I've been invited to a pot luck dinner for a voluntary organisation I'm involved with for about 50 people and have been asked to produce a dish to feed 8. I have a tiny New York apartment with very little cooking space and little culinary skill to match. Does anybody have any good suggestions? Perhaps an English theme. It can be starters, main course, accompaniment or dessert. Thank you!
Perhaps a curry? That will only require one (large) saucepan plus another one for the rice and you can throw anything into a curry! You will find loads of recipes on the internet for meat or/and vegetable curries.
Otherwise, just do something that you could perhaps throw into a slow-cooker and it will cook itself. You can just then easily transport the whole crock-pot. Again there are loads on recipes on the internet.
I think I've seen in some stores (eg. Macy's) special containers for transporting food to a pot-luck supper, which will also keep it hot or cold. It might be worth investigating.
One of my favourite dishes for this type of occasions is salmon kedgeree à la Nigella.
It uses rice (basmati, if you have it), onion, indian spices, limes, coriander (cilantro), salmon fillets and boiled eggs. It is dead easy to make and transport, and it can be served cold or hot. Let me know if you want me to post the recipe and method.
Thank you Ameriscot. If you could post the recipe, I'd greatly appreciate it. The trouble with doing a big curry is that my apartment will pong for weeks.
I have an excellent cure for curry (indeed all kitchen) smells.
You just put some white/spirit vinegar into a saucer and leave it overnight. Works like a treat. smile
You could try Shepherd's Pie (unless they're hippy veggies), potato soup (esp in a crockpot), roast potatoes (I have found that Amurricans go mental for these! seriously), jelly and blancmange (haven't had that in years)... make what you'd make back in the UK but make it for Amurricans (ie triple the portions) smile good luck, I dread potlucks, there's always some nasty potato salad and meatloaf... mad
On 2003-03-10 17:24, manhattankate wrote:
Thank you Ameriscot. If you could post the recipe, I'd greatly appreciate it. The trouble with doing a big curry is that my apartment will pong for weeks.
Here you go: Nigella's Asian-spiced Kedgeree
I have a suggestion although it's not "English themed". It's a recipe I got from someone at a BBQ because I thought it was delish... Broccoli Crab Salad. It's relatively inexpensive and quick to make.. I'll go ahead and post it here in case anyone else is interested.
Ingredients
--4 large heads of broccoli.
--1-2(matter of choice) packets of imitation crab meat (you want real crab, the "inexpensive" factor is gone)
--1 stalk of green/spring onions.
--1 packet of DRY Ranch dressing mix (so you're going to need mayo too as per directions)
--1 LARGE bowl
Prepare the Ranch as per directions and let chill in fridge..
Cut up your broccoli into bite size pieces (I use only the florets) into large bowl (preferably the one you're going to take w/u to potluck)
cut up green/spring onion into bowl with broccoli.
(should mention that I use a pair of (clean) kitchen scissors to do all of this, broccoli included..snip! snip! snip! it's faster and I'm the laziest cook on the planet!).
cut up your crab meat and throw in bowl (again, scissors used here).
After Ranch has chilled for 30 minutes plus, add it to the bowl (usually after you're done cutting/chopping). Sprinkle some onion powder or onion salt LIBERALLY and some pepper-Stir it up/Mix it..then let it chill. The longer it sits,(preferably overnight) the better it tastes.
This will feed at least 8 people and it's tasty...Enjoy!
Murphygirl - that's an interesting recipe.
However, I guess that Manhattenkate might have to take on board that some of the attendees could well be Jewish and (loosely) follow a kosher diet; Jews are not supposed to eat shellfish.
some of the attendees could well be Jewish and (loosely) follow a kosher diet; Jews are not supposed to eat shellfish.
:???:
Then they can pass on this and eat some of the other delicious dishes that have been brought.
Should people not bring meat dishes incase there are vegetarians there, or no pork or cow for other religions.
I'm sure a simple label with the dish would surfice to let everyone know what main ingredients are. :smile:
Took the words right out of my mouth Wend.
I would be inclined to go with something simple and easy.
I think, though am not positive, the "imitation" part is that it's actually made with white fish (as opposed to shellfish)..I remember once looking at the ingredients to check what exactly it was..
But I never thought of the Jewish kosher aspect..my apologies..
If you know that almost everyone there follows a specific diet, then it's nice and courteous to try to make something in accord with it. But, speaking as someone who doesn't eat pork or shellfish, I'm not offended at a big event if someone brings it. I figure if it's my dietary idiosyncracy than I should be the one to adapt and I just eat something else.
If cooking in large amounts is a real problem in your small kitchen (believe me, I can remember those days), then what about picking up a couple of nice loaves of bread or a tray of dinner rolls at a nice bakery. Everyone seems to like good bread.