XP - Holiday party

brandyleighxx

Hi - we are having a holiday party at my boss' house. It's potluck and there will be upwards to 22 people. What's your go-to dish for events like this? I'm not the best cook in the world. I prefer not to do a dessert, as we need more "main" dishes. Someone's already signed up to do salad and another spaghetti. Any suggestions appreciated.

TarHeels&Rebels

Would you be opposed to bringing a deli meat platter, small holiday ham, or a shrimp cocktail platter? I think the host should provide the main, but since he's not, I'd want to make sure there's something substantial for others to eat. Potlucks like this can wind up full of apps with nothing to base a meal around. 

Jim&Jaime

Agree with pp, also wondering if there is a "theme". There's salad and spaghetti, so is it leaning towards Italian? Would an antipasti platter be a fitting addition?

viewfromheaven05

Every year at DH's work they have a holiday potluck, similar to what you're doing at your boss' house and he brings chicken and dumplings (sounds complicated but if my husband can make it, anyone can!). I cannot find the original to link to you but I know it by heart after making it so many times:

Ingredients:

-1 to 2 LARGE boneless, skinless chicken breasts
-3 14.5 oz cans of low sodium chicken broth
-2 to 3 carrots cut up
-3 celery stalks cut up
-2 to 3 tsp of poultry seasoning
-1 and 2/3 cups bisquick
-2/3 cup milk

Directions:

-cook the chicken breast (i suggest you cut it in up into bite size pieces, spray the pan with some cooking spray or a bit of olive oil and cook until done.
-meanwhile, in a large pot over medium heat, sauteed the carrots and celery in some cooking spray or olive oil, until they begin to soften...about 5-10 minutes
-when the veg are soft, add the chicken stock and poultry seasoning (here you can improvise as well if you'd like. i add a bit of garlic and onion powder for a bit more flavor but its delish without them as well) and add salt and pepper to taste. bring to a boil.
-once boiling, add chicken back in to soup and bring back up to a boil.
-mix the bisquick and the milk (double check the back of the bisquick box for the ratios of milk to bisquick. i eyeball it and change it b/c i know the texture i'm looking for. drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the boiling pot. cook with a lid for 10-15 minutes, until dumplings are cooked (check with a knife...if nothing sticky comes out and they look fluffy, they're done).

you can leave it in a slow cooker on low/warm to keep it hot while at the potluck! thats what DH does and he says it always hot and always a hit!

hope this helps. if anything is unclear let me know!

littlemisswitness

viewfromheaven05:

Every year at DH's work they have a holiday potluck, similar to what you're doing at your boss' house and he brings chicken and dumplings (sounds complicated but if my husband can make it, anyone can!). I cannot find the original to link to you but I know it by heart after making it so many times:

Ingredients:

-1 to 2 LARGE boneless, skinless chicken breasts
-3 14.5 oz cans of low sodium chicken broth
-2 to 3 carrots cut up
-3 celery stalks cut up
-2 to 3 tsp of poultry seasoning
-1 and 2/3 cups bisquick
-2/3 cup milk

Directions:

-cook the chicken breast (i suggest you cut it in up into bite size pieces, spray the pan with some cooking spray or a bit of olive oil and cook until done.
-meanwhile, in a large pot over medium heat, sauteed the carrots and celery in some cooking spray or olive oil, until they begin to soften...about 5-10 minutes
-when the veg are soft, add the chicken stock and poultry seasoning (here you can improvise as well if you'd like. i add a bit of garlic and onion powder for a bit more flavor but its delish without them as well) and add salt and pepper to taste. bring to a boil.
-once boiling, add chicken back in to soup and bring back up to a boil.
-mix the bisquick and the milk (double check the back of the bisquick box for the ratios of milk to bisquick. i eyeball it and change it b/c i know the texture i'm looking for. drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the boiling pot. cook with a lid for 10-15 minutes, until dumplings are cooked (check with a knife...if nothing sticky comes out and they look fluffy, they're done).

you can leave it in a slow cooker on low/warm to keep it hot while at the potluck! thats what DH does and he says it always hot and always a hit!

hope this helps. if anything is unclear let me know!

I make this, too! But instead of making the dumplings, I cheat and use the pre-made ones that you buy in a tube.. just cut them into strips and drop them in the chicken/broth mixture like in the recipe above. super yummy and easy!

6fsn

I'd consider making a tray of sandwiches. Either some croissant siwth chicken salad and shrimp salad (mini ones, or cut in half), a selection of wraps or mini sandwiches. I do agree it's odd the boss sin't doing the main.

brandyleighxx

6fsn:

I'd consider making a tray of sandwiches. Either some croissant siwth chicken salad and shrimp salad (mini ones, or cut in half), a selection of wraps or mini sandwiches. I do agree it's odd the boss sin't doing the main.

She's not a good cook... her hubby usually makes burgers at events at her place but will be too cold for that!

toothpastechica

I like to bring pita and dips. They are easy to cut up into appitizer size portions but fill you up reletively fast and theres tons of delicious dips that are easy to make (or buy!)

Adjudi-Kate

You can't go wrong with cheesy potatoes!