Laura420
- 288
October Pot Luck Ideas: What's Your Favorite Dish?
Click For Summary
Discussion Overview
This thread centers around ideas and personal experiences related to dishes for an October potluck, with participants sharing their favorite recipes and suggestions for outdoor gatherings.
Discussion Character
- Anecdotal
- Opinion-based
- Exploratory
Main Points Raised
- One participant, identifying as a consultant, suggests using a crock pot for dishes like white chicken chili or chicken Alfredo soup, while also mentioning various salads and desserts.
- Another participant shares their experience of making chicken skewers with a chili dip, noting that it is time-consuming but well-received at potlucks.
- Several users mention the practicality of using disposable dishes for transporting food, with one participant considering a plastic pumpkin platter.
- One participant discusses using pumpkin trick-or-treat buckets for serving dishes and describes a veggie pizza decorated to look like a pumpkin.
- Another participant expresses concern about the number of attendees and the setting, humorously referencing a barn fire and joking about BBQing livestock.
- Multiple participants suggest various easy-to-make dishes, including mini cocktail weenies, potato salad, and a "dirt" cake, with one participant providing a detailed description of the dirt cake recipe.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Views differ on specific dish choices and preparation methods, with no clear consensus on a single favorite dish for the potluck.
Contextual Notes
The discussion reflects a casual exchange of ideas among participants preparing for an outdoor potluck, with considerations for practicality and crowd-pleasing options.
Who May Find This Useful
Consultants looking for creative and fun dish ideas for potlucks, especially in an outdoor setting, may find the shared experiences and recipes helpful.
PamperChefCarol
- 1,052
You are on the east coast... is it cooler where you are?
If you have electricity and a crock pot, something like the white chicken chili or the chicken alfreado soup would be awesome.
If not, how about the sandwich ring? Or one of the salads from the spin on salads?? There is a great tasting one using sweet potatoes and apples. You could jazz it up with some candied walnuts and dried cherries. In fact, there are alot of great salads in that book. Try the quinoa one with goat cheese and leeks.
On the sweet side, you can't go wrong with a trifle, or even make the large chopped salad in the trifle bowl. Or try one of the new desserts in the holiday dessert book. That cranberry apple (is that it) pie near the back looks fabulous. Or the brownie lolipops - the kids would love them and they would be easy to eat.
Personally, I always get asked to bring this chicken skewer recipe. Very time intensive to make, but excellent....
Skewered Sesame Chicken with Chili Dip.
Sesame Chicken
1/8 c rice wine vinegar
1/2 c sesame oil
1 T chopped garlic
1/8 c soy sauce
1 1/3 lb raw chicken, cut into 48 bite size pieces
1/4 c white sesame seeds
1/4 c black sesame seeds
2 tsp cornstarch
3 T flour
3/4 c peanut oil
48 snow peas
Mix rice wine vinegar, sesmae oil, garlic, and soy sauce, pour over chicken. Marinate overnight. Mix sesame seeds, cornstarch, and flour. Dip marinated chicken into sesame seed mix. Place on parchment lined tray and let set 10 min. Heat peanut oil in saute pan and brown chicken. Drain on paper towels.
Trim tips and lightly blanch snow peas. Wrap pea pod around chicken and skewer.
Chili Dip
1 T rice wine vinegar
2 T chili paste with garlic
1 T soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 T minced ginger
3/4 c mayo
1 T sugar
dash of tabasco sauce
To prepare dip, combine all ingredients, blending well.
You can put the dip in a hollowed out red pepper if you don't have a pretty bowl for it.
To assemble, layer a tray with kale (ok, I omit this!). I just arrange the skewers around the dip. Serves 12
This looks like a lot of work (and it is), but they are sooooooo good. Every time I take the time to make these, everyone just loves them. Plus the dip is tasty, but not firey hot. I of course, serve this on SA, this year, the cranberry oval platter. This does take some things that I normally don't have on hand, but it sure is a crowd pleaser.
Hope some of this helps.
If you have electricity and a crock pot, something like the white chicken chili or the chicken alfreado soup would be awesome.
If not, how about the sandwich ring? Or one of the salads from the spin on salads?? There is a great tasting one using sweet potatoes and apples. You could jazz it up with some candied walnuts and dried cherries. In fact, there are alot of great salads in that book. Try the quinoa one with goat cheese and leeks.
On the sweet side, you can't go wrong with a trifle, or even make the large chopped salad in the trifle bowl. Or try one of the new desserts in the holiday dessert book. That cranberry apple (is that it) pie near the back looks fabulous. Or the brownie lolipops - the kids would love them and they would be easy to eat.
Personally, I always get asked to bring this chicken skewer recipe. Very time intensive to make, but excellent....
Skewered Sesame Chicken with Chili Dip.
Sesame Chicken
1/8 c rice wine vinegar
1/2 c sesame oil
1 T chopped garlic
1/8 c soy sauce
1 1/3 lb raw chicken, cut into 48 bite size pieces
1/4 c white sesame seeds
1/4 c black sesame seeds
2 tsp cornstarch
3 T flour
3/4 c peanut oil
48 snow peas
Mix rice wine vinegar, sesmae oil, garlic, and soy sauce, pour over chicken. Marinate overnight. Mix sesame seeds, cornstarch, and flour. Dip marinated chicken into sesame seed mix. Place on parchment lined tray and let set 10 min. Heat peanut oil in saute pan and brown chicken. Drain on paper towels.
Trim tips and lightly blanch snow peas. Wrap pea pod around chicken and skewer.
Chili Dip
1 T rice wine vinegar
2 T chili paste with garlic
1 T soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 T minced ginger
3/4 c mayo
1 T sugar
dash of tabasco sauce
To prepare dip, combine all ingredients, blending well.
You can put the dip in a hollowed out red pepper if you don't have a pretty bowl for it.
To assemble, layer a tray with kale (ok, I omit this!). I just arrange the skewers around the dip. Serves 12
This looks like a lot of work (and it is), but they are sooooooo good. Every time I take the time to make these, everyone just loves them. Plus the dip is tasty, but not firey hot. I of course, serve this on SA, this year, the cranberry oval platter. This does take some things that I normally don't have on hand, but it sure is a crowd pleaser.
Hope some of this helps.
Last edited:
kcjodih
Gold Member
- 3,391
Laura420
- 288
Thanks for the ideas Carol... Im not sure if my girlfriend will have electric set up, but it would sure be nice to crockpot something especially since we will be outside---yikes! Ill call her and ask though... I think I will make your chicken recipe for my family for dinner sometime next week... sounds yummy!! If worst comes to worst, Ill do a dessert... thats usually easiest.
I want to bring something I can bring on a disposable dish tho... my girlfriend is over an hour from us and we dont get together often so I dont want to part with my SA items or my trifle bowl... cuz who knows when Ill get it back. Maybe I can get a plastic pumpkin platter or something like that to bring whatever it is Im gonna bring...
Maybe some kinda casserole?
I want to bring something I can bring on a disposable dish tho... my girlfriend is over an hour from us and we dont get together often so I dont want to part with my SA items or my trifle bowl... cuz who knows when Ill get it back. Maybe I can get a plastic pumpkin platter or something like that to bring whatever it is Im gonna bring...
Maybe some kinda casserole?
Teresa Lynn
Gold Member
- 3,447
When we do potlucks in October and need serving dishes we use the cheap pumpkin trick or treat buckets (or now all the character ones they have)
Make the cool veggie pizza (get a pizza box from the local pizza place) ours will give you one if you ask.Make it like a pumpkin (grated carrots is the top layer) I do the chopped broccoli on top of the cream cheese then add the other toppings black olives for face, yellow or red peppers strips to make the "ridges"
Make the cool veggie pizza (get a pizza box from the local pizza place) ours will give you one if you ask.Make it like a pumpkin (grated carrots is the top layer) I do the chopped broccoli on top of the cream cheese then add the other toppings black olives for face, yellow or red peppers strips to make the "ridges"
Laura420
- 288
crystalscookingnow
Gold Member
- 2,942
Laura420
- 288
no, actually.... barn! LOL My friends bought a house that had an old storage building that was made in the image of the old red barn. It was on the property when they bought the house and they had reluctantly assumed ownership when closing (it was very unslightly). Since then my girlfriends husband had torn the building down and used most of the wood for firewood and/or scrap, however, there were alot of pieces that couldnt be used in that way, sooooo thats what they are going to burn... so, really it IS a barn fire (at least thats the joke!!)
Dont worry about the cows though... I heard that shes BBQing the livestock and we are using the hay for seating!
Dont worry about the cows though... I heard that shes BBQing the livestock and we are using the hay for seating!
KellyTheChef
Gold Member
- 7,533
Funny!
What about mini c0cktail weinies wrapped in biscuits?
Cold veggie pizza (already mentioned)
Potato or Mac salad
Stuff for smores (if she isn't already doing that)
A "dirt" cake...decorated for Halloween
Reuben Roll ups (I will add the recipe here)
Sausage Snack ring (I will add the recipe)
What about mini c0cktail weinies wrapped in biscuits?
Cold veggie pizza (already mentioned)
Potato or Mac salad
Stuff for smores (if she isn't already doing that)
A "dirt" cake...decorated for Halloween
Reuben Roll ups (I will add the recipe here)
Sausage Snack ring (I will add the recipe)
Laura420
- 288
GourmetGirl
Silver Member
- 2,299
yum!
KellyTheChef
Gold Member
- 7,533
Laura420 said:
Dirt Cake I - Allrecipes
Coolest Homemade Dirt Cake Photos and How-To Tips
Just make it in a disposable foil cake pan and decorate it with tombstones and "rock" looking candies and worms....
Laura420
- 288
Laura420
- 288
KellyTheChef
Gold Member
- 7,533
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some easy potluck dishes to prepare for October?
Some easy potluck dishes for October include pumpkin soup, chili, baked macaroni and cheese, and a hearty salad with seasonal ingredients like roasted squash and cranberries. These dishes are not only delicious but also easy to transport and serve.
How can I incorporate seasonal ingredients into my potluck dish?
To incorporate seasonal ingredients, consider using items like pumpkins, apples, sweet potatoes, and root vegetables. You can make a roasted vegetable medley, an apple crisp, or a pumpkin spice dessert to highlight the flavors of fall.
What are some crowd-pleasing appetizers for a potluck?
Crowd-pleasing appetizers for a potluck include stuffed mushrooms, spinach and artichoke dip, cheese and charcuterie boards, and mini meatballs. These options are easy to share and can be made in large batches.
Can I make a dessert for a potluck? What are some popular choices?
Absolutely! Desserts are always a hit at potlucks. Popular choices include pumpkin pie, apple crisp, brownies, and cookies. These desserts are easy to serve and can be made ahead of time.
How do I keep my potluck dish warm during the event?
To keep your potluck dish warm, consider using insulated containers or slow cookers. If you’re bringing a casserole, wrapping it in towels or blankets can help retain heat during transport. You can also check if the venue has a warming tray or oven available for use.
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