. Get chocolate chip cookie dough. Whatever kind you want, I used the box mix, it doesn't matter, because you're going to mix it and layer it on the bottom of a greased baking dish.
2. Now you're going to get a package of double-stuff Oreos. Take those oreos and make a layer on top of the cookie dough. A nine-by nine pan is I think sixteen oreos.
3. Eat the remaining oreos.
4. Now you're going to make up some brownie mix. Again, box mix is great. You're gonna pour that on top of the dough and Oreos. You're gonna put it in the oven. In a few minutes,
5. congrats, you have a deliciously over-the-top frankenbrownie.
Caveat #1: Depending on your oven and your cookie mix, the cookie dough may need more baking time than the brownies. I usually stick it in the oven to bake a little bit while I'm making the brownie mix.
Caveat #2: Your natural inclination will be to slice this in line with the oreo grid in your middle layer. That is an honorable choice and I encourage it. But also, that will be a lot for some people, so when I make this for potlucks I usually cut it so each slice is half an oreo.
posted by jameaterblues at 8:23 PM on April 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
This sounds unbelievably stupid, but: bowl of grapes. Off the stem, just loose. People always eat the entire bowl. I have seen it with my own eyes.
posted by kerf at 8:24 PM on April 3, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by kerf at 8:24 PM on April 3, 2018 [10 favorites]
I once made a last minute work potluck dish by going to Walmart and getting precooked seasoned chicken fajita meat, a jar of peach salsa, and Mexican fruit seasoning. I combined the ingredients in a crockpot and let it cook at my desk all morning. I served it with flour tortillas. Everyone raved about it and several people asked me for the “recipe!”
posted by The Deej at 8:24 PM on April 3, 2018
posted by The Deej at 8:24 PM on April 3, 2018
Yes to grapes! Or cut up vegetables + chips and fiesta ranch dip, if you can find hidden Valley Ranch Fiesta Ranch dip mix. Mix the dip mix with a container of sour cream and a drained can of Rotel.
posted by leahwrenn at 8:32 PM on April 3, 2018
posted by leahwrenn at 8:32 PM on April 3, 2018
Bean salad. Combine drained cans of chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans, white beans, whatever combination you think is good. If you have feelings about bean brands now is the time to get the tastiest ones. Buy a bag of trimmed and washed green beans, microwave in batches until a little bit tender, or blanch them. Chop into smaller pieces. Dice up one shallot and one red/orange/yellow bell pepper. Mince a clove of garlic. Combine everything in a big bowl and add either a combination of oil, vinegar, salt, sugar and pepper that you like, or dump a bottled salad dressing in there. Give it at least a few hours to marinate, overnight is good too.
posted by Mizu at 8:37 PM on April 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Mizu at 8:37 PM on April 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
If you are willing to go the "obviously storebought but still appreciated" route and have access to a nice bakery, I have seen good loaves of bread go down very well. (Preslice them!)
posted by eponym at 8:50 PM on April 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by eponym at 8:50 PM on April 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
Win Your Next Potluck With Frijoles Charros (Mexican Cowboy Beans)
posted by ftm at 8:58 PM on April 3, 2018
posted by ftm at 8:58 PM on April 3, 2018
A nice cheese (and maybe some sliced salami and prosciutto) board is my go-to in these situations. People will be suitably impressed with your cheese-picking skills if it’s anything fancier than Sargento. Add some “fancy” crackers and you’re good to go.
posted by faineg at 9:00 PM on April 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by faineg at 9:00 PM on April 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
This was my potluck dish this week:
Peel and slice a bunch of carrots. Boil until tender. Cool. Toss with olive oil, a lot of lemon juice, salt, cumin, a lot of cilantro. You can place that all in a ziplock bag (it will get better with time). When you get to work, top with feta and sliced almonds. If you wanted it to be more substantial, you could add this to brown rice (more oil, lemon, cumin) or farro.
My other go-to is a shaved vegetable salad which only works for me as a quick salad if I use my mandolin: Very thin slices of fennel, carrots, cucumber, beets, radish, jicama, (basically anything that will work to slice thin, but I always have to have fennel in there because it makes the salad). Toss with oil, lots of lemon, salt and some greens--mint, arugula, parsley, up to you. Also good with nuts and/or bleu cheese.
posted by biscuits at 9:26 PM on April 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
Peel and slice a bunch of carrots. Boil until tender. Cool. Toss with olive oil, a lot of lemon juice, salt, cumin, a lot of cilantro. You can place that all in a ziplock bag (it will get better with time). When you get to work, top with feta and sliced almonds. If you wanted it to be more substantial, you could add this to brown rice (more oil, lemon, cumin) or farro.
My other go-to is a shaved vegetable salad which only works for me as a quick salad if I use my mandolin: Very thin slices of fennel, carrots, cucumber, beets, radish, jicama, (basically anything that will work to slice thin, but I always have to have fennel in there because it makes the salad). Toss with oil, lots of lemon, salt and some greens--mint, arugula, parsley, up to you. Also good with nuts and/or bleu cheese.
posted by biscuits at 9:26 PM on April 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
How about a loaf of No-Knead Bread? Heads up, the dough needs to rest 18 hours, but other than that it’s easy-peasy and you only need flour, yeast, and salt. People are always impressed by homemade bread and I bet they’ll devour it! Plus, you can stuff it in your purse or whatever; no need to balance a big bowl or tray.
posted by The Toad at 9:41 PM on April 3, 2018
posted by The Toad at 9:41 PM on April 3, 2018
Orzo, boiled, rinsed in cool water + some combination of:
good seasoned 3-bean salad
seasoned artichoke hearts
fresh herbs if they're handy
grape tomatoes
chopped olives
feta
Add a little olive oil if it's too dry, salt and pepper to taste (it may not need any).
posted by wintersweet at 10:22 PM on April 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
good seasoned 3-bean salad
seasoned artichoke hearts
fresh herbs if they're handy
grape tomatoes
chopped olives
feta
Add a little olive oil if it's too dry, salt and pepper to taste (it may not need any).
posted by wintersweet at 10:22 PM on April 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Caprese Bites -- mozzarella ball, folded-over basil leaf, and cherry tomato, on a toothpick. You can sprinkle them with a bit of balsamic vinegar if you want but they're also delicious plain. You could take the ingredients as-is and assemble them at work, they're so easy.
Cantaloupe bites wrapped in proscuitto are also delicious and quick to assemble.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 10:59 PM on April 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Cantaloupe bites wrapped in proscuitto are also delicious and quick to assemble.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 10:59 PM on April 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Seconding a stack of brownies. Very transportable and you can make them the day before and store in an airtight box or make them on the day. They always, always go down a storm. I use Nigella Lawson's recipe (without nuts) but in my (admittedly fantastical) vision of life in the US you have access to amazing quality brownie mixes in boxes which are quick and delicious???
posted by Heloise9 at 11:10 PM on April 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Heloise9 at 11:10 PM on April 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Let me give you lazy: cut up cantaloupe with orange liqueur drizzled over it; cut up green melon, shredded basil and sprinkled with gin; shrapnel salad from this site which was a can of black beans, corn and some other firm bean with a chopped tomato, avocado, chopped red onion and an Italian dressing of choice must include a giant bag of lime Tostitos on the side. If you want SUPER amounts of protein with two ingredients then look no further than a pork should slow cooked in a crockpot with root beer which is shredded after 8 hours on low and maybe dressed with your bbq sauce of choice.
posted by jadepearl at 11:14 PM on April 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by jadepearl at 11:14 PM on April 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
If you have a food processor or a decent blender, a sizeable batch of a good mezze type of dip or spread is pretty easy to throw together, and yet people seem to find it impressive that it's homemade. It's easy to transport in a single tupperware container, and you can pick up some pita (or pita chips) or a loaf of good crusty bread and/or a tray of crudites to go with it.
My favorite option for this is muhammara: my basic recipe is 1 cup walnuts; one 12-16 oz jar of roasted red peppers, drained; 2-4 cloves garlic, chopped; 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses; 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 tsp lemon juice; 1 tsp aleppo pepper or other chili flakes; a pinch of ground cumin; and salt to taste. You throw it all in and pulse till smooth, then refrigerate until shortly before serving (it will be fine at room temp on the commute). For a big potluck, I'd double the recipe. It has never not been a hit.
Some other options that follow the same throw-it-all-in-a-blender template: traditional hummus (just make it with canned chickpeas to save time), beet and white bean hummus (replace the chickpeas with white beans and add a roasted beet chopped up; the pre-roasted ones sold at Trader Joe's etc work fine here), and kopanisti (a Greek feta and pepperonici spread). Options that add one brief cooking step are baba ghanouj (you can roast the eggplant on a gas stovetop or in the oven), or havuç salatası, a Turkish carrot and yogurt salad/spread that is easy to make if your food processor can shred the carrots for you (otherwise use a grater, but that's more time/mess), after which you wilt them quickly in a skillet and then mix with the yogurt and seasonings. I tend to make all of these by eyeballing and taste-testing so can't provide amounts, but recipes are easy to find online.
posted by karayel at 11:18 PM on April 3, 2018
My favorite option for this is muhammara: my basic recipe is 1 cup walnuts; one 12-16 oz jar of roasted red peppers, drained; 2-4 cloves garlic, chopped; 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses; 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 tsp lemon juice; 1 tsp aleppo pepper or other chili flakes; a pinch of ground cumin; and salt to taste. You throw it all in and pulse till smooth, then refrigerate until shortly before serving (it will be fine at room temp on the commute). For a big potluck, I'd double the recipe. It has never not been a hit.
Some other options that follow the same throw-it-all-in-a-blender template: traditional hummus (just make it with canned chickpeas to save time), beet and white bean hummus (replace the chickpeas with white beans and add a roasted beet chopped up; the pre-roasted ones sold at Trader Joe's etc work fine here), and kopanisti (a Greek feta and pepperonici spread). Options that add one brief cooking step are baba ghanouj (you can roast the eggplant on a gas stovetop or in the oven), or havuç salatası, a Turkish carrot and yogurt salad/spread that is easy to make if your food processor can shred the carrots for you (otherwise use a grater, but that's more time/mess), after which you wilt them quickly in a skillet and then mix with the yogurt and seasonings. I tend to make all of these by eyeballing and taste-testing so can't provide amounts, but recipes are easy to find online.
posted by karayel at 11:18 PM on April 3, 2018
Tuna-bean salad: a tin of tuna, a tin of flageolet or other beans, finely chopped half an onion, salad dressing. Maybe some chopped parsley (or dill or whatever you prefer) to make it look nicer.
Smoked mackerel pate: blend up some smoked mackerel fillets with enough sour cream to make the right consistency, plus lemon juice and black pepper to taste.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 12:32 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
Smoked mackerel pate: blend up some smoked mackerel fillets with enough sour cream to make the right consistency, plus lemon juice and black pepper to taste.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 12:32 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
I've taken David Liebovitz's spicy pretzel and nut mix to many work potlucks and there's never any left to take home afterwards. I can't get maple syrup or mini pretzel twists easily, so I just use honey and extra nuts. I like to do a mix of peanuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, and walnuts (be sure to get unroasted/unsalted nuts).
posted by neushoorn at 2:27 AM on April 4, 2018
posted by neushoorn at 2:27 AM on April 4, 2018
Curried orzo salad!
It doesn't look like something great, I agree. But every time I make this, it's the first thing to disappear. I am forbidden to come to any friend gathering without making some. It's actually really easy to make; while the water is coming to a boil, make the dressing. While the orzo cooks, cut the onions and apples (don't peel them!). You can also add cut up red grapes, currants, etc. I always, ALWAYS, double the almonds, apples, and onions.
It's even better the second day so I always hold some back for my own lunch and add chicken.
posted by cooker girl at 5:46 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
It doesn't look like something great, I agree. But every time I make this, it's the first thing to disappear. I am forbidden to come to any friend gathering without making some. It's actually really easy to make; while the water is coming to a boil, make the dressing. While the orzo cooks, cut the onions and apples (don't peel them!). You can also add cut up red grapes, currants, etc. I always, ALWAYS, double the almonds, apples, and onions.
It's even better the second day so I always hold some back for my own lunch and add chicken.
posted by cooker girl at 5:46 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
There is a dip I have made in the past that people go bugnuts for - and the only equipment you will need is a microwave oven and a food processor.
Basically you reconstitute some sun-dried tomatoes by dumping them into a bowl with some water, microwaving that for a few minutes, then letting that cool down so the tomatoes soak up the water; then you throw in some olive oil, oregano, and a couple garlic cloves, and microwave all that again. Then puree the whole mess. That's it.
A tub of that and some good bread and you're good. Seriously, I've had people come up to me at parties and tell me "I have been trying to fight the urge to bury my entire face in this stuff". Let me know if you want the official recipe with ingredient quantities and stuff.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:30 AM on April 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
Basically you reconstitute some sun-dried tomatoes by dumping them into a bowl with some water, microwaving that for a few minutes, then letting that cool down so the tomatoes soak up the water; then you throw in some olive oil, oregano, and a couple garlic cloves, and microwave all that again. Then puree the whole mess. That's it.
A tub of that and some good bread and you're good. Seriously, I've had people come up to me at parties and tell me "I have been trying to fight the urge to bury my entire face in this stuff". Let me know if you want the official recipe with ingredient quantities and stuff.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:30 AM on April 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
I am not the OP but would welcome the official recipe, EmpressCallipygos.
posted by Bella Donna at 7:01 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Bella Donna at 7:01 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
I posted a similar question last year - question - and ended up making the cornbread and the smores bars and they were both a hit!
posted by silverstatue at 7:42 AM on April 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by silverstatue at 7:42 AM on April 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
Slice kielbasa. Mix with sauerkraut, from a pack, slightly rinsed. . Throw in slow cooker to warm. Serve.
posted by slateyness at 8:09 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by slateyness at 8:09 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
I will post the full sun dried tomato dip recipe when I get home and can consult the cookbook. But I think it's something like 8 ounces of the dried tomatoes (the kind in a bag, NOT the kind packed in oil in a jar), a half cup of water, a half cup of olive oil, 3-4 garlic cloves and dried oregano and that's it.
I just went searching for it and saw a lot of dip recipes that had things like mayonaise or cream cheese; I know my recipe definitely didn't have those.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:19 AM on April 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
I just went searching for it and saw a lot of dip recipes that had things like mayonaise or cream cheese; I know my recipe definitely didn't have those.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:19 AM on April 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
My go-to for potlucks is tortellini salad. It is really more assembling than cooking. I cook a big bag of frozen tortellini and add pesto. Then I add chopped up artichokes, peppers, salami, and whatever else sounds good (I usually get a bunch of stuff from the olive/antipasta bar at the grocery store). Serve it cold. It's always been popular at work potlucks!
posted by iximox at 9:13 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by iximox at 9:13 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
This probably won't work for you without one of those insulated casserole carriers (both for ease of transport and keeping it warm until potluck time), but this is a ridiculously easy dish and people LOVE it (seriously, just served it this weekend, and people were SO excited).
If you have a mandoline slicer, this is even easier!
3 baking potatoes, cleaned, peeled, and thinly sliced
1 qt heavy whipping cream
2 cloves garlic (but I usually double or triple because I love garlic)
2 tsp salt
1.5 tsp pepper
Layer the potato slices in a 9x12 casserole dish (I just reread my recipe, and it says to butter the dish, but I never do that)
Mix the cream, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl
Pour the mixture over the potatoes
Bake at 400 for 50 minutes
This has been my go-to potluck dish for years. I got my mandoline and casserole carrier specifically to facilitate this recipe.
posted by natabat at 9:57 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
If you have a mandoline slicer, this is even easier!
3 baking potatoes, cleaned, peeled, and thinly sliced
1 qt heavy whipping cream
2 cloves garlic (but I usually double or triple because I love garlic)
2 tsp salt
1.5 tsp pepper
Layer the potato slices in a 9x12 casserole dish (I just reread my recipe, and it says to butter the dish, but I never do that)
Mix the cream, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl
Pour the mixture over the potatoes
Bake at 400 for 50 minutes
This has been my go-to potluck dish for years. I got my mandoline and casserole carrier specifically to facilitate this recipe.
posted by natabat at 9:57 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
Oh yeah, and seconding the meatballs with grape jelly sauce (I've never used Sweet Baby Ray's but will now -- I usually use Heinz Chili sauce) -- my mom suggested it for years before I finally broke down and tried it. They're delicious!
posted by natabat at 10:00 AM on April 4, 2018
posted by natabat at 10:00 AM on April 4, 2018
In my family, it's Lil Smokes, red currant jelly, tomato sauce, a touch of cider vinegar. So good.
posted by theora55 at 10:25 AM on April 4, 2018
posted by theora55 at 10:25 AM on April 4, 2018
Response by poster: I'm really loving all of the suggestions! The potluck got pushed back to next Friday, so I have some time to decide, thank goodness. And yes, I'd love the recipe, EmpressCallipygos. Several of these other dishes are really appealing to me, too. Thanks!
posted by slidell at 11:13 AM on April 4, 2018
posted by slidell at 11:13 AM on April 4, 2018
My go-to, one-bowl, no-cook dish to bring when I literally have 10 minutes to make something is a retro mid-century-style tropical fruit salad (with one 21st century update-- yogurt instead of "whipped topping"): get a big mixing/serving bowl and mix 2 (drained) cans of tropical fruit mix, 1 (drained) can of mandarin oranges, 1 sliced fresh banana, shredded unsweetened coconut, a couple of pinches of brown sugar to taste, and half a cup of vanilla yogurt. Marshmallows optional (but usually appreciated by the crowd).
posted by BlueJae at 12:53 PM on April 4, 2018
posted by BlueJae at 12:53 PM on April 4, 2018
I've made these little spicy goat cheese roll-up logs that people seem to like.
Get a bunch of sliced spicy Soppresata/Calabrese (or do a mix of spicy / mild, up to you). The ones at my grocery store come in elongated slices. Buy a log or 2 of goat cheese. With very clean hands, rip off a small chunk of goat cheese, shape it into a little finger, and roll it up with the calabrese. (I usually have to cut mine in half, b/c it's too much wrapping for the cheese otherwise.) Takes maybe 20 mins to make a whole bunch.
Packed into a tupperware, they transport easily and also the packing helps them hold together when plated. The mild goat cheese cuts tempers the spicy sausage, and the finger-foodness of it appealing.
posted by miss_kitty_fantastico at 12:55 PM on April 4, 2018
Get a bunch of sliced spicy Soppresata/Calabrese (or do a mix of spicy / mild, up to you). The ones at my grocery store come in elongated slices. Buy a log or 2 of goat cheese. With very clean hands, rip off a small chunk of goat cheese, shape it into a little finger, and roll it up with the calabrese. (I usually have to cut mine in half, b/c it's too much wrapping for the cheese otherwise.) Takes maybe 20 mins to make a whole bunch.
Packed into a tupperware, they transport easily and also the packing helps them hold together when plated. The mild goat cheese cuts tempers the spicy sausage, and the finger-foodness of it appealing.
posted by miss_kitty_fantastico at 12:55 PM on April 4, 2018
I have an evening class where people bring snacks every week on a rotating schedule. People like homemade stuff, but hands-down the most popular items are always cheese plates. Depending on the size of the group, get three to six cheeses.
Basic principles for a good cheese plate:
- At least one of each of these: a cheddar-type cheese (sliceable), something like a brie (spreadable and creamy), and something funky (Humboldt Fog is excellent for this if your grocery store has it). If you're getting more than three, you should have a soft goat cheese and something sweet (like a cheese with fruit in it) as well.
- Prepped fruit to serve with. Grapes and sliced apples are perfect.
- Something to put the cheese on. A baguette and one of those boxes of mixed party crackers is perfect.
- Finally, presentation: Do you have a nice-looking wooden cutting board (or can you borrow one)? This will elevate it beyond "I grabbed this stuff at Whole Foods before work" to "I am a cultured person sharing delectable cheeses with my coworkers." Same goes for a couple of butter knives (if you don't have cheese knives/spreaders) and a bread knife for the baguette. If you don't have a wooden cutting board, another type of serving platter will work.
- If you want to go really next-level, you can buy some fancy deli meats (hard salami, prosciutto) and call it a charcuterie board.
Obviously, this can get expensive, so if you have the time, I'd recommend doing one of the other recipes suggested here. But if you've got more money than time and you want to do something that people will really appreciate, it's all about the cheese board/plate, nicely presented.
posted by lunasol at 1:57 PM on April 4, 2018
Basic principles for a good cheese plate:
- At least one of each of these: a cheddar-type cheese (sliceable), something like a brie (spreadable and creamy), and something funky (Humboldt Fog is excellent for this if your grocery store has it). If you're getting more than three, you should have a soft goat cheese and something sweet (like a cheese with fruit in it) as well.
- Prepped fruit to serve with. Grapes and sliced apples are perfect.
- Something to put the cheese on. A baguette and one of those boxes of mixed party crackers is perfect.
- Finally, presentation: Do you have a nice-looking wooden cutting board (or can you borrow one)? This will elevate it beyond "I grabbed this stuff at Whole Foods before work" to "I am a cultured person sharing delectable cheeses with my coworkers." Same goes for a couple of butter knives (if you don't have cheese knives/spreaders) and a bread knife for the baguette. If you don't have a wooden cutting board, another type of serving platter will work.
- If you want to go really next-level, you can buy some fancy deli meats (hard salami, prosciutto) and call it a charcuterie board.
Obviously, this can get expensive, so if you have the time, I'd recommend doing one of the other recipes suggested here. But if you've got more money than time and you want to do something that people will really appreciate, it's all about the cheese board/plate, nicely presented.
posted by lunasol at 1:57 PM on April 4, 2018
Echoing kerf, you can't go wrong with a bowl of prepared fruit or veggies. That could be a big bowl of cuties (tangerines), hulled strawberries, cherry tomatoes, jicama and carrot sticks, persian cucumbers, etc. Especially if people are potluck overachievers, folks will appreciate fresh palate cleansers to accompany the rich and/or flavorful dishes. I particularly like the cuties because they need no prep, are instantly recognizable (also vegan, gluten-free, etc) and don't go bad if they hang out in the office for a few days after the event.
It sounds like you have time to prep something more complicated, but cuties are my go-to when I'm in a pinch.
posted by annaramma at 3:38 PM on April 4, 2018
It sounds like you have time to prep something more complicated, but cuties are my go-to when I'm in a pinch.
posted by annaramma at 3:38 PM on April 4, 2018
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