Help!!!!! Pot Luck at Work 8/29/06

I usually just pick up some pasta salad at Costco for pot-luck, and it works great. As far as coming up with ideas for dinner, I found this great site a few weeks ago and absolutely love it! Best of all, it is free! Everything we've tried so far is delicious! It has weekly menus, and you can even download a weekly grocery list already filled out. Perfect for people like me who aren't great at coming up with anything for dinner! http://www.menus4moms.com/

Good luck with the pot-luck!

We just had a BBQ and my friend made a fruit platter with the most delicious dip. All you need is 1 bar of cream cheese, a jar of marshmallow fluff and 1 tsp of lemon juice. Let the cream cheese soften, mix with marshmallow fluff and lemon juice. (beware - it is REALLY sticky!)
We dipped strawberries, grapes and pineapple. Hope this helps! ENJOY! :)
T.

Hi S., I've got a great recipe (and easy)for spinach dip. I always receive tons of compliments for it and it's just a matter of putting all ingredients in a bowl and mixing (as opposed to a lot of time consuming steps). Here it is!

Mix the following in a large bowl:
1 package of chopped spinach (small package in freezer section, must be chopped--less than $1.00)you'll want to defrost this to squeeze the excess water (from being frozen) out of it. I usually defrost in the package with a plate under it in the microwave (water tends to seep out). Once it seems soft, I wrap the spinach in a paper towel and squeeze the excess water out of it over the sink
1 16oz container of sour cream
1 cup mayo
the juice of 1 lemon
1 bunch of chopped green onions (I usually only use the white/light green part, but feel free to use the whole stem)
celery salt (season to taste; I use quite a bit)

Serve with favorite dipper. I usually hollow out a bread bowl to use as my serving dish (for the dip by spooning the dip into it) and use a cut up loaf of sourdough bread as my dipper, but you can serve w/ veggies or crackers as well. If you are cutting up bread, the whole process can take up to 30 minutes, but if you're just making the dip, it should only take 10-15 minutes. My address is ____@____.com if you have any questions.

I would love to hear if you use this and how it goes over. I end up getting requests for this. Good luck!

When I need a quick and cheap meal I love making tuna noodle salad. It can be served hot with melted cheese on top or served cold. Boil some noodles (you can choose what kind or noodles and how many you need. my favorite is rotini). After the noodles are done cooking, drain them. Add one can of Cream of Mushroom Soup, 1/4 milk, 2 cans tuna fish, and 1/2 grated parmesan cheese. Mix together and viole, easy salad. You can choose to heat up the mixture on the stove and add shredded cheese on top, or pop it in the fridge and serve cold. You can add fresh tomatoes if you like. It sounds weird, but if you like tuna fish, it tastes really good. I usually add some pepper to taste. Good Luck!
~ S.

I use this a lot for dinner or I cook and place it in my hot carrier for potlucks.

EASY ONE DISH CHICKEN & RICE BAKE

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups water
1 and 1/2 cup uncooked reg. Rice
1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional)
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 frying chicken,cut up (8 pieces)

IN 9"x13" baking dish mix soups, water, rice, paprika, and pepper. Place chicken on top; sprinkle with additional paprika and pepper. Cover and bake 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until done.

I usually use chicken breast or thighs instead or I have chopped it into bite size pieces. I have also added frozen broccli or green beans

Little smokies in BBQ sauce are easy and inexpensive and everyone loves them!! Just cook in small crockpot and serve warm with toothpicks.

Taco Soup is great too...kidney beans,pinto beans,black beans, 1 can tomato sauce,1 package taco seasoning,1 package ranch dip seasoning, 1 can corn, 1lb hamburger. Brown hamburger and add taco seasoning. Mix all other in large pot. Add hamburger and serve with tortilla chips, cheese and sour cream. You can either dip with chips or crunch chips and eat with a spoon. Add cheese and sour cream as desired. Leave out hamburger for vegetarian preference. VERY tasty and easy!

This is an easy recipe and I always get good reviews.

Carmel Apple Dip
1-8ox pkg cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1-tsp vanilla

Mix; serve in bowl with sliced apples

S.,
Here is somthing simple and inexspensive for you to do for next time..
Go to the store and pick up;Cambles boxed spinige soup recepie, some sour creem, chips of your choice,and a bread boul if you like.
Any way there are derectionson the box to mis up the dip then puit in bread boul or a did boul grab your chips and your off. Done in 10 minuts tops. Your co worrkers will be inpressed and you will be in happy it took so little time.

I love this website to look up recipes or get ideas. The recipes are usually rated, and each one that I've tried has been as good as other people say. www.allrecipes.com It seems like you are having a picnic style potluck, so maybe you could bring corn on the cob, or a fresh steam veggies(like baby carrots w/ cinnamon or honey, or dill).

Frito Salad

1 bag regular fritos (small/med bag)
2 cups shredded cheese
1 large green pepper-chopped
3 large tomatoes-chopped
1 bunch green onions-chopped
1 bottle catalina dressing
2 cans kidney beans-drained and rinsed

Mix all, but the fritos together. Just before serving mix in the fritos and serve cold.

The recipe sounds interesting but everyone LOVES it. It is colorful and very tasty!!
Good luck

Hi S.! If you have access to fresh blackberries, which are wonderful this year, here's a simple and scrumptious cobbler recipe:

6-8 cups blackberries
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 t lemon juice

Mix together and pour into any medium size baking dish, as long as it fits with enough space left for biscuits.

Biscuits:
1 cup flour
2 T sugar
1 1/2 t baking pwdr
1/4 t salt
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1 slightly beaten egg

Sift dry ingredients, cut in butter with pastry blender or fork til crumbly. Stir in egg and milk til moistened. Drop by spoonsful over berries.
Bake at 400, 25 minutes.
(I like lots of berries and a little bit of biscuit, so I either add more berries or don't use all the biscuit mix.)

Hot Spinach and Artichoke dip. I made this a couple weeks ago for a party and it was a hit. Top it with some diced red bell pepper after you cook it, to add a little extra. It says to bake it, but you can microwave it as well, or bake it and reheat it. You can serve it with toasted baugette slices or tortilla chips, either way, this is an awesome recipe! And its easy!!
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a small baking dish.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, Romano cheese, garlic, basil, garlic salt, salt and pepper. Gently stir in artichoke hearts and spinach.
3. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with mozzarella cheese. Bake in the preheated oven 25 minutes, until bubbly and lightly browned.

I tried this last night as a last minute salad...if a salad is what you'd like to take:

yellow/orange/red cherry tomatoes cut in half, a cucumber diced, some vanilla yogurt (optional), honey and lemon juice to taste is all yoiu need. I started with 1T lemon juice and 1T of honey...and adjusted from there and put a dollop of the yogurt on top as a garnish...just be sure to let it chill in the fridge for a little while. It was quite nummy.

and for future reference, I have a book called "Country Quick and Easy" from Gooseberry Patch books (which is where I found the recipe btw although I added the yogurt on a whim) and it has TONS of great, EASY and QUICK recipes and other ideas for crafts and such.

Hope you get some good recipes!

You could also do a quick dip. Guacamole, and Salsa, mixed together,& bring tortilla chips. You can also by guac & salsa aleady mixed. Cheap and easy.

Here is an easy one. I found this to be one that men and women liked and its real easy.
1 pkg spiral pasta (or 2 depending on how many people)
1 bottle of Bernstein's Cheesy Fantastico Salad dressing
1 can sliced olives (black)
1 package sliced pepperoni (or buy one and slice it)
1 med block of cheddar cheese

You boil the pasta of course, throw it in the dish you are taking. Cut up the cheese and pepperoni into little bite size chunks and throw it in, I probably use about 2 cups maybe, throw in the olives, maybe salt and pepper and then pour the dressing on - I do it to "taste" - try half the bottle, then mix it up - refrigerate for a couple hours before serving - I always taste it first, then add some more dressing if its dry.
Really easy, and goes over good at potlucks when I have used it. Good luck!

I always bring a green salad with strawberries, blue cheese, walnuts tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette dressing...but it's not that cheap.
My husband brings hotdogs, buns , ketchup and mustard and it's always a big hit. I think he brings the crock pot in to warm up the dogs. He also brings in velveta cheese/chili dip with chips - cheap, easy and a hit. Go to Velveta's website for the recipe.

Inexpensive, fast, tasty? Have you thought of simple baked beans? One speedy recipe is to take about 5 pieces of bacon, cut into small pieces, mix with chopped onion-one small onion. Brown up the bacon and onion, drain off the oil, add large can of pork & beans that you drain off the liquid.
Mix up the onion, bacon & beans, then add around a cup of ketchup and cook on the stovetop (low) or bake in the oven until the texture is just right.
with the other menu items you mentioned, this might be a hit! Happy Pot Luck

It seems the only veggies you ever see is either salad or veggie trays. But a crock pot full of green beans is always appreciated, goes with anything, and is cheap!

Take a can of cream of mushroom soup and a can of cream of celery soup. The most important ingredient, besides the green beans (buy either fresh or frozen ~ not canned!) is fried bacon with onion. Crumble (I use a food processor) into crockpot with other ingredients. A little milk, sour cream and velveeta helps make the sauce good. You can do this in a casserole, but the crock pot keeps it hot and leaves the oven free. Cook at least 2 hours on high, stir every 15 minutes. Bon Apetit!

For a more detailed recipe, search the web for green bean recipes... there are a million.

S.,
I would suggest pasta salad. It is really easy. You can get the mix at the store that comes in a box or make it home made. The homemade is made with pasta like macaroni pasta with black olives fresh broc., a bottle of italian dressing and I put pepporoni in mine. IT is really good and takes probably 10 to 15 min to make. Hope this helps.
A.

Hi S.,
I recommend making corn bread from a mix. It's easy and cheap and generally well liked! Bring a jar of honey along also if you wish. This has been a success for me in the past!
H.

I was suprised at how big, cheap and delicious the costco potaote salad was I bought for my potluck yesterday, its around 5.00 and even the people at the potluck asked it it was costco before I even opened it, I told them yes and they were excited because they love costco potatoe salad, and you get a ton! Its not vinegarie tasting like smiths or albertsons, really tast home made, another hit was the cream puffs from costco. My mom brought those and she went home with none.