Potluck dish that will WOW them?

Question

anything out of the norm? give me your tried & true please?

Answer 1

my mom makes a pretzel salad that always wows them at her office. all those ladies running around saying have ya tried cheryls pretzel salad? it's really pretzels! oh wow, what a wonderful idea. them ladies are funny....they thrive on the unusual for their food days. there are actually quite a few kinds of them, and i will just send you to www.allrecipes.com. check out some of the different ones and go from there. have a great day and good luck!

Answer 2

These were the two hits at our potluck last week:

1) Sopapilla Cheesecake Recipe


2 cans of crescent rolls
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter

Preheat oven to 350F. Press 1 can of crescent rolls into bottom of 9 X 13 inch pan. Mix cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and vanilla until creamy. Spread over rolls in pan. Cover with other can of rolls. Melt butter and stir in rest of sugar and cinnamon. Pour over top. Bake for 30 minutes. Can be served warm or room temperature.


2) Cracker Barrel's Hashbrown Casserole

Recipe By : Recipe List
Serving Size : 6 Preparation Time :0:40
Categories : Side Dishes Vegetables

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 pounds frozen hash browns -- thawed
1/2 cup margarine -- melted
1 can cream of chicken soup -- condensed
1 pint sour cream
1/2 cup onion -- chopped
2 cups cheddar cheese -- shredded
1 teaspoon salt
2 cps Cornflakes -- crushed
1/4 cup margarine -- melted

COMBINE next 7 ingredients and mix with hashbrowns. PUT all in a 3 quart casserole. SAUTE cornflakes in butter and sprinkle on top. COVER and BAKE at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes.

Answer 3

Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding
2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
6 to 8 bananas, sliced
2 cups milk
1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla pudding
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream
Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.
In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Mexican Cornbread Casserole
Meat Mixture:
1 lb ground beef
1 large onion, diced
1-1 1/2 jalapeno pepper, diced fine
Cornbread Mixture:
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1 can creamed corn
2-3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Brown together the ground beef, onion and jalapeno pepper; drain well. In a bowl mix together the cornbread ingredients.
Lightly spray a 13 x9 in baking dish with Pam. Pour 1/2 of the cornbread mixture into prepared dish. Top with the meat mixture then sprinkle on the cheese to cover. Pour the remaining cornbread mixture on top. Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 45 mins or until the top is lightly browned.

***Easy recipes and crowd pleasers!!

Answer 4

I have 2 of them that should "WOW" them. They're both on the sweet/dessert side.
#1--PEANUT BUTTER PIE

1 Oreo or Graham Cracker pie shell
2 3 oz. Pkgs. Cream Cheese--room temp.
2 12. oz. containers Whipped topping
1 C. Peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
1 C. Powdered suger--(sifted)
3 Tbl. Sp. Milk
1 Tsp. Vanilla

With a mixer, beat the cream cheese until stiff & creamy. Add (1 container) whipped topping, peanut butter, powdered sugar & milk/ Mix well. Spoon into pie shell. Chill at least 5 hours or overnight. Top with most of 2nd container of whipped topping. Garnish with nuts, if desired.
**Notes: If you are going to be taking this any distance away, place the whole thing in the freezer for at least an hour before.
**Also--rather than using nuts as garnish, (I did this last time)--Take 1/2 of a Butterfinger candy bar and smash it up with a hammer and sprinkle on top! This was really good.

**************************
Now, this one, as far as I know, has no name. We've just referred to it as the "Orange Fluffy stuff". But, it's yummy!

1 16oz. (pint) container small curd cottage cheese
1 12 oz. container Whipped topping
1 Pkg Orange regular or sugar-free Jello
1 Can Mandarin Oranges (chilled/well drained)
1 cup Mini-Marshmellos
In a good-sized bowl, using a wire whisp, mix the cottage cheese and whipped topping together. Add the Jello--right out of the box, and mix in well. Add the oranges. Mix well. Fold in the marshmellows. Refrigerate for several hours before serving.
**This recipe can be doubled for a larger group.
These are both really easy and REALLY GOOD! ENJOY!

Answer 5

MEXICAN LASAGNA
1 lb. ground beef
1 can (16 oz reg.) Fat Free refried beans
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp ground cumin
3/4 tsp garlic powder
9 uncooked lasagna noodles
1 jar (16 oz) salsa
2 cups water
2 cups (16 oz) sour cream
1 can (2-1/4 oz) sliced ripe olives, drained
1 cup (4 oz) shredded Mexican-blend cheese
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions

Cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the refried beans, oregano, cumin and garlic powder ; heat through.

Place 3 noodles in a baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray; cover with half of the meat mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles. Combine salsa and water; pour over noodles.

Cover and bake at 350 F for 60-70 minutes or until noodles are tender. Spread with sour cream. Sprinkle with olives, cheese and onions.

Answer 6

Potatoe chip chicken
1 20 oz bag reg potatoe chips ,crushed,1 16oz container of sour cream,2&1/2 lbs chicken tenderloins,1 can cooking spray(butter flavored),1 tblsp garlic powder,1/2 c butter
Preheat oven to 450. Place sour cream in a med bowl. Dip chicken tenderloins in sour cream,then coat with potatoe chips. Place coated chicken on greased cookie sheet. Bake chicken 5 minutes then reduce heat to 375 and bake 10-12 minutes. while chicken is baking ,melt butter,add garlic powder. return oven to 450 and brush garlic butter over each piece of chicken and bake for an additional 5 mins or untill chicken is golden brown. Serve.

Answer 7

********Marmalade Meat Balls

Ingredients
2 pounds fully cooked frozen meatballs
1 bottle (16-ounce) Catalina salad dressing
1 cup orange marmalade
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions
Place frozen meatballs in the insert of a slow cooker. In a bowl, stir
to combine the remaining ingredients. Pour over meatballs and stir to coat. Cook on high setting for
2 to 3 hours.

Smoked Sausage Crock Pot Heinz 57
1 bottle Heinz 57 steak sauce (small)
1 can jelled cranberry sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 lbs sliced smoked sausage
Brown sliced smoked sausage. Melt steak sauce, cranberry sauce and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until smooth. Place meatballs in crock-pot, pour mixture over and place the crock-pot on low. Excellent!

CHINESE VEGETABLE CASSEROLE
2 (16 oz.) cans French cut green beans
2 cans bean sprouts
2 cans white shoe peg corn
2 c. chopped celery
1 c. chopped onion
1 can sliced water chestnuts
1/2 c. chopped green pepper
1 c. grated sharp cheese
1 c. sour cream
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c. slivered almonds
Salt & pepper to taste
Drain all vegetables. Mix all ingredients together. Place in large casserole baking dish, bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Or place into crock pot on high for 3 hours. Freezes well.

Answer 8

Meatloaf with Tomato Relish
(recipe by Tyler Florence)

Tomato Relish:
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
2 red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and finely diced
2 tomatoes, halved, seeded, and finely diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 (12-ounce) bottle ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Meatloaf:
3 slices white bread, crusts removed, torn into chunks by hand
1/4 cup whole milk
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 pound ground pork
2 eggs
Leaves from 2 fresh thyme sprigs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 to 4 bacon slices
--------------------------------
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Coat a skillet with a 2-count of oil and place over medium heat. Saute the onion, garlic, and bay leaves for a few minutes to create a base flavor. Throw in the red peppers and cook them for a couple of minutes to soften. Now add the tomatoes; adding them at this point lets them hold their shape and prevents them from disintegrating. Stir in the parsley, ketchup, and Worcestershire; season with salt and pepper. Simmer the relish for 5 minutes to pull all the flavors together. Remove it from the heat; you should have about 4 cups of relish. (note: remove bay leaves after simmering)
Place the torn white bread in a bowl and add the milk to just barely cover, swish the bread around in the milk and let it sit while you get the rest of the ingredients for the meat loaf together.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef and pork with 1 1/2 cups of the tomato relish, the eggs, and thyme; season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the excess milk from the bread and add the soaked bread to the meat mixture. To test, fry a small "hamburger" patty of the meatloaf until cooked; the patty should hold together but still have a soft consistency. Taste the patty for seasoning.
Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Transfer the meat mixture to the center of the cookie sheet and form into a log about 9 inches long and about 4 inches wide. Coat the top of the meatloaf with another 1/2 cup of the tomato relish. Lay the bacon across the top lengthwise.
Bake the meatloaf for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until the bacon is crisp and the meatloaf is firm. Rotate the meat loaf while it's baking every now and then to insure that the bacon browns evenly. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it cool a bit before slicing. Plate the meatloaf and cut 3" celery and Carrot segments and place in a circle pattern around the base of meat loaf. The guest can use the relish as a vegetable dip or use the carrots and celery as appetizers by them selves. The carrots and celery adds a festive appeal to the meatloaf.

Serve with the remaining tomato relish on the side. Unbelievably moist!

Answer 9

Savory or sweet?

I always do sweet...maybe because I'm a chocoholic!

Creme De Menthe Brownies

1 cups (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 (10-ounce) package Creme de Menthe baking chips (recommended: Andes)
Shaved Creme de Menthe thins (recommended: Andes)
Chocolate frosting
Frosting:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1/3 cup cocoa
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 by 9 by 2-inch pan.
Using an electric mixer, combine butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla, mixing well.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, and baking powder. Gradually stir into butter mixture. Fold in mint chips. Spoon into greased pan. Bake for 35 minutes.

While brownies are baking, prepare frosting. Combine butter, cocoa, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and milk in a large mixing bowl; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until dry ingredients are moistened. Beat at high speed until spreading consistency.

Remove pan from the oven and allow brownies to cool in pan on wire rack. Spread with chocolate frosting. Top with shaved mint thins.

Savory -
Sausage Roll Ups

1 lb. Seasoned Sausage
8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
2 pkg. Crescent Rolls
Poppy Seeds
1 Egg White

Brown sausage and drain. Add cream cheese to sausage, stirring until it melts. Separate crescent rolls (2 rectangles in each package) 4 total. Lay out flat and smooth perforations. Lay sausage log down the middle, fold over and press together. Turn over so seam is on bottom. Brush with egg white over top. Sprinkle with poppy seeds. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Answer 10

Jamaican Patties, edited to my taste
INGREDIENTS

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
* 1 dash salt
* 1/4 cup margarine
* 1/4 cup shortening
* 1/3 cup water
*
* 2 tablespoons margarine
* 1 pound ground beef
* 1 small onion, finely diced
* 2 teaspoons curry powder
* dried chili (Depends on how hot you want it, I went with 4 and it would be very hot for most people)
* 1 teaspoon dried thyme
* 1 Tablespoon sugar(to balance out the spiciness)
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon pepper
* 1/2 cup beef broth
* 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
* 1 egg, beaten


DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a large bowl, combine flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder, and pinch of salt. Cut in 1/4 cup margarine and shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water until mixture forms a ball. Shape dough into a log, and cut into 10 equal sections. Roll each section into a six inch circle (approximately 1/8 inch thick). Set aside. This can be made and stored in the refrigerator overnight. Make sure it is covered with a wet cloth and each circle separated by wax paper.
2. Melt margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion until soft and translucent. Stir in ground beef. Crumble the dried chili peppers. Season with 1 teaspoon curry powder, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, chili peppers, sugar and pepper. Cook until beef is evenly brown, stirring constantly. Stir in beef broth and bread crumbs. Simmer until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat. Make sure it is moist, not runny like soup.
3. Spoon equal amounts of filling into each pastry circle. Fold over and press edges together, making a half circle. Use a fork to press edges, and brush the top of each patty with beaten egg.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.