Work Potluck Suggestions?
Every month at work my department of about 25 people has a potluck. Because we're in a big corporate office, we're limited as to what we can bring in. It's a pain to drag a crock pot up here (though possible in dire situations) and you can't really microwave food for 25 people very easily.
Typically I bring some type of cookie or cupcake, but the lazy folks who don't look at the sign up sheet always grab some baked garbage from the grocery store at the last minute so we end up with more sweets than anything else.
I'm looking for suggestions and recipes for appetizer type items, or main dishes that can be served at room temperature.
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25 Comments:
I like couscous salad:
1 box Israeli/pearl couscous
a bunch of baby spring mix
a few ripe tomatoes or a package of cherry tomatoes
small can corn
1 c (or so) raw pepitas
1 c (or so) raisins
Cook the couscous and cool, preferrably the night before. The morning of, wake up a little early and chop the spring mix and tomatoes. Toss into the couscouse with 1/2-2/3 small can of corn(rinsed), pepitas, and raisins. I toss lightly with a red wine vinegarette, but a light buttermilk dressing works well also. Total crowd please, pretty easy, mostly healthy, and tasty. Very tasty.
joyyy at 1:02PM on 01/07/09
I used to make this a lot for work potlucks. It got rave reviews.
Cabbage Chicken Salad
(Needs at least 8 hours to marinate for best flavor)
1 small green cabbage, chopped (not shredded)
Mix in a little red cabbage for color
3 or 4 cooked chicken breasts, shredded
1 package sliced almonds
1 package crunchy chow mein noodles
Dressing:
6 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon salt
1 1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon pepper
5 tablespoons sugar
For big groups: Use a large cabbage, add another chicken breast or two and make another half-batch of dressing.
Mix cabbage and chicken in a LARGE bowl. Mix dressing in a cruet and shake well. Pour dressing over cabbage mixture and stir well. Cover, refrigerate and marinate overnight. Stir occasionally (if you happen to sleepwalk!). Just before serving, stir well, then stir in chow mein noodles and almonds.
Editmom at 1:19PM on 01/07/09
Try a good old fashioned cheese ball with crackers. You can keep it cold till you serve it, and it gets even better as it gets to room temp. Not only that, but you can make it ahead of time.
This always gets raves from company and is requested a lot when we have to bring a dish....
Mix together:
2 packages (4oz) of softened cream cheese
8 oz package of shredded cheddar
4 oz crumbled blue cheese
1 T. worcestershire sauce
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. hot sauce, like tobasco (more if you want it zippier)
1 small jar of chopped pimientos
Form into a ball or log while it is still soft and then roll onto a plate filled with chopped pecans to coat.
Wrap in saran wrap and refrigerate.
Then all you have to do is stick it on a serving plate surrounded with the crackers of your choice, and it's done!
terigo at 2:08PM on 01/07/09
Get a good chunk of meat or fish on sale - something that tastes good cold. Roast it simply and bring it in a pan with low sides for easier carving. You could even slice it at home the night before.
Most anything you'd take to a picnic would be good. Potato or pasta salad, (or any salad), or cold chicken, for instance. If your workplace has a refrigerator to store things in, how about deviling a dozen eggs?
gentlyferal at 2:28PM on 01/07/09
Broccoli salad ! Oh good lord, whenever my co-worker brings that I totally loose all sense of decency and etiquette and greedily pile my plate, leaving hardly any for anyone else. Here's a recipe for it:Yummy broccoli salad. Trust me, it'll be a hit. I actually would add a few grape tomatoes in there, myself, and also some shelled sunflower seeds for a bit of extra crunch. YUMMM
juliebugsmama at 3:21PM on 01/07/09
I second deviled eggs. They're always a hit. Once for our holiday potluck I made half red (sundried tomatoes) and half green (capers and parsley)
Lilla at 3:23PM on 01/07/09
Bacon wrapped dates.
(i'm beginning to feel like this is my answer to everything... but they're just so good!)
andshewas at 3:34PM on 01/07/09
HA! I read that title wrong at first; I thought you wanted WORST Potluck suggestions! We could go on forever....
But how about an antipasta platter....marinated olives, peppers, artichokes, etc with some cheeses? Or toss all of that with some tortellini for a more filling salad.
Cary at 3:54PM on 01/07/09
How about wraps. buy spinach and tomato wraps for color and fill as desired ie:
spinach, cream cheese turkey and tomato
fresh moss tomato and basil
roast beef cheddar grilled asparagus and horseradish sauce
Slice each wrap in 4- 6 slices and secure with a toothpick. Fan on a platter.
KtMc24 at 4:10PM on 01/07/09
How about a nice bruschetta with ciabatta bread? This is always a hit with my crew. Homemade mummus is good too, cheap and easy. Here's my recipe if your're interested.
1 can chick peas(drained, of course)
2 cloves garlic
olive oil
dash cayenne pepper
juice of 1/2 to 1 lemon, depending on their size and how tart you like it
kosher salt
pepper
Throw all into food processor. We serve his with sesame sticks or flatbread crackers.
Another hit is sundried tomatoes, cream cheese, olive oil, salt, pepper and roasted garlic all done in the food processor. We serve this with bagels.
Good luck!
donnie at 7:45PM on 01/07/09
How about a great lil cheese board? What does Ina Garten say? You need 3 cheeses, fruit, and does she use bread sticks or crackers? Can't remember.But it's cheese, oh soo yummy.
donnie at 7:47PM on 01/07/09
Sorry, mummus should say hummus
donnie at 7:49PM on 01/07/09
Spinach artichoke dip sounds like a good bet.
cochon at 11:01PM on 01/07/09
your own specialized veggie tray is good, chips and a homemade dip, or a really good salad with various vegetables topped on there.
foodismyspeciality at 11:10PM on 01/07/09
If you have a lot of carnivorous co-workers, the following is a little labor intensive, but will make you a hero. I made this for my boss' Secret Santa gift (she's an Atkins fanatic) and she was so thrilled, she gave me an Xmas gift AND more importantly, an extra paid long weekend! (She never gave even a birthday card to her asst mgr in 7 years!)
Stack:
LARGE BASIL LEAF (avoid Thai basil, its flavor clashes with the salami and the leaves are a little too small)
SLICE OF SALAMI (I get Columbo, pre-sliced packet)
CUBE OF BRIE OR CAMEMBERT (underripe in case people don't like strong odor), not big--you want the pile to be one bite, but not Dagwood-like.
1/3 OF A CHERRY TOMATO (half a grape tomato slides all over)
Pull the basil around the other ingredients; secure with a pretty pick or at least not a cheap splintery pick.
Once you get a rhythm going, you can wrap 2 or 3 dozen pretty quick.
It's relatively inexpensive, considering how many people will get a serving (just 3 is enough for a mini meal itself). Not smelly, not greasy, easy to transport, all the ingredients are familiar and it's a delight that "feeds the eyes". Green, white and red.
The salami provides plenty of seasoning; the basil and tomato balance the richness. The brie--well, it tastes good!
I guess you could sub diet jack or colby or a fresh mozzarella, if brie is too dear or too fatty. That's not a concern in our office.
For my parties, I've used chevre, and also seasoned cream cheese. Both were gobbled up pronto.
mauserati at 11:11PM on 01/07/09
Oh, another potluck success story.
My friend CeCe is very insecure about her cooking (actually fears being judged????) Anyway, she contacts the local Vietnamese hole in the wall and orders a party tray of summer rolls: vegetarian, chicken and meat versions. She just walks down the street to pick them up the same afternoon. Lots of raving for them (I LOVE summer rolls if they're really minty and full of veg, not just noodle. YUM YUM YUM)
Once again, this is an assembly line dish, not really cooking. But once they're done, just cover the serving dish (damp paper towel will help keep them moist while in the fridge) and no worries even 36 hours in advance. Buy a nice peanut sauce or concoct your own special version--it's the sauce most people go nuts for. Pardon the pun...;)
And sweet chili sauce, of course.
mauserati at 11:23PM on 01/07/09
A big green salad with lots of interesting veggies and a couple different dressings.
And I've got to say that instead of reading Work Potluck, I was sure it said Wolfgang Puck.
dbcurrie at 11:23PM on 01/07/09
I would buy like 5 packages of pillsbury's cresent rolls and roll up ham and cheese in them. Its always a winner, perfect at room temp, and wicked easy to make. Good Luck
nhfoodie at 9:09AM on 01/08/09
you might also try proscuitto asagio cheese and basil in the cresent rolls, I usually make my own croissants but canned will work in a pinch. I make them for the coffee shop I used to work at and they sell for 4.50 each, fairly large but still cheap to make and easy.
huneybumper at 11:03AM on 01/08/09
I know most people are afraid of spam, but Spam Musubi is a great little appetizer! It's a hawaiian/japanese fusion hand snack. You can buy the maker at a japanese market like Marukai or Mitsuwa (very cheap!) It's basically just rice and cooked (teriyaki flavored) spam wrapped in seaweed.
tambybear at 3:09PM on 01/08/09
tabouleh or fatoush would be a good counterbalance to all the desserts.
ag3208 at 10:34PM on 01/08/09
Acouple loaves of Garbage Bread is the way to go. Just make or buy some pizza dough and use your imagination. I like a combo of sausage, peppers and smoked mozzarella for my filling. Another good combo is broccoli and cheese. Anything goes. Just roll out the dough into a rough rectangle, lay on your ingredients, and roll up into a tight loaf. Brush top with some olive oil and bake at 375 for about 20 minutes. Can serve it hot, warm or cold.
dmcavanagh at 12:12AM on 01/09/09
Should add to above, that you cook the sausage and veggies before you add them to the dough.
dmcavanagh at 12:22AM on 01/09/09
Stuffed cherry tomatos with whatever you want, maybe a creamcheese base and a herb, chicken salad, egg salad?
pjracz10 at 4:24AM on 01/09/09
I buy lunchmeat and cheese ends at my local supermarket and layer them in the pizza dough. Roll it, oil it, bake it and slice. I get fancy with the sauces. usually use a homemade marinara,a blue cheese, and a sherry mushroom. You can always keep life simple and just buy them, but they're so easy to make.
donnie at 7:20PM on 01/09/09