We're going to a potluck next Friday night for the kids karate. I need something that can preferably be made ahead so I can just go, since we'll be leaving as soon as daycare kids go home (they'll all actually have to be picked up about 1/2-1 hr early for us to make it on time). I was thinking about taking a side dish, fruit/vegatable, because everyone know the dessert table at potlucks is always full! Any ideas or suggestions? I thought about 'lil smokies in a crock pot with bbq sauce, but I don't know if there will be any place to plug it in. TIA for any suggestions. I'm going to call the instructor's wife today to see what there's a need for (people have been signing up to bring things--we haven't signed up yet). Wonder if we could get away with a big bag of rolls...

By Breann on Thursday, December 9, 2004 - 11:01 am:

Green salad is always easy. Just buy it prepackaged and dump it in a bowl.

If you add cold water to the bowl it will make the greens/lettuce really crisp and fresh.

Just see that all the salad is covered in water and refrigerate until you are ready to go.

Take a couple bottle of dressing along with you.

The lil smokies and bbq sauce sounds great too. We do that on Christmas day. Maybe call and ask if there is an outlet that you could use.

By Sue3 on Thursday, December 9, 2004 - 11:05 am:

Hi Cat ! I thought the 'lil smokies sounded good,and they are alway`s a big hit with the kids.
Have you ever had vegetable pizza ?
It`s a lot of chopping but I thought it would be easy to trasport.
Or meatballs ? I`m so hungry right now anything sounds good ! LOL !
At least you still have a little time to think of some thing. Good luck

By Sue3 on Thursday, December 9, 2004 - 11:06 am:

The salad Breann mentioned sounds good too ! Easy also ,which is always a plus !

By Jayne2 on Thursday, December 9, 2004 - 11:19 am:

we went to a halloween party at a neighbors and she made the salsa cheese dip (velveeta and salsa in a large bowl, pop in microwave for a few minutes until cheese melts) with tortillias (sp) cut out with cookie cutters in halloween shapes. The cut outs were toasted in the oven for a few minutes to make them crisp. It was so clever and I can't wait to make it. I saw on tv an easy chili cheese dip with Philadelphia Cream Cheese - pour chili over the block of cheese and dip. Looked great and easy.

By Vicki on Thursday, December 9, 2004 - 12:24 pm:

This is going to sound crazy, but the last couple of things we went to that were a potluck kind of thing where there were lots of kids, the biggest hit were plain pepperoni and cheese pizzas that someone brought from Pizza Hut. Usually there isn't much at these thinks that kids like and they went nuts over the pizza!! I thought it was a great idea. Just order a pizza and pick it up on your way!!

By Cat on Thursday, December 9, 2004 - 03:26 pm:

Vicki, I love the pizza idea! I know my kids would eat that. They're usually so picky at potlucks. They end up eating bread and desserts. I'll remember that.

Thanx for the ideas everyone. I called and talked to the instructor's wife and she said they always order chicken so there's a main dish and said if I'd like to bring a side (I mentioned how desserts are always plentiful) it would be great. I figure potato salad goes with chicken, so I'll just pick up a big container of it. She said everything else is provided (plates, drinks, etc). I've told the boys we can take *J* with us (the daycare boy that goes to their class--his parents can't get off work to come) and that if he wants and it's okay with his parents he can spend the night with us (they've done it before and been wanting him to for a while--he's 7yo). So I've got a call in to his mom and we'll see.

Sue, I used to sell Pampered Chef, so of course I've made veggie pizzas! I don't like them, but that's just me (I don't really like cream cheese much--unless it's got sugar in it! lol).

By Kaye on Thursday, December 9, 2004 - 04:29 pm:

My favorite dish to take is bundle beans. Take whole green beans, wrap 10 or so with a half of a piece of bacon. It looks like a little log roll. Keep going with these till your pan is full, lay them next to each other. Then melt 1/2 cup butter and brown sugar, add a clove of garlic and a tsp of soy sauce, pour over the top and bake till the bacon looks done. I do them a few days in advance, save to butter till I am read to cook them. They always get all eaten.