Potluck - Lone Tree,IA

I usually do a treat because I like baking. Brownies and cookies are really easy to transport and serve at a potluck. There is a fantastic browned butter snickerdoodle recipe I found on pinterest, also double decker cookie dough brownies or oreo brownies.

Or, a pasta salad of some sort goes a long way, is relatively inexpensive and easy. There are so many different ones you could try. Or a big green salad which is usually appreciated since everyone else tends to bring carb-y, unhealthy stuff.

I have a pumpkin cake recipe I make for potlucks that's always a big hit. Will post recipe when my kid is no longer sleeping on top of me ;)

ETA ... Forgot I had it on the iPad ...

1 can pumpkin pie filling mix (not solid pack pumpkin)
1 yellow cake mix with pudding in the mix
2 sticks melted BUTTER, cooled slightly
1 can evaporated milk
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 cup chopped nuts (I like pecans, some like walnuts)
Cinnamon, to taste
Cool Whip

Line a 9x13 pan with waxed paper, overlapping all 4 edges of the pan. Mix together, pumpkin pie filling mix, evaporated milk, sugar, eggs, and cinnamon to taste. Pour into pan gently so it doesn't flow under the waxed paper. Sprinkle cake mix and then nuts on top of pumpkin mix. Pour butter over everything. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes. Let cool. Invert cake onto a serving platter and frost with cool whip. Store refrigerated.

Now, I don't usually do the lining and inverting thing, unless I really want it to look pretty. I usually just bake it and then serve it like cobbler with the cool whip on the side for this who want it.

Does he know if he wants to bring a dessert, or a salad?
In the past for neighborhood pot lucks we've done
Chicken salad
Broccoli/cheddar/bacon salad
shrimp
stuffed mushrooms
chocolate chunk brownies
Ghosts in the Graveyard (a pudding dessert for Halloween)
Cucumber salad
Cucumber dip
Guacomole and chips

Sometimes, I go buy a pre-made big sub sandwich at the grocery store (usually in the refrigerator in the deli), then I cut it up and it's a great addition for a pot-luck...and no work. Walmart sells a pretty big sub for under $6

Depending on what else people are bringing, I made a creamed corn for my husbands bday party Friday night and we had about 40 people. You can cut the recipe in 1/2 for less people but OMG, EVERYONE wanted the recipe and its beyond easy:

4 large "family" size canned whole corn
2 blocks cream cheese
2 sticks of butter

Put all butter and cream cheese blocks in the bottom of a crock pot. Drain cans of corn, add to crock. Heat on high, stir after about 30 min. Turn to low and cook several hours, stirring on occasion. Add salt and pepper to taste. YUMMO!

I made some pumpkin pie roll-ups with crescent dough and pumpkin pie filling (pumpkin, cream cheese, spices) that was rolled up, rolled in sugar and spices and baked. Easy and yummy. I also made whipped cream to go with it.

Mini pigs in a blanket are a good one around here. You could do a baked brie or fill phyllo dough shells with chicken salad or taco meat or fruit.

Pillsbury's website has a ton of super easy and yummy semi-homemade treats that are perfect for pot lucks. I get a lot of ideas from there.

When I need to do something for a pot luck where there are a few people, more than just a couple, I go to the local library and look in the periodicals area for Taste of Home magazines. They used to have a section called Food for a Crowd or something similar to that name.

It was a page of recipes for groups. It had things like sloppy joes for 25 or meat loaf for a hundred....

They don't have that section any more and I can't find the recipes on the website. So if you're looking for good recipes that are portioned for a larger group then check those out.

I am going to a potluck on Thursday and am taking perogies.
A crock pot of homemade mac and cheese is also often a potluck hit.

My easy way out is to hit Trader Joe's, or other grocer for party size frozen meat balls and there is a Hawaiian Soyaki sauce, or a good teriyaki sauce. Toss in the slow cooker on low and serve 4-6 hours later. If you have time to make handmade meatballs and toss them in the slow cooker with some sauce, marinara, teriyaki, something fun, they are always a hit at our office potluck and neighborhood block party. Not many people bring a meat dish, usually lots of baked goodies and some side dishes. Allrecipes.com has lots of meatball recipes.

Meatballs in a sweet and sour sauce or gravy, lasagna, pasta salad or scalloped potatoes are my usual potluck go to's.

Yeast Rolls from Hardee's.

A crock pot with yummy, gooey cheesy artichoke dip and a basket of pita chips for dipping.

I second Hawaiian meatballs (my 7 year old just had these). Pirogi casserole with pirogi, sauerkraut, caramelized onion bits, and kielbasa. Cider chicken. Noodle kugel. Blackeyed pea salad or deviled eggs for a cold dish.

My quick and easy potluck addition is normally Beer Bread and one of the Tastefully Simple dips. You can't mess them up and they are quick and easy.

If I have more time, I'll make a nice veggie platter (I despise the premade ones at the store). Or something like homemade macaroni and cheese, hashbrown casserole, broccoli casserole, green bean casserole, etc...all very easy and quick. Have fun!

Since Monday is the beginning of Thanksgiving week (and it sounds like you'll probably be cooking Turkey Day dinner ;-), I would say do something incredibly easy, like the meatballs. And if you are able, do it in a disposable dish so you don't have to worry about a good piece of cookware not making it back home.

You've made me hungry now!!!!