Cross post from the lounge- ideas for what to bring to a pot luck dinner.

[Swede]

Something like chili con carne,or egg salad. Any more?

[supernova]

1. A church acquaintance

used to always bring meatballs in a crock pot. But here's the twist, at the last minute, she'd add a jar of grape jelly to the pot.

Those suckers where the first things on the table to go. :rofl:

I no longer attend that church, but I presume she still brings them to potlucks.

[The empressof all]

2. Those meatballs are like drugs

The sauce is equal parts of Heinz Chili sauce (near the ketchup) and a jar of grape jelly. Easy and ridiculously good.

[supernova]

5. That's it!

I couldn't remember what she used for the other part of the sauce but Heinz Chili sauce sounds right.

[AwakeAtLast]

10. My ex MIL used apricot instead of grape

They were equally as addicting!

[supernova]

12. Meat candy!!

:D

[The empressof all]

14. Hey..Did you see the Bacon Lollipops

http://www.delish.com/food-fun/weird-bacon-products?gt1=47001

and ice cream......

and you all scoffed at my bacon cookies :rofl:

[pengillian101]

18. Little smokies are really good in that chili/grape mixture also.

Lit’l Smokies®

Cocktail Links in Chili Grape Sauce

[The empressof all]

19. They are really good in there

I've made this for many a pot lucks with the frozen meatballs and the little smokies. It's always one of the first dishes to get gobbled up. I confess to just cutting hot dogs in thirds and using them too! :hide:

[Stinky The Clown]

13. We have a neighbor who does that exact same thing

You can't actually detect the grape jelly, but those puppies are good!

[hippywife]

3. I used to make Italian Sloppy Joes

long ago that were really incredibly good. They consisted of half sweet Italian sausage and half hot, in bulk not in the skins, and the kind that had fennel in it for a really good flavor, and a jar of plain Ragu. You half brown the ground sausage and throw it in the crock pot with any drippings then pour the Ragu over it and let it cook for a couple of hours or so in the crockpot. Serve with Italian rolls and some parm cheese.

They were soooooo goood! :9

[hippywife]

4. This is always a huge hit...

http://www.napastyle.com/catalog/search.cmd?keyword=+Salsa+di+Parmigiano&keywordToSearch=+Salsa+di+Parmigiano&categoryId=716&parentCategoryId=716

It really is delicious, and people find it different enough that they keep coming back to figure it out. :)

[kfred]

6. 7 layer salad is always a hit

Deviled eggs are always winners. I noticed some good sales on them recently (unless you happen to have your own chickens!)

Dessert-wise is Creme De Menthe cake. Bake a yellow sheet cake as normal. Dribble creme de mint liquoer or ice cream topping over the cake in a marbled pattern. I've seen a couple versions from this point. 1. is to make a chocolate pudding and layer and chill it and then frost with Cool Whip 2. Mix chocolate pudding with the Cool Whip but put a thin layer of melted chocolate over the cake first.

[kfred]

7. Oh - hot fudge topping instead of the chocolate

on the 2nd version. I knew it wasn't right even as I posted it.

[Arkansas Granny]

8. Hot Hominy Casserole.

I know, I know. Nobody likes hominy and I've been told that by a lot of people who wind up requesting this dish. It is surprisingly good and it's a pretty good bet that no one wlse will be bringing the same thing.

HOT HOMINY CASSEROLE

1 lb. hot pork sausage 1 can cream of mushroom soup
½ C. chopped onion ½ lb. Velveeta cheese, cubed
½ C. chopped bell pepper chopped jalapeno peppers to taste
2 cans hominy, drained 1 C. grated cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350F. Brown sausage, add onion and bell pepper and cook until onion is translucent. Add soup, Velveeta and chopped jalapeno peppers. Heat until cheese is melted. Place hominy in 2 qt. casserole or baking dish, pour cheese and sausage mixture over hominy and mix well. Cover and bake about 20 minutes, until hot and bubbly, sprinkle grated cheese over the top and return to the oven, uncovered, until cheese is melted and slightly browned.

[surrealAmerican]

9. Corn muffins ...

... or just plain cornbread. It goes with everything.

[AwakeAtLast]

11. Ok, here you go

Taco Pinwheels

Burrito size tortillas
2 8oz pkgs cream cheese
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 can chopped green chilies
1 small can sliced black olives, chopped
1 small jar pimientos, chopped
Salsa to acompany

Mix softened cream cheese with taco seasoning. Add chilies, olives and pimientos. Spread evenly on each tortilla. Roll up. Chill in refrigerator. Slice and serve with salsa.

I never have any left when I make these. Can be made the night before if you cover the rolls, but slice right before serving. Easy!

[pengillian101]

16. Thanks for that recipe.

Sounds just great - that's a keeper. Do you serve them cold or room temp? I have everything on hand except pimento, so might substitute or just add in green olives stuffed w/pimento, and will try these tomorrow!

Easy and yummy, what's not to like?

:hi:

[AwakeAtLast]

17. I serve them cold

Green olives might be a bit salty, so watch out for that. I have made them without pimiento and it works, just not as colorful.

[GoCubsGo]

15. Three Bean Salad

I've noticed that pot lucks tend to be short on vegetable dishes. I always try to bring something like three bean salad, or green beans with almonds or mushrooms. Or, a tossed salad with some interesting items in it. Epicurious.com (Bon Appetit Magazine) has lots of great recipes for lettuce and fresh spinach salads.