The Potluck Intervention

Alright, I get it. Not everyone is a foodie. There are simply people on this earth who don't enjoy creating art with a skillet and a paring knife. And that's okay. But last week during a meeting and church potluck, when 30% of the main dishes were lasagna, 20% dry chicken baked in cream of _____ soup, and 40% indistinguishable crockpot concoctions that may or may not have included corn, I couldn't keep myself from whispering to my husband that I felt compelled to write a "Potluck Makeover" book.

While I wholeheartedly appreciate someone laboring over a meal to share, or the foresight and preparation involved with a slow cooker dish, I think it's time for a church revival in the potluck department. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Step away from the casserole.
2. Marinara + Ricotta + Any shaped pasta = Yawn. If you need something quick, pasta is great. But mix it up. Try an Alfredo sauce. Add pesto. Heat red pepper flakes (and minced garlic if you want) in some olive oil for a few minutes and then drizzle it over the whole thing to add a little kick.
3. Slow cookers can be lifesavers. But as a friend, let me share a secret with you: If it looks like pig slop or we can't tell what it is, we won't eat it.
4. So it was a long day and you totally forgot. You feel compelled to bring something and pick up a container of pre-packaged cookies or cupcakes. Unless there is absolutely nothing else on the dessert table, you will have wasted $2.99 because it will remain there, virtually untouched. Instead, take 30 seconds longer at the store and check out a different aisle. Why not fresh fruit (it doesn't have to be in a syrupy fruit salad to be worthwhile!)? Frozen ice? Heck, a bag of dark chocolate even! Think outside of the bakery box.

The last church that I attended had potluck picnics every Sunday during the summer which meant they HAD to get creative! Some of the more memorable dishes were as follows:
-Stromboli
-Rainbow jello cups
-Fresh tomato slices with mozzarella, basil, and olive oil drizzled on top
-Watermelon slices
-White cheddar popcorn
-Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
-BBQ on dinner rolls (like sliders)
-Quesadilla triangles

So next time you are bringing something to a party or gathering involving food (is there any other kind??) think outside the box so it won't come home with you in one.