By Chef Alli on May 4, 2016
Picnic and Potluck Pleasers
I am so happy it’s summertime once again. Baseball games, grilling, family reunions - all fun stuff for warm weather, plus the wonderful foods that go along with those activities. And I love a good potluck, don’t you? So many family favorite foods to taste and great recipes yo be shared. Kids running everywhere, stories being told about the old days and lots of visiting.
In honor of summer gatherings, I'm bringing you a few of my favorite potluck and picnic recipes. These meat and casserole dishes can be created in your slow cooker and easily doubled to serve large groups of people.
Sometimes I think it’s a good idea if the host provides the meat dishes and asks those coming to bring side dishes and desserts. This way we don’t end up with too many salads and pastas and not enough fried chicken or brisket for the meat eaters. I’ve had that happen a time or two, and to me, there’s nothing worse than not having enough food for everyone.
Hosting Perfect Potlucks
Pick a Theme
Some gatherings call for a traditional theme (family reunions), but if you’re hosting a neighborhood potluck, it’s fun to have a theme for the party. How about pizza night, mac-and-cheese buffet or an all-Italian potluck? It’s fun to see people get creative, trying to out-do everyone else who’s attending your potluck.
Make a Plan
If you’re coordinating a family reunion, I’ve found it works best to assign people to what’s needed. For instance, Aunt Maylene and Aunt Linda can bring main dishes and their grown kids can bring salads. Having an idea of what’s coming takes the pressure off when you’re planning a big meal for lots of folks.
I also like to assign someone to snacks. This needs to be someone you know will be there on the early side. It’s great to have a little something for everyone to munch on while you’re looking at all that good food that’s arriving but have to wait to eat until everyone gets there.
Keep Food Safety in Mind
Safety is always key to any outdoor event, but especially picnics and potluck dinners. Time can quickly get away from us when visiting and catching up with friends and family.
When it’s hot - and it usually is at family reunion time - be sure to refrigerate cold foods immediately after serving. They shouldn’t sit without refrigeration for more than two hours tops. And, if you’re having to store these foods in coolers to keepthem chilled, it’s best to keep drinks in a separate cooler since these tend to be opened often - remember that cold air escapes each time that lid opens.
I’ve also found it helpful to have plenty of antibacterial wipes for guests to use before setting out the food and before eating. This makes it easy to hand out wipes to everybody.
Looking for potluck and picnic recipes and tips? Try these:
