I love potlucks. There is nothing that fills my heart more than seeing a huge variety of dishes out for me to sample.
The bakery I work for is a huge fan of potlucks too. We have them all the time, and we all like to reminisce about our favorite memories from them. For example, one time I forgot we had a potluck, and I contributed by offering my Tupperware of strawberries and baby carrots – my planned afternoon snack. Embarrassing? Kinda. Did anyone really care? Not at all.
Which leads me to a main point of potlucks: don’t stress! The one thing I’ve noticed is that rarely is there ever a real standout among the dishes. It’s actually an excellent opportunity to try something new or simply just to have something that you’re craving.
Isn’t it freeing to know that there really is no pressure to bring the best dish? Maybe I just have a fear of failing with my culinary ventures, but with potlucks I tend to not worry so much about it. I make something, put a spoon it and some of it gets eaten. No big deal, folks!
I decided to make a pasta salad, and this pasta salad was to be built upon the cheese I wanted at that very moment: smoked gouda.
So then I was tasked with the potentially difficult obstacle of finding exactly the right ingredients and dressing. This is when I stopped looking at recipes on my phone in the grocery store, and decided to follow my heart.
The end result was delicious: pasta salad with yellow bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and smoked gouda tossed in a creamy pesto dressing. Some other standouts of the potluck include brisket, enchiladas with homemade tomatillo salsa, skillet pizza and another pasta salad. It’s possible that the other pasta salad was better than mine, too.
Did I care? Nope. Why? Because I love potlucks, and everyone’s a winner with a potluck.
If you are in need of some potluck-friendly recipes, try this Classic Cold Antipasto or check out The Chopping Block's upcoming Alfresco Feast class. This class' menu is full of dishes that are actually better the next day so you can do your prep ahead of your potluck. Never again worry about what to bring to a potluck!
- Summer Melon Gazpacho Salad
- Amazing Fried Chicken
- Fingerling Potatoes and Watercress with Crispy Prosciutto and Dijon Vinaigrette
- Lemon Bars
Sign up for Alfresco Feast on:
- Monday, June 8 7pm Lincoln Square
- Tuesday, June 23 7pm Lincoln Square
- Saturday, June 27 Merchandise Mart
