Potluck Recipe: Mexican Bean Salad

In a hurry and don't have much time to throw together something for this afternoon's potluck? You can't go wrong with this delicious bean salad - and you may already  have everything you need in your pantry and freezer. Throw these together in a nice bowl, toss, and you'll be ready to go!

Mexican Bean Salad
(Makes 10-12 pot luck servings.)

Ingredients:

Bean salad. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
dash chili powder (to taste)
2 cans (15 oz ea) garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans (15 oz ea) cannelini beans, drained and rinsed
2 pkgs (10 oz ea) frozen baby lima beans, thawed and drained
3 regular size carrots, finely diced
1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 or 2 jalepenos, finely diced
Optional: mixed greens for serving

Directions:

• Put the first 6 ingredients in a large serving bowl and whisk vigorously until frothy.
• Add the remaining ingredients and stir together gently until well coated.
• Cover bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour, stirring several times during the hour, then stir again just before serving.
• May be served over mixed greens if desired.

4 Easy & Tasty Last-Minute Potluck Dishes

Does this sound familiar? You finally get around to opening your email at work and see an invitation to a potluck dinner tomorrow evening. Or, you pick up your church bulletin and realize that the potluck you talked about going to with a friend is this Sunday. It's short notice, so the idea of making your famous homemade seven layer German sweet chocolate cake is out of the question. But, you don't want to just show up with a bag of chips and tub of dip from the supermarket either. So, what's the answer?

Let's take a look at four quick and simple offerings that won't make you look, or feel, like a loser at the potluck table.

Green Stuff

This is a guilty pleasure for many folks, especially at holiday meals. So, why not give everybody what they want, but are too shy to ask for?

The recipe is so simple it's almost sinful, just like the creation itself. There are many options, but basically you will need to stop at the store and get pistachio pudding, a big tub of whipped topping, a can of crushed pineapple, and some nuts. Some people add cottage cheese or marshmallows to their Green Stuff. It's totally up to you how you make it. The wonderful thing is it goes together in minutes and is ready when you are. And, everyone loves this stuff! No reason at all to be embarrassed showing up with this offering.

Bean Salad

The beauty of this salad is it can be different every time you make it. It all depends what you want to throw in. You can easily begin in your own pantry and refrigerator and go from there, perhaps not even having to make a trip to the store at all.

Gather together canned beans, any variety; black, pinto, cannellini, navy, kidney, lima, green, yellow waxed, etc. Then, look in your freezer and grab whole kernel corn, green peas, mixed veggies, or anything you have on hand. Drain the cans, thaw the frozen, and throw them all into a big bowl. Dig through your crisper and grab some onion, celery, and radishes, too, and chop those up. Now dress the salad with that bottle of Italian dressing you have had in your refrigerator just waiting for emergencies. Voila! You have a very presentable tangy and tasty salad. No apologizes needed because this is one delicious dish!

Cole Slaw

It's true that cole slaw may be the laziest way out of a tight potluck predicament. And, if you are not careful, it will taste lazy, too. But, there are ways to turn even a humble bag of cole slaw into a welcome dish at any potluck.

The trick with cole slaw salad is to give it a twist. Make your salad sweet and savory by adding pineapple, raisins, and nuts (my favorite!), then mixing up a dressing that has a savory edge using apple cider vinegar and Greek yogurt or mayonnaise. Then throw in some sunflower seeds or nuts for more color and crunch. Or create a satisfying cole slaw salad by adding lots of crumbled bacon, broccoli, sweet red bell pepper, and toss with a smoky style dressing. You just want to make sure that you add some surprises when offering a cole slaw salad, then it will look like you thought about bringing this dish for days instead of hours.

Mixed Nut Nibbles

Of course you never want to just bring a can of mixed nuts and dump them out into a bowl and serve. That just shows absolute disinterest in the event and the other guests. It's better not to show up at all if this is the case. Instead, create a flavorful homemade treat that takes minutes but tastes like you really put some thought into the preparation.

Just spread mixed nuts out onto a baking sheet. If you want a sweet nibble, toss with a little light oil, cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar and bake in a medium oven, stirring occasionally, just until hot and fragrant. If you want a savory nibble, toss the nuts with olive oil and spices like hot pepper flakes, oregano, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Bake until fragrant, stirring every few minutes. Remove and let cool, then put the nuts in a pretty bowl. When you set these nuts out, provide a spoon and a tiny candy cup or muffin cup, whatever you have, so guests can fill up the cup and walk around, nibbling and chatting. What will they be chatting about? I suspect they will be talking about how delicious these nutty treats are!

Even with very short notice you can create a dish to bring to a potluck meal. You don't have to resort to a bag of chips and tub of purchased dip. You can bring something to offer that is truly delicious and definitely worthy of a spot on the potluck table!

Be sure to check back here later this week for some more quick and simple potluck recipes.

Recipe: Chicken Fajita Casserole

This simple casserole makes a great potluck recipe. It's got plenty of summer veggies in it - feel free to make your own salsa if you have a ton of tomatoes right now! It's easy and delicious, and will be a hit at your next pot luck.

Chicken Fajita Casserole
(Makes 8-10 potluck servings.)

Ingredients:

2 tsp cooking oil
1 medium size onion, cut into thin strips
1 green bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed dry (or 12 oz fresh spinach, washed, dried, and chopped)
1 lb cooked chicken, shredded
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 cups good prepared salsa
4 small (6 inch size) corn tortillas, torn into 1 inch pieces
4 oz shredded Monterrey Jack cheese

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees; coat a baking dish with cooking spray.
• Pour oil into large skillet over medium-high heat, then add onion and bell pepper, and cook just until crisp/tender, then stir in the spinach and cook until hot; remove mixture from skillet to a bowl  with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Add the chicken, garlic, and chili powder to the hot skillet and stir, cooking, just until the chicken is heated through and the garlic is fragrant.
• Spread 1/2 CUP of the salsa evenly into the baking dish.
• Begin the layers:
  Half the torn tortilla pieces
  Half the chicken mixture
  Half the veggie mixture
  Half the remaining salsa
  Half the cheese
• Repeat the layers EXCEPT do not add the remaining cheese
• Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• Uncover, sprinkle with remaining cheese, then continue baking UNCOVERED for 5 to 7 minutes or just until the cheese is melted.
• Remove and let stand for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe: Classic Devilish Eggs

Welcome back! Sorry for the lack of recipes last week; after returning from vacation very late Saturday night, we didn't have enough time to get the recipes posted for the week, so this week, we're sharing 3 great potluck recipes to make up for last week!

Nothing says "potluck" like that old favorite, deviled eggs. Here is a basic recipe that is sure to please, but feel free to get creative and spice it up a little! Add chopped pickles or relish, or garnish with capers for a zesty crunch. Try sprinkling with different spices or herbs such as chili powder, dill, and other garnishes. Make it your own!

This recipe makes 12 deviled egg halves. Boil 12 eggs and double the ingredients for larger gatherings. To keep the eggs from sliding around a platter or plate for serving, cover a platter (with sides) with a layer of dried lentils or other small beans. This makes a pretty presentation and the eggs stay put. You can also nestle them in a bed of lettuce leaves or salad greens.

Classic Devilish Eggs

Ingredients:

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

6 large eggs
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
1 Tbsp sour cream
1/2 tsp white or apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp spicy brown mustard
1/8 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp pepper

Directions:

• Prepare hard-boiled eggs: Place eggs in large saucepan filled with cold water. Be sure the water is well up over the eggs. Bring to a full boil, then remove pot from heat, cover pot, and set timer for 13 minutes.
• Meanwhile, fill a bowl with ice and water. When timer goes off, IMMEDIATELY spoon the eggs out into the ice bath and let sit for several minutes until they are cold. Peel eggs by hitting once on the fat end, then rolling around until the shell is entirely cracked. Begin peeling from the fat end down. Rinse and dry the eggs thoroughly.
• Prepare the deviled eggs: Cut the eggs in half lengthwise (from north pole to south pole). Carefully remove the yolks to a bowl, setting the egg whites aside on a platter.
• Into the bowl with the yolks, add the remaining ingredients, mashing together until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Spoon the yolk mixture into the hollows in the whites.
• Garnish with fresh dill or parsley sprigs if desired, or sprinkle with paprika. 
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Creative Ideas for Themed Potlucks

Green bean casserole. Macaroni and cheese. Potatoes au gratin. Three bean salad. Jello. If this list of food instantly says "potluck" to you, you are not alone. An invitation to a potluck can summon visions of the same array of food, over and over and over again. This can cause boredom, if not a total lack of appetite.

But, a potluck meal doesn't have to follow a certain time-honored tradition of casseroles, salads, and Jello. Although these dishes can be creative and delicious, sometimes they need a little help, or direction.
That's where a theme comes in. One way to help alleviate the 'same old same old' is by designing a menu that steers away (or sometimes to!) a more interesting twist. Let's take a look at a few ideas for themed potlucks that can help the participants get more creative in their offerings.

Seafood

Image courtesy of rakratchada torsap at
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Remember, anything goes when it's a themed potluck. That means be prepared to see dishes you might think you know but with a whole new flavor twist. Is macaroni and cheese your favorite dish? Go ahead and bring it, but try a seafood mac and cheese. You can still make your pasta salad, just replace the ham with shrimp. Green bean casserole can always join the theme party with layers of Cajun spiced crawfish.

Or try something totally different and make smoked salmon spread, then make a batch of taquitos using the salmon spread, chopped cucumbers, and green onions. Make fish cakes or clam dip. Let your imagination guide you and turn favorites into something different, or take a totally new turn.

Pizza

You want to really steer clear of the old ideas here and come up with a pizza that is way beyond ordinary. Think of the pizza crust in a totally new way and let it guide you when you choose the ingredients.

You can make hot, cheesy pizzas or cold, fresh fruit and vegetable pizzas. Try making pizzas on different types of crusts - biscuit, phyllo, crescent rolls, or even thinly rolled out chicken cutlets. Make individual pizzas or full size. Start with the 'crust' and build your pizza up from there. Sweet, savory, spicy, gooey, or crunchy - you decide how your pizza is going to WOW the potluck crowd, then do it!

Jello

Why not just give in to the Jello! This is a fun theme for a Friday afternoon event at work or for any group on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Any time when dinner is not needed, but a gathering IS needed, this is a fun theme.
Grab your most outrageous (or most delicious!) Jello recipes and bring them out for all to see, and share.

Kids will love this potluck, too. It makes a good theme for summer camp or even birthday parties. The sky's the limit with this theme. No jello dish is too crazy to enjoy!

There are so many themes to enjoy that a potluck never has to be boring. Try a finger-foods theme, or a blender drink theme, or a healthy diet theme, or a favorite cafeteria food theme.

No matter what you choose, the idea is to spark some creativity by providing a focus, a theme, to get the participants motivated. One thing you can be sure of, it will never be boring!