The CC Friendship Group: Hosts a Potluck!! (What Will YOU Bring -- And What Will You Avoid Like the Plague?)

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seoulsearch

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
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Hey Everyone!

We've traveled the world
Wild creatures run amok
But now we're all tired
And need a good old potluck!


A quick Google search for "What is a church potluck?" says:

"A church potluck is a community meal where members bring homemade dishes to share after a service. Classic mainstays include baked casseroles, fried chicken, potato or pasta salads, slow-cooker meatballs, and sweet desserts like sheet cakes or cobblers.

It centers on fellowship, sharing food, and building community."

I laughed out loud at the mention of "baked casseroles." The first time I went to meet a small group of CC members, one person among the group was a self-taught, nearly professional-level cook who had a strong disdain for "casseroles made with canned soups" (shuddering at the very thought!) :ROFL:

I didn't want to mention that not only were such casseroles a regular part of my church's potlucks, but also a staple of my mother's menu rotation! 😂 #TaterTotCasserole4Life!

What do you MEAN canned soup casseroles don't built fellowship and community?! 😭😂

How about you?

1. What thing(s) are you signing up to bring to our potluck? Are you the type to bring an elegant entree? A crockpot creation? Savory sides or delectable desserts? Maybe you're the one to bring the jiggly jello... Or are you the one signing up for drinks, plates, and cutlery? (Seoulsearch raises her hand!)
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2. Does anyone at your church or wherever you have potlucks bring some favorite dishes everyone looks forward to? Aunt Mabel's famous peach pie? Or are you known for something people beg you to bring?
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3. What dishes do you avoid like the plague? The mystery jello mold? The Casserole of Questionable Contents?

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I know we've have these type of food threads before, but it's always fun to hear about what people would want to bring -- and what they would avoid!! 😂

Tell us all about YOUR most favorite -- and feared -- communal dishes, and any funny, or tragic, stories of potlucks pasts! :D
 
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LoL! I was starting to feel hungry thinking about tasty dishes, until I started scrolling further down through the images :ROFL:

1) Even though I do a lot of cooking from scratch, I still love tator tot casserole! I rarely make it though, because it's very tempting to have around.
I'm thinking my contributing dishes might be loaded twice baked red skin potatoes and/or Southern baked mac & cheese, Southern broccoli salad, and whoopie pies. My dishes will be made from scratch, but I'm not opposed to those bringing casseroles that have canned soup in the ingredients...especially if it's tator tot casserole!

2) At work, we'd sometimes have a dessert potluck during the holidays. There was a lady I worked with that made the best fudge and sheet cakes. I'd always head for her desserts. They were incredible. One year, I brought some homemade peanut butter cups and I kept getting asked when I was going to bring more.
In the country, we'd have a fish fry or go to fish fries. The host would serve fried fish and everyone would bring a dish. I love fried fish, so I can't remember anything but the tasty fish.

3) I'd definitely be avoiding that gelatin dish. Yikes. I need to save that picture and look at it when I'm tempted to eat something I shouldn't eat. It might help me to not have the appetite to give into temptation lol.
 
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Funny you mentioned this as last week was trying to get all the ingredients together and attempt making lasagna for the first time!

Wow I didn't know you needed at least THREE different cheeses! (Ricotta, Mozzarella, and Parmesan)
Then I had to get the tomato sauce/paste, the bechamel sauce, the mince, and the lasagna sheets. And the pan to bake it in.

So I will let you know if I have any success on my first go.
 
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CarriePie said:
LoL! I was starting to feel hungry thinking about tasty dishes, until I started scrolling further down through the images :ROFL:
Click to expand...

LOL!!!

Yeah, when I was looking at images of potlucks to post, I came across a bunch of funny memes that were so hilarious I couldn't resist!!

They also pretty much described my childhood growing up in the Lutheran church.

That one about trying to guess which dish the congregational cat lady brought -- and then avoid it like the plague (for fear of cat hair contamination?!)

I can testify that this is 100% true! 😂

CarriePie said:
1) Even though I do a lot of cooking from scratch, I still love tator tot casserole! I rarely make it though, because it's very tempting to have around.
I'm thinking my contributing dishes might be loaded twice baked red skin potatoes and/or Southern baked mac & cheese, Southern broccoli salad, and whoopie pies. My dishes will be made from scratch, but I'm not opposed to those bringing casseroles that have canned soup in the ingredients...especially if it's tator tot casserole!

2) At work, we'd sometimes have a dessert potluck during the holidays. There was a lady I worked with that made the best fudge and sheet cakes. I'd always head for her desserts. They were incredible. One year, I brought some homemade peanut butter cups and I kept getting asked when I was going to bring more.
In the country, we'd have a fish fry or go to fish fries. The host would serve fried fish and everyone would bring a dish. I love fried fish, so I can't remember anything but the tasty fish.

3) I'd definitely be avoiding that gelatin dish. Yikes. I need to save that picture and look at it when I'm tempted to eat something I shouldn't eat. It might help me to not have the appetite to give into temptation lol.
Click to expand...

I love it when people who have pro-level skills or tastes are still down-to-earth. :)

Even a non-cook like me can throw together a tater tot casserole (which is why I love canned soup casseroles -- literally anyone can make them!) and I would bring one especially for @CarriePie!

Oh my goodness... I really wish I could try your co-worker's desserts. After seeing all the delectable things you've posted here that you've made yourself, if YOU were singing the praises of this lady's creations, I can't imagine how heavenly hers must be! 😛

And I could totally go for a good fish fry.

When I was visiting some friends, one of my favorite meals there was a homemade fish fry -- her hubby and son had caught all the fish locally, made up their own batter, plopped them into the fryer, and... mmm, mmm, mmm!! 🐟🐡🐠🎣

I'm not one for fish, but when breaded and deep fried, I'm willing to risk growing a few fins. 😎
 
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Lanolin said:
Reminds me of Rachel's Trifle
View attachment 294053


That's beef and peas and onions mince between the cream and sponge raspberries
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Heavens to Betsey!!! 😲

WHO in their right mind would put meat and vegetables on top of a raspberry sponge cake???

It makes me wonder how this atrocity was born.

Maybe some poor, tired homemaker mom decided she didn't want to have to make dinner AND dessert -- so she just threw them both together in one shot. 🤯

Needless to say... I would only try that thing if different sections were parted like the Red Sea and kept very, very separate from one another. 🤢
 
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Lanolin said:
Funny you mentioned this as last week was trying to get all the ingredients together and attempt making lasagna for the first time!

Wow I didn't know you needed at least THREE different cheeses! (Ricotta, Mozzarella, and Parmesan)
Then I had to get the tomato sauce/paste, the bechamel sauce, the mince, and the lasagna sheets. And the pan to bake it in.

So I will let you know if I have any success on my first go.
Click to expand...

I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes!!!

I used to make lasagna but it was always the "cheater" way with bottled sauce, etc. I never made a bechamel for it, just layers of noodles, sauce, ricotta spinach mix, and mozzarella.

I guess a real cook would make the sauce, and probably even the noodles from scratch.

I did make homemade fettucine a few times... I suppose I could try cutting the dough into lasagna noodles if I try it again. I've gotten to where I actually prefer veggie lasagna in my old age.

I'm be anxious to find out how yours turns out!! Are you using beef?

Maybe even post a picture if you'd like. :D
 
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I'll be making deviled eggs.

No idea what they will taste like. Every batch is different. Maybe cream cheese, maybe dill weed, maybe lemon juice, maybe pickle relish, maybe a touch of bleu cheese... maybe a pureed bell pepper. People always like what comes out though.
 
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About the canned soup casserole, I have to agree. Canned soup is soybean oil and salt, mostly. Bleh!

Canned soup will NEVER take the place of milk, cream and proper seasoning. Canned soup is the lazy way, and tastes fairly icky.
 
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seoulsearch said:
Heavens to Betsey!!! 😲

WHO in their right mind would put meat and vegetables on top of a raspberry sponge cake???

It makes me wonder how this atrocity was born.

Maybe some poor, tired homemaker mom decided she didn't want to have to make dinner AND dessert -- so she just threw them both together in one shot. 🤯

Needless to say... I would only try that thing if different sections were parted like the Red Sea and kept very, very separate from one another. 🤢
Click to expand...
Rachel Green off Friends tv sitcom

So what happens is she followed a recipe in a magazine or cookbook that had the pages stuck together. She was never a good cook like Monica (a professional chef) was.

The episode is hilarious. She made it for Thanksgiving. All the friends save Joey were pretending they liked it so as not to hurt her feelings.

Joey loved it! lol.

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seoulsearch said:
They also pretty much described my childhood growing up in the Lutheran church.

That one about trying to guess which dish the congregational cat lady brought -- and then avoid it like the plague (for fear of cat hair contamination?!)

I can testify that this is 100% true! 😂
Click to expand...

Some people's dishes are scary! I've known of people who've had raccoons and/or other critters for pets. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a fondness for outside critters, but they do not belong in my kitchen lol. No animals are allowed in my kitchen.


seoulsearch said:
I love it when people who have pro-level skills or tastes are still down-to-earth. :)

Even a non-cook like me can throw together a tater tot casserole (which is why I love canned soup casseroles -- literally anyone can make them!) and I would bring one especially for @CarriePie!
Click to expand...

I'd be over the moon if you brought tator tot casserole!! :love: 💓 :love: 💓 :love:
That would be the best thing at the potluck!!

I wouldn't be opposed to your lasagna either! I'd probably Garfield either one down lol.

There's at least 2 casseroles that I make during the cold months that call for canned soup. I'm a country cook who's not opposed to down-to-earth cooking.

There are a few things that bother me. The main one being those recipes that claim to be Granny's Old Fashioned Banana Pudding and I look at the recipe and it calls for a pudding mix. I clutch my heart. I'm not at all opposed to people making recipes how the want or how they are able! But, I just wish they wouldn't put the words "old fashioned" or "Granny's" in the title of banana pudding recipes that call for a pudding mix. But, then I remember that I have cousins who are grandmothers and those cousins aren't known for scratch cooking. So, I suppose, these days it makes since.

I still make banana pudding the old fashioned way by using scratch ingredients and cooking it, and I make meringue to go on top. Last time I made it, it was so tasty it was all I could do to stay out of it. Good thing I wasn't the only one eating it. It'd be something I'd bring to the potluck. I just can't make meringue for myself. I have no control in some areas...meringues and tator tot casserole are a couple of those areas lol.
 
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Lynx said:
About the canned soup casserole, I have to agree. Canned soup is soybean oil and salt, mostly. Bleh!
Canned soup will NEVER take the place of milk, cream and proper seasoning. Canned soup is the lazy way, and tastes fairly icky.
Click to expand...

I have to admit, now you have me wondering...

I wonder if tater tot soup made with "proper" ingredients -- instead of canned soup -- would be all that different...

"Gourmet" Tater Tot Casserole?! 😲

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CarriePie said:
Some people's dishes are scary! I've known of people who've had raccoons and/or other critters for pets. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a fondness for outside critters, but they do not belong in my kitchen lol. No animals are allowed in my kitchen.




I'd be over the moon if you brought tator tot casserole!! :love: 💓 :love: 💓 :love:
That would be the best thing at the potluck!!

I wouldn't be opposed to your lasagna either! I'd probably Garfield either one down lol.

There's at least 2 casseroles that I make during the cold months that call for canned soup. I'm a country cook who's not opposed to down-to-earth cooking.
Click to expand...

It's awesome that you'd be willing to eat the culinary attempts of us mere mortals!! 😎

One Whangdoole-less Tater Tot Casserole, coming right up! :D

And I was clutching my heart at your story of the people with raccoons for pets...

I'm just imagining finding ringed raccoon fur in my food...

And promptly sprinting for the bathroom!!! 🤢😂

CarriePie said:
There are a few things that bother me. The main one being those recipes that claim to be Granny's Old Fashioned Banana Pudding and I look at the recipe and it calls for a pudding mix. I clutch my heart. I'm not at all opposed to people making recipes how the want or how they are able! But, I just wish they wouldn't put the words "old fashioned" or "Granny's" in the title of banana pudding recipes that call for a pudding mix. But, then I remember that I have cousins who are grandmothers and those cousins aren't known for scratch cooking. So, I suppose, these days it makes since.

I still make banana pudding the old fashioned way by using scratch ingredients and cooking it, and I make meringue to go on top. Last time I made it, it was so tasty it was all I could do to stay out of it. Good thing I wasn't the only one eating it. It'd be something I'd bring to the potluck. I just can't make meringue for myself. I have no control in some areas...meringues and tator tot casserole are a couple of those areas lol.
Click to expand...

I agree with you about not calling recipes old-fashioned -- when they're really not.

I remember a packaged food company was putting out all kinds of recipes using their products, proclaiming, "It's Today's Homemade."

Yikes!! I'm just glad I'm old enough to remember when food had at least some semblance of being real.

And...

Uh oh.

HOMEMADE Banana Pudding???

Please don't hate me for doing this, but... Calling @Lynx!!!

I should probably give you a warning.

Expect a marriage proposal in 3... 2... 1... 🥸
 
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CarriePie said:
Some people's dishes are scary! I've known of people who've had raccoons and/or other critters for pets. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a fondness for outside critters, but they do not belong in my kitchen lol. No animals are allowed in my kitchen.




I'd be over the moon if you brought tator tot casserole!! :love: 💓 :love: 💓 :love:
That would be the best thing at the potluck!!

I wouldn't be opposed to your lasagna either! I'd probably Garfield either one down lol.

There's at least 2 casseroles that I make during the cold months that call for canned soup. I'm a country cook who's not opposed to down-to-earth cooking.

There are a few things that bother me. The main one being those recipes that claim to be Granny's Old Fashioned Banana Pudding and I look at the recipe and it calls for a pudding mix. I clutch my heart. I'm not at all opposed to people making recipes how the want or how they are able! But, I just wish they wouldn't put the words "old fashioned" or "Granny's" in the title of banana pudding recipes that call for a pudding mix. But, then I remember that I have cousins who are grandmothers and those cousins aren't known for scratch cooking. So, I suppose, these days it makes since.

I still make banana pudding the old fashioned way by using scratch ingredients and cooking it, and I make meringue to go on top. Last time I made it, it was so tasty it was all I could do to stay out of it. Good thing I wasn't the only one eating it. It'd be something I'd bring to the potluck. I just can't make meringue for myself. I have no control in some areas...meringues and tator tot casserole are a couple of those areas lol.
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*sigh...

I remember one Sunday I made homemade chocolate pudding for a children's church thing. The kids didn't know what to make of it. They were all accustomed to instant "pudding" so none of them liked it.

I went home very discouraged about the future of humanity.
 
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seoulsearch said:
I have to admit, now you have me wondering...

I wonder if tater tot soup made with "proper" ingredients -- instead of canned soup -- would be all that different...

"Gourmet" Tater Tot Casserole?! 😲

View attachment 294082
Click to expand...
It is amazing! Sour cream is an essential ingredient. So is colby cheese. A touch of garlic, but not enough to notice it has garlic in it. A bit of onion powder, the slightest bit of red pepper...
 
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Lynx said:
*sigh...

I remember one Sunday I made homemade chocolate pudding for a children's church thing. The kids didn't know what to make of it. They were all accustomed to instant "pudding" so none of them liked it.

I went home very discouraged about the future of humanity.
Click to expand...

I understand!
I'm in a homemaking type of group on fb. One day a young lady asked how to make scratch made biscuits. I was astounded that the ladies (not young ladies either!) kept suggesting Bisquick and canned biscuits! I think I was the only person who gave her a scratch recipe w/tutorial.
 
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CarriePie said:
I understand!
I'm in a homemaking type of group on fb. One day a young lady asked how to make scratch made biscuits. I was astounded that the ladies (not young ladies either!) kept suggesting Bisquick and canned biscuits! I think I was the only person who gave her a scratch recipe w/tutorial.
Click to expand...
Hmm... Bisquick has uses. Mom makes a killer deeeeeeeep dish pizza with a bisquick crust. It doesn't make real biscuits though.

And canned biscuits are not fit for anything. Don't get me started.
 
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