What to bring to an Thanksgiving Pot Luck...in the office.
My office has decided that it would be nice to have a Thanksgiving Pot Luck. Bringing dessert would be easiest, but I really wanted to find a good main dish to bring (that isn't an entire turkey) that won't put people to sleep.
The twist is that we only have a toaster oven and a microwave to heat things up in, so I am also leaning toward something that would be tasty at room temperature. Any suggestions?
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32 Comments:
Not so much Thanksgiving theme in mind, but what has been successful at the office functions that I no longer will participate in were:
pad thai (jumbo shrimp and chicken)
roasted veggies (asparagus, red bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, basil)
fruit salad (blueberries, raspberries, mango, papaya, kiwi, lychee) -- it's especially popular in the winter since it tends to be the only dish with color. :P
Cassaendra at 12:56PM on 11/18/08
I like the idea of the roasted veggies. Maybe with a nice balsamic glaze...good served room temp and nice and yummy. I'd add brussel sprouts.
juliebugsmama at 1:05PM on 11/18/08
wraps of all kinds cut into bit size pieces.
pjracz10 at 1:07PM on 11/18/08
Okay, I was thinking about this, and I came up with this listing of about 40 different dishes, using the recipe filter in Recipezaar (one of my favorite recipe sites).
http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes.php?categ=144%2C89%2C154
I hope that this helps!
Traveller at 1:17PM on 11/18/08
oooh! thanks traveller!
hungrychristel at 1:26PM on 11/18/08
Thanks for starting this thread, as my office is doing the same thing! They can't get anyone to sign up for main dishes because no one want's to tackle it, especially with travel and warming options. I'm taking cranberry chutney, as I didn't have any bright ideas either!
Laurel E at 1:36PM on 11/18/08
That is a fantastic site you found Traveller! Thank you!
I was also considering a nice roasted veggie dish, because I love vegetables and it is so rare to find healthy things at a work function unless someone is on Weight Watchers, haha.
All fabulous ideas, thanks!
decemberain27 at 2:56PM on 11/18/08
Do you have a slow cooker? A nice big pot of beans is cheap, feeds a lot of people, and easy to make in the crockpot. Start the cooker night before, in the morning unplug it from home, and plug it in when you get to the office, it will stay plenty warm in transport. Tie the lid down, or place in a box in case something spills. Ask an office buddy to make some cornbread.
erinlovestoeat at 3:08PM on 11/18/08
I'm a little confused at Cassaendra's mention of "that I will no longer participate in." Is there a point to this? Vent your office ills elsewhere please.
Since no one in my office wants a food born illness, I'll stay away from the room temp pad thai (shrimp). Not to mention shrimp is a little pricey for the office. As is blueberries & raspberries for the fruit salad since it's typically not their growing season. If you choose the fruit salad route, stick with oranges, bananas, grapes, and kiwi with a honey type dressing.
Since most side/entree dishes need to be kept at a temperature that deters bacterial growth, best advice is try a dessert instead. Keep it simple for everyone and avoid making your coworkers upset when they get sick form your dish. :)
tickler at 3:11PM on 11/18/08
We are always looking for a reason to have potluck at my job. Anything to stay away from cafeteria food. Anything in the crockpot goes over well. Just bring ingredients ready to go and start it up a couple of hours ahead of time. We are having Paula Dean's crockpot mac-n-cheese for our thanksgiving potluck. Also any type of warm dip is good.
mlmccall at 6:12PM on 11/18/08
I have made this often for potlucks at work, I make it the day before and toss it in a crockpot in the morning, also make the rice the night before and microwave it before its time to serve, its cheap to make and people rave about it, I make it with smoked turkey drumsticks:
Red Beans & Rice
Ingredients:
1 bag red/kidney beans (16 oz.)
3-4 Tablespoons oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 large Bell Pepper, chopped
2-3 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced (or to taste)
1-2 smoked ham hocks (or smoked turkey wings)
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Cajun seasoning to taste
Soak beans in cold water overnight, at least 8 hours, but no longer than 12. (You can skip this step but, if you do, it will take the beans a LOT longer to cook.)
In an 8-quart stock pot, sauté onion, pepper, celery, carrot, and garlic in the oil until soft & translucent. Add beans, cayenne, bay leaves, smoked hocks/wings and thyme. Cover with water, stir, and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer for an hour.
After the hour, taste for salt and add Cajun seasoning. If you’re using a no-salt or low-salt Cajun seasoning, you may need to add salt, as well. (I use either Zatarain’s for Tony Chachere’s, both available at Kroger.) Simmer two more hours, or until beans are done to desired softness.
MamaT at 7:55PM on 11/18/08
How about making a very nice and simple cranberry sauce from scratch? Or bringing a sweet potato flan as a dessert?
If you're still keen on a main dish, you can bring abutternut squash mac & cheese. It all depends how many people are in your office, but you can certainly re-heat it in a toaster oven if the size is right. I do it on the toaster oven all the time.
Madelyn
KarmaFreeCooking
MadelynRodriguez at 12:12AM on 11/19/08
We had the same problem at my office with too many sides and desserts and not enough mains. One year we decided to collect money ($1-$3 per person) and order the meat. Someone would pick it up right before lunch so it would be piping hot for the potluck. It worked out so well that it has become tradition. We try to rotate meats - one year turkey, one year ham, one year BBQ brisket. Not a bad deal if you have a large office.
Anything in a crockpot is great: stew, beans, cocktail franks, hot dips, etc.
Esmeralda at 1:50PM on 11/19/08
@Tickler: Forgive me, I forgot SE isn't a place to vent and make fun of typos. *roll eyes*
While room temperature was stated as preferred, Decemberrain mentions the use of a microwave. You throw the stuff in the fridge and nuke it. Duh?
Personally, I don't get sick from eating cooked shrimp that has been left in my office for 8 hours. I do this daily, but I know that many people don't have the constitution that I have. *shrug*
It only costs me on average $50 to make any one of the three dishes I mention above for ~50 servings.
The veggies are typically $5-8/lb, the mushrooms will cost me $10-15 (oops forgot to mention that).
The price on fruits varies between $45 - 55 depending on what looks good at the store, both in freshness and aesthetics.
The cost in pad Thai is in the shrimp. Chicken breasts are cheap. Rice sticks are dirt cheap. This is the cheapest dish of the three to make.
If you are going to make stuff for people, especially for a special occasion, why not bring something that tastes AND looks good, instead of a mundane dish that people can eat any old time or find at a buffet line?
Maybe it's just my Japanese or Hawaiian upbringing/pride that makes me not want to be "that person" who always volunteers to bring a bag of chips, a bottle of soda, or the paper plates...especially when it's with people who, without a doubt, CAN afford to bring something that costs more than $4.
Cassaendra at 1:53PM on 11/19/08
Soft, gooey, white potato rolls with sides of mustard and mayo so people can make sandwiches if they wish.
Easy....
Hunnyoil at 2:11PM on 11/19/08
well i think the obvious continuation of all of these ideas that fits what you are looking for is meat cooked in the crock pot. last year for christmas we made roast pork with apples and onions in the crock pot. it was delicious and fork tender.
allot at 2:23PM on 11/19/08
Spinach and Artichoke Dip in a crock pot is always easy and yummy!
manali98 at 2:32PM on 11/19/08
My dad's wife makes the most amazing sandwiches that echo Thanksgiving but are easy and delicious at room temp or cold: She buys a large loaf (or two) of rosemary bread from the local bakery as the base. Then split the loaf in half horizontally and spread with a thin schmear of cream cheese/mayo. That gets topped with cranberry chutney (homemade or store bought) which adds tons of flavor. Then deli-sliced turkey, lettuce, and black pepper, and it's done. You can wrap it in cellophane or foil and take it to work then cut it into chunks (vertically) once there. It's actually better when it has time to set up for a bit... I don't generally eat meat, and try to stay away from most dairy, but this sandwich is irresistible!
oregonpinot at 9:07PM on 11/19/08
Funny you should mention that....I'm currently cooking for the office Thanksgiving lunch tomorrow. I'm providing the main stuff... Roast Turkey, Baked Ham, and dressing, oh yes, and the cranberry sauce...I never let anyone else do the cranberry. BTW, I'll be getting up about 6 AM to start the Turkey...lol.
If you are thinking about one item...you can do one of those 1950's molded jello dishes...you can always use a baking dish to serve it. I've made many during the years as we never had anything like that as a kid. I know you are looking for a substantial dish, but if you can't settle on one, try one of the fruited ones for dessert. Try this link..
http://brands.kraftfoods.com/jello/recipes/
lochaven at 9:47PM on 11/19/08
@ Cassaendra- I like your style.
@ Tickler- Perhaps if you would be a little nicer, pjracz10 would lend you the dictionary that you thought he needed. To quote you " ... when they get sick FORM your dish". Remember, if you must throw stones, make sure you don't live in a glass house. Happy Thanksgiving.
@ pjracz10- That is a fantastic idea. Everyone can find a wrap that they like.
floridagirl at 9:50PM on 11/19/08
@floridagirl Lol thanks. Have fun.
pjracz10 at 1:20AM on 11/20/08
I recently fielded a similar email from my mom (who is not much of a Serious Eater - she was ticked that someone had signed up for crudites before her) and came up with a few ideas:
- potato casserole (the old school one with cream of whatever soup and lots of cheese), or a nice gratin
- twice baked potatoes would be easy to heat up in a toaster oven
- bread! Homemade bread is always a hit, or you could make biscuits, cornbread, or whatever else you'd like to sop up gravy with
- appetizers: caramel corn, spiced nuts, cheese straws, or the Pioneer Woman's bacon wrapped jalapenos (I've been dying to try those!)
LizNYC at 11:18AM on 11/20/08
a nice crock pot of sloppy joes or bbq beef sounds pretty tasty to me. pretty adorable if you serve it with miniature sandwich rolls.
dyanysus1116 at 4:44PM on 11/20/08
We had our Thanksgiving luncheon today. I need a pepcid! I don't eat turkey, but it was all breast meat, pre-carved and had been stored in broth, which was still a little too pink! Hope no one reports a tummy ache! The following was our "delightful" menu:
Some sort of "turkey" gravy
Rock hard scalloped potatoes
Undercooked wild rice with canned mushrooms and almonds
Stuffing "soup". Don't have a clue how to describe this one
Watery sweet potato casserole with bananas. Who'd a thunk it!
Green bean casserole "soup". Scary!
Funny looking corn bread pudding. Didn't go near that one either.
So I ended up eating 2 servings of mashed potatoes made by my good friend and business partner. At least she knows her way around the kitchen! :-P
izatryt at 6:00PM on 11/20/08
We are having a potluck in my office tomorrow. I'm bringing my rotisserie and throwing on a couple of chickens. I have done this several times in the past and love watching different people sneak in there to take a peek. It's not too expensive, not much work (truss, spit, and let cook) and people have fun deciding what side dishes to bring.
lamora at 6:06PM on 11/20/08
Better you air your grievances here rather than the office, because you can't lose your job with us! Food is therapeutic. That being said, what about a roasted corn soup?
I'm not imaginative right now ut I love roasted corn soup!
JacquelineS at 9:59PM on 11/20/08
It's always interesting to hear what other people are having for their work parties...esp. when they're mysterious. :)
Gawd, a rotisserie...that must be unbearable for people to patiently wait w/o cheating. If someone brought one of those at my workplace, come lunch time, you'd have a rotating rack of bones.
Cassaendra at 11:21PM on 11/20/08
At our last office potluck, someone made a crockpot full of cubed sweet potatoes, corn, and edamame cooked with a cumin lime vinaigrette. It was awesome. Unfortunately the person who made it lost the recipe so I have no idea what the amounts of ingredients were.
Rottenmom at 8:49AM on 11/21/08
Here's a great recipe from Ina Garten for a pasta salad that's served room temperature - I grind the sauce minimally, and while mixing the salad, I throw in some prosciutto or sorpressata, extra sun dried tomatoes and capers for more taste and body.
Pasta With Sun Dried Tomatoes:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_32176,00.html
MMinNYC at 4:31PM on 11/21/08
Turkey meatballs! Much easier than a whole turkey, good small portions and not too messy. I am partial to rachel ray's florentine turkey meatballs but whatever recipe you prefer should work.
mookie at 10:46AM on 11/24/08
@cassaendra - LOL....I'm just visualizing that rotating rack of bones!!! ROFL
mepolo at 1:51PM on 11/24/08
I did the chickens and it was a hit!! People kept sneaking in there to take a peek and it smelled wonderful. Several co-workers now want to actually get a rotisserie. I took them off....cut them up and believe me...there were 2 sorry looking racks of bones laying there 1/2 hour later. Good fun.
lamora at 6:52PM on 11/24/08