Even during these days of belt tightening, you don't have to give up your social calendar. You can still gather friends and family together for a festive meal without the hassle and expense of a more formal party.
what exactly is potluck
Donna Pilato, Entertaining Expert at
About.com, explains that the term "potluck" means that guests will each contribute a dish to the meal. She adds that your gathering will be much more successful if you do a little bit of organizing and planning beforehand. Here are some of her tips to make your potluck party a resounding success.
spread the word
When it comes to inviting people and tracking what everyone is bringing, save time by using online invitations like
Evite.com,
Mypunchbowl.com or
Pingg.com . (Of course, if any of your guests are uncomfortable using a computer, give him or her a call to share the details.)
the menu
"Don't be afraid to assign specific food courses to be sure the entire meal is covered," Pilato suggests. "You don't need to be specific right down to the recipe, but you want to make sure you don't end up with all appetizers, or too many main courses…and no dessert."
As the host, you can contribute as much as you want, but simply providing the location, extra serving dishes and cutlery is enough. Or you can choose to handle the main dish and beverages and ask guests to bring appetizers, side dishes and desserts. Be as specific or general as you like. Use a theme or just ask people to bring their favorites. But request they share with you ahead of time what they're bringing so you can make adjustments if there's a lack of variety.
And "for those guests who aren't confident cooks, ask for drinks, bread, or even paper goods if you're not using your own dinnerware," Pilato offers.
keep it simple
No need to do a major cleanup around the house. A once-over with some
Windex® Original Glass & Surface Wipes should do the trick. And don't feel pressured to try anything too fancy for your dish. Tried-and-true family recipes or premade foods from your local market are both perfect. Casseroles are always easy and popular, as are roasts, dishes made in
slow cookers and salads.
When she's invited to a potluck, Pilato likes to bring baked ziti if it fits with the rest of the menu. Another of her favorites is nonbrownie cookie
bars (everyone brings brownie brownies), which are a big hit with adults as well as kids. She also recommends seasonal fruit salads.
how much is enough
For a large potluck, usually one dish of each recipe is plenty. That allows for enough choices, and most people will just sample everything because there will be a lot of food. But if it's a smaller gathering, with fewer people and dishes, each person should bring larger amounts to have enough for everyone.
Be prepared for leftovers by stocking up with plenty of
Ziploc® Brand Containers with Snap 'n Seal Lids so your guests can take home something to savor the next day.
plan around a theme
Sometimes it's fun to organize a potluck around the cuisines of another country: Mexican and Italian are usually safe choices. Pilato feels a theme makes it easier to coordinate what people are bringing and ensures that the flavors all work together.
create an inviting atmosphere
Small touches like the right lighting, seating arrangement and fragrance can have a big impact on the mood of your party, especially when greeting your guests. Try
Glade® PlugIns® Scented Oil for a lasting scent that can make even large rooms inviting. You also might ask your guests to bring copies of their recipes to share with everyone. It's a great way to spark conversations, and it gives guests more to take home than just leftovers.
For other variations on potluck meals, take a look at one of our suggestions
here and on
Wikipedia.