Pot Luck Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas?

[blowinbubbles]

That time of year is upon us again. . . Thankgiving and Christmas and all the work-related pot luck holiday dinners inbetween!

I thought I'd poll the Disboards to see what kind of yummy ideas/recipes you all might have that would be good for a Holiday Pot-luck dinner!

At my past two jobs, we've had the best pot-lucks, with real, homemade dishes. . . nothing from Sam's! At my first one, which was in lower Alabama, I made a Romaine Salad with Mandarin oranges. Didn't go over very well with the country folks. Last year, I can't remember what I brought, but I was thinking about candied sweet potatoes or some Andoui (sp?) sausage stuffing for this year.

Does anyone have any big-hit recipes they'd like to share? It can be any type of recipe. . . side dish, dessert, or main. I'll get my recipe file and see what I can come up with.

Ann

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I've done a few of the holiday potlucks, and the biggest hits were the candied yams (the recipe right off the can, belive it or not!) and the cornbread casserole. Both easy to make, and both get rave reviews!

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Here's the cornbread casserole recipe:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe-Tools/Print/PrintFull.aspx?RecipeID=13742&servings=9

 

[Swimnoid]

I just saw a recipe yesterday in "Simple and Delicious" that was a crescent roll ring with a cheesy chicken and bacon filling. It looked easy too. Thats what I am going to take to the annual Christmas thing that I go to.

 

[arminnie]

Here are two that have gone over big at pot lucks.
Cornbread - Broccoli

2 pkgs Jiffy cornbread mix
1 c cottage cheese
1 stick oleo
4 eggs
1 c chopped onions
10 oz pkg chopped broccoli,
Beat eggs. Drain broccoli well. Mix all ingredients. Put in well-greased pan or iron skillet. Bake at 400
degrees fro about 40 minutes. (oblong pan))
Source: Oak Forest Methodist Cookbook 10/96
This is a very moist cornbread. You really don't even need to butter it.
Grits - Garlic Cheese

4 c water
1 c uncooked grits
1 lb grated cheese (mixture of cheddar and pepperjack is good)
1/2 t cumin
2 cloves garlic
1 t salt
1/4 butter
Boil water. Slowly add grits. Cook 5 minutes. Add cheese (except 1/4 c cheddar), butter and seasoning. Pour into casserole dish. Top with cheddar. Bake uncovered for 30 min. at 350.
Source: Little Rock Cooks

 

[yeartolate]

I get frequent requests for turkey pie.

I use premade pie shells (deep dish). Layer turkey, stuffing, whole cranberry sauce. I usually can manage about 6 total layers. If you use freshly prepared stuffing - stilll warm.....when you place the second pie shell over the top, it will nicely conform to the shape of the pie. Bake like you would a fruit pie.

 

[cccm]

I made this last year and am going to make it again, Great Pumpkin Dessert.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Great-Pumpkin-Dessert/Detail.aspx

 

[FormrCastMbr]

I make what is called Holiday Cranberry Salad. It really is yummy. Here is the recipe:

1 12 oz bag of raw cranberries, crushed finely in the blender (crush in batches)
2 oranges, cut up (I use 2 small cans of mandarin oranges, drained)
1 pack large red jello, any flavor
2 cups boiling water
1 cup sugar
1 - 2 apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Mix cranberries and sugar. Put jello in a medium size bowl and add 2 cups boiling water and mix. Then add cranberry mixture and oranges. Mix well. Add apples and walnuts and let set.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

DIRT DESSERT
===========

This one is always a hit for me. There's always at least one person in the group who has never seen it before, and it tastes wonderful.

Get a new 10" or 12" flower pot -- I got one that's glazed inside and out to make cleaning easier. I also have a garden hand trowel in my kitchen drawer that is dedicated to this dessert. You'll also need a bunch of artificial flowers (ones with plastic stems rather than ones that are wrapped in cloth tape).

2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese
1 c. 10X sugar
2 (3 oz.) boxes instant chocolate pudding
3 c. milk
2 (16 oz.) packages Cool Whip
1 lg. pkg. Oreo cookies

Cream sugar and cream cheese. Beat milk, pudding and vanilla until thick, then add to cream cheese mixture. Fold in Cool Whip.

Crush Oreo cookies in food processor until they look like potting soil.

If the flower pot has a hole in the bottom, place a sheet of aluminum foil inside. Start with a thin layer of crushed oreos, then a thick layer of pudding mixture. Repeat to the top of the pot. Finish with a thick layer of oreos. Chill overnight.

Before placing on the table, insert the flowers in the center. Then, surprise everyone when you serve the centerpiece for dessert!



Last Minute "I forgot to make something" Crab Appetizer
==========================================

This one tastes so good, my friends now ask for it specifically. The nice part is that it's easy to throw together very quickly.

2 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese
1 (6 oz) can Bumble Bee crab meat, drained
1/2 (12 oz) bottle cocktail sauce
1 box crackers

Place blocks of cream cheese side-by-side in center of large plate to form a square. Pile crab meat on top. Coat all with cocktail sauce. Surround on plate with crackers.

 

[FormrCastMbr]

DIRT DESSERT

Last Minute "I forgot to make something" Crab Appetizer
==========================================

I make a similar version of the "Dirt" but never thought to serve it like you do...thanks for a great idea!

I have also made the other dessert, just with small shrimp or the imitation crab...it really is yummy!

Thanks again!

 

[blowinbubbles]

So far, all these sound wonderful! I just got home from working my organization's Wine & Food Classic and had some good food, but these good 'ol classics sound great!

That turkey pie sounds to-die-for~! All the good stuff in one bite!

Also, I think I had the chocolate dirt thing at one pot luck dinner. . .you are right, it is awesome. Although the one I had was served in a regular dish.

The candied sweet potato recipe my mom uses just has sliced potatoes cooked with a butter/brown sugar/spice sauce. I love them! But then again, I think we are partial to the things we grew up on, don't you think?

 

[blowinbubbles]

My stepdaughter made something very similar to this a couple of weeks ago, except she had a topping on it that had sour cream in it. It was so good!

I make what is called Holiday Cranberry Salad. It really is yummy. Here is the recipe:

1 12 oz bag of raw cranberries, crushed finely in the blender (crush in batches)
2 oranges, cut up (I use 2 small cans of mandarin oranges, drained)
1 pack large red jello, any flavor
2 cups boiling water
1 cup sugar
1 - 2 apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Mix cranberries and sugar. Put jello in a medium size bowl and add 2 cups boiling water and mix. Then add cranberry mixture and oranges. Mix well. Add apples and walnuts and let set.

 

[Katy Belle]

Sweet potato casserole

INGREDIENTS
4 1/2 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup milk
1 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup butter
1 1/2 cup chopped pecans


DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a large bowl, mix together mashed sweet potatoes, 1/2 cup butter, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and eggs. Spread sweet potato mixture into the prepared baking dish. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar and flour. Cut in 1/3 cup butter until mixture is crumbly, then stir in pecans. Sprinkle pecan mixture over the sweet potatoes.
Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

This tastes more like dessert than side dish...but people LOVE it. I bake it in Pampered chef stoneware and I think it tastes even better!!

 

[barkley]

Sweet potato casserole

INGREDIENTS
4 1/2 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup milk
1 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup butter
1 1/2 cup chopped pecans


DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a large bowl, mix together mashed sweet potatoes, 1/2 cup butter, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and eggs. Spread sweet potato mixture into the prepared baking dish. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar and flour. Cut in 1/3 cup butter until mixture is crumbly, then stir in pecans. Sprinkle pecan mixture over the sweet potatoes.
Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

This tastes more like dessert than side dish...but people LOVE it. I bake it in Pampered chef stoneware and I think it tastes even better!!

i tried a variation on this last year. i sprinkled some miniture marshmellows into the yam mixture and then topped with the pecan mixture like normal. the marshmellows melted very nicely within the body of the recipie and it went over realy well.


you can also do the tried and true 'green bean casserole' recipie on the mushroom soup can, but try adding a couple of cans of sliced water chestnuts to give it a nice crunch

 

[FormrCastMbr]

I have also added crispy bacon to my sweet potatoes...it really is yummy!

The candied sweet potato recipe my mom uses just has sliced potatoes cooked with a butter/brown sugar/spice sauce. I love them! But then again, I think we are partial to the things we grew up on, don't you think?

Yep, I love the food I grew up having...the green bean casserole, candied sweet potatoes, sausage stuffing, creamed onions...yum!

My stepdaughter made something very similar to this a couple of weeks ago, except she had a topping on it that had sour cream in it. It was so good!

Yum. Do you think you can get that recipe? TIA!

Sweet potato casserole

This is something that I would love!

you can also do the tried and true 'green bean casserole' recipie on the mushroom soup can, but try adding a couple of cans of sliced water chestnuts to give it a nice crunch

Love it!

 

[blowinbubbles]

I will see if I can get the recipe from her. She originally got it from my MIL, but my MIL uses sugar-free Jello and Low-fat sour cream. That's probably how I'd make it, but the "real" way was yummy!

Quote:
Originally Posted by blowinbubbles
My stepdaughter made something very similar to this a couple of weeks ago, except she had a topping on it that had sour cream in it. It was so good!

Yum. Do you think you can get that recipe? TIA!

This something that I would love!



Love it!

 

[blowinbubbles]

Finally got the recipe from my stepdaughter for her Jello Salad. It's really almost the same as yours, FormrCastMbr. I was thinking it was something different.

The recipe doesn't give the instructions for the topping she uses, but she told me that she mixes either cream cheese and Cool Whip, or cream cheese and sour cream, depending on how tangy she wants it.

Jello Salad

INGREDIENTS:
1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained
2 packages (4 serving size or 1 package for 8 serving size) raspberry Jell-O
1 can (16 ounces) whole berry cranberry sauce
1 medium chopped apple (I used Granny Smith.)
2/3 cup chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS:
Drain pineapple, reserving liquid in 1 quart measuring cup. Remove 1 tablespoon of crushed pineapple, set aside for garnish.

Add enough cold water to reserved liquid to measure 3 cups. Pour in a large saucepan. Bring to boil, remove from heat. Add gelatin, stir at least 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Add cranberry sauce, stir. Gelatin mixture should be thick.

Pour mixture into a large bowl. Refrigerate 1 1/2 hours or until slightly thickened. Stir in remaining pineapple, apples and walnuts. Stir gently. Pour into medium size serving bowl. Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm.

Top with reserved crushed pineapple just before serving.

Store leftover gelatin in refrigerator.

Yum. Do you think you can get that recipe? TIA!

 

[babytrees]

My big hits are a creamed corn casserole and broccoli salad

Creamed Corn Casserole

1 can of creamed corn
1 can of "regular" corn, drained
1 can of milk
1 sleeve of crackers crumbled up.....I use Ritz
2 eggs

Mix together and bake in a 350 oven (I think) until set...about 30 minutes. I do this by sight anymore so all given measurements are estimates


Broccoli Salad

Broccoli
Red Onion
Raisins
Cole Slaw dressing
sometimes I put sunflower kernels in

again this is done by sight(and smell...depends on the strength of the onion). If you do this one ahead of time....only put a little dressing in before putting it in the refrigerator and then when almost time to serve put more dressing in.

 

[blowinbubbles]

Both of those sound very good! I especially like the sound of the broccoli salad. . . seems like a very good choice, since it would balance nicely with all the rich foods most people bring!

 

[blowinbubbles]

I thought I'd share my favorite cheese ball recipe with y'all. This is something that I used to make every year, but I've cut down on it, since I can't eat just one bite.

We had a Halloween pot-luck at work this year, and I made this cheese ball. It was 3/4 gone by the end of the day!

Cocktail Party Cheese Ball

1 lb. Sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 lb. Roquefort or Bleu Cheese, crumbled
1/2 lb. soft cream cheese
2 t. Worcestershire Sauce
2 t. onion, grated
Cayenne Pepper
1/2 c. pecans, chopped
1/2 c. parsley, chopped fine. (Fresh only!)

Mix everything except the pecans & Parsley up until everything is evenly smooth and distributed. Form into a ball or whatever shape you want. Roll in pecans and/or parsley. Garnish, enjoy!

Note: If you are not a fan of Bleu Cheese as I am not, you can cut the amount by half. Also, if you plan on keeping the cheese ball in the fridge for a while, only roll it in pecans and not parsley. The fresh parsley tends to go bad more quickly.