Halloween Potluck Recipe Ideas
My work is having a Halloween potluck and I'm looking for some ideas for savory Halloween items. We usually have too many sweets, so ideas for appetizers, main dishes or even beverages would help. Preferably cold items too since cooking/reheating at our office is too much trouble.
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16 Comments:
chili in a crock pot and corn bread?
NanaJoie at 5:41PM on 10/22/08
We are having a pot luck at work also, and I find myself having problems on what to bring in also. I have have some advise though, some of my co-workers are bringing in the following items:
subway party platter
veggie platter
cole slaw
potatoe salad
maccaroni salad
rotiserie chicken
deviled eggs
I hope these ideas help a bit!
mrsbettylex at 5:54PM on 10/22/08
Don't you want things that look scary? I'd check Martha Stewart - she is always making clever Halloween foods.
PerkyMac at 6:01PM on 10/22/08
Panna cotta in a brain mold a la Alton Brown.
buffy at 6:45PM on 10/22/08
Whoops, missed the "savory" part. Sorry!
buffy at 6:46PM on 10/22/08
check out the spider web hard boiled eggs on the main page of this site - they look cool!
floridayaya at 8:47PM on 10/22/08
Cold soba noodles
shrimp skewers/chicken satays
Finger sandwiches
cous cous salad (I usually do coucous, lemon juice, parsley, green onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and olive oil)
As for drinks, I've seen people talking about ice in the punch bowl shaped like a hand, I've seen Martha Stewart to a face by using a mask and taping the eye and mouth holes closed.
ag3208 at 12:00AM on 10/23/08
"Devilishly" hot wings
Cold noodle salad (maybe with olive "eyes")
Skewered caprese salad, drizzled with some sort of red (raspberry?) vinaigrette
hungryinhouston at 12:07AM on 10/23/08
Breadstick witch's fingers. Easier than it sounds. Use an almond half for the fingernail and shape them irregularly. If you're a bread baker, make your own. If not, use a mix or whatever, and just do the shaping.
dbcurrie at 12:20AM on 10/23/08
Depending on where you live:
Right around Halloween is usually when I make my last pesto from fresh basil. I cut down the plants and have a farewell pesto feast. Maybe something with that.
Or if you want to be traditionally autumnal, make a butternut squash, roasted garlic puree soup. I would roast the squash and garlic in the oven then add those to vegetable or chicken broth, pureeing in a blender for the smoothest consistency. This dish can work at room temp, or as NanaJoie suggests, bring the crock pot to work.
La Divina at 8:19AM on 10/23/08
Deviled eggs with a single olive in the corner to make it look like an eye!
Pumpernickel sandwiches in the shape of bats and cats, cut out with a cookie cutter! Or jam and cream cheese sandwiches, again cut into Halloween shapes, as they will look filled with 'blood.'
And, um, I'm not much of a drinker so I don't have a recipe, but punch with floating 'eyeballs' (grapes and even frozen novelty ice cubes) might be a winner if it is mostly adults.
HeartofGlass at 9:08AM on 10/23/08
I am catering a small Halloween party for my friends, who always request pot stickers (good at room temp), chili (love my crockpot), devilled eggs (I use capers to make them a little different), and something orange to drink. Another friend brings the orange and black jello shooters with plastic spiders (don't recommend those for a work function).
Have a great time!
Maureen at 9:32AM on 10/23/08
Alton Brown's Roasted Vegetable dip is darn good--especially with bagel chips.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/roasted-vegetable-spread-recipe/index.html
And this could be the best Halloween appetizer I've ever seen:
http://canarygirl.com/?p=307
Apple at 9:52AM on 10/23/08
Here's a link to Martha Stewart's guacamoldy.
http://www.marthastewart.com/guacamoldy-with-creature-chips
Also, if you use the cheddar/butter/flour dough for cheese straws, you can form them like the witches' fingers cookies, use the slivered almond, and bake. Makes them savory, especially with the cayenne pepper. Maybe a bowl of marinara blood sauce for dipping.
zucchini at 2:04PM on 10/23/08
Someone suggested in an earlier topic to hard boil eggs, cool them, then roll them on the counter so the shell cracks but doesn't fall off. Put them in a bowl of water with a lot of red food coloring (not the grocery store stuff that comes out pinkish). Once color is set, peel the eggs, cut in half, remove yolks and sit flat side down. Then make your pupil out of a black olive slice, or any spooky thing lurking in your fridge, as long as it goes with your bloodshot eyes. Check out some older posts on the Halloween topic. I had a topic in Sept. I think about spooky Halloween food. There were lots of great responses. Have fun at your party!
Josdean at 6:08PM on 10/23/08
This one is fun...
Dead Man Over Worms
This is a fun dish to serve on Halloween! It's a great tasting meatloaf that can also be enjoyed any time of the year!
Ingredients
3 eggs
2/3 C. milk
2 slices French bread, torn into small pieces
1 C. oatmeal
1/2 C. grated carrot
1/2 C. finely chopped onion
1 C. shredded cheddar cheese
1 Tbs. chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. bouquet garni
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 lb. lean ground beef
1 lb. mild Italian sausage
1 16 oz. pkg. spaghetti noodles, cooked according to package directions
2 Tbs. butter
Topping:
1 C. tomato ketchup
1 C. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. prepared mustard
1/4 C. maple syrup
1/2 C. bottled spaghetti sauce
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Add milk, bread, and oatmeal. Stir in carrots, onions, cheese, herbs, and seasonings. Add beef and sausage and mix well. On a rimmed baking sheet, shape beef mixture into the shape of a body. Round ball for head, (about the size of a softball) oval shape for body, mounding up for tummy. Shape arms and place next to body (you don't want them sticking out or they will cook too quickly.) Shape legs and place next to each other, not apart. Smooth meatloaf so the "seams" are not apparent.
Make topping. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. (This topping is very sweet, but it's the perfect "sticky-bloody-glaze" for this meatloaf.)
Bake meatloaf for 45 minutes, then spoon half of the sauce over meatloaf. Return to the oven and continue baking for an additional 45 minutes or until meatloaf is cooked thoroughly. (Total baking time about 1 1/2 hours - cover with foil if it gets too brown.) While meatloaf is baking cook spaghetti noodles according to package directions. Rinse noodles and put butter, to taste, on them; set aside.
When meatloaf is done, remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes. Put buttered spaghetti noodles on a tray. Carefully place meatloaf on top of spaghetti noodles, using two spatulas. Don't worry if an arm or a leg falls off - just "re-attach" and cover with sauce. Before serving place a knife in the "heart" of the deadman. Pour remaining sauce over top of deadman.
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 5:06PM on 10/24/08