What's Cookin' discussion

Tomorrow is my turn to bring dinner for a group of 14. I'm at a loss and feeling desperate.

Can anyone recommend something relatively cheap and perhaps even crock-pot-able so I won't have to stop and bring a box of doughnuts?

I was thinking red beans and rice.
There is one vegan in the crowd, but she rarely eats with the rest of us. Its not a potluck, its only one person bringing food for everybody (and often a drink is brought as well).

Other people have brought:
chips and dip
cinnamon rolls
lasagna
sandwiches
coffee and scones
pie

I'll have to bring plates and utensils for everybody as well, and we'll be eating at our desks in a classroom.

You could also make a big batch of soup and bring a salad.

*Edit: this would also work well if you picked up a few loaves of crusty bread to go with it.

I find myself in the predicament of having a group of carnivores with one or two vegetarians, one vegan, frequently. It is difficult but not impossible. Beans and rice works, but providing nice fluffy rice under the circumstances is a challenge; not that it makes much difference after dumping beans on top of it.

I would probably go with Bun's suggestion of lasagna with eggplant and/or spinach; something in the casserole family if you have the capacity to serve it warm, there. If not, I'd go with couple of french loaves of bread, sliced through and filled with healthy but scrummptious veggies (cheese optional on the side) and dressed at the last minute with a good vinaigrette.

If the vegan wasn't joining, I'd do an enchilada casserole. Good luck. I'm sure it will be great; good friends, good food, fun times...how can it fail?

I was in the kitchen, puttering, when it hit me that what I might do in your circumstance would be to make a really great fruit salad with pecans and whipped topping, maybe with some carrot cake or something on the side and coffee...really good rich coffee. Or a trifle! Everyone loves those, just put the cake in the fruit dish.

Please, let us know how it goes; I love good stories, especially about cooking and even better...eating!

Oh, I had a traumatic experience on Sunday that ended up taking up most of my time, so I ended up making caramel popcorn balls and I brought some hot apple cider with cinnamon. Not so filling, but we had a short class anyway.

I'll be okay eventually.

We're all okay, eventually. We want you to be okay NOW. Glad you took our advice [giggles:]. Sounds like you delivered a hit. Good job.

BunWat: I want details on the green chili!

Tortellini with 3 cheeses
2 pounds of tortellini
1 cup of shredded cheddar
1/2 cup grated parmesan
1/2 pound of blue cheese cubed
1 pound cream
salt and pepper to taste
Cook the tortellini whose filling may be meat, cheese or mushroom, according to the packaging instructions and drain them using the pot and it's cover. It doesn't matter if there is a bit of liquid left in the pot. While the tortellini are still piping hot, stir in the cheeses whose quantities may vary according to your or your guests' taste, so that they start to melt, add the cream amd pepper and stir so that the cream goes everywhere. Add a bit of salt if you think its necessary. If you're feeling really adventurous you might add a handful of chopped walnuts. It takes about 20 minutes to prepare and my kids love it.

I had a tea party/cookie exchange this weekend. With the finger sandwiches (chicken salad and cucumber-cheese) I served pots of Yorkshire Gold and Earl Grey teas. With desserts (cinnamon almonds and LOTS of homemade cookies) I had pots of Sugar Cookie and Bengal Spice teas. It was easy and everyone left with a variety of cookies.

I just returned from a cruise in Mexico and will leave for Portugal tomorrow. My first novel was set in the Algarve, where I have returned each Christmas for many years. I love the area, the people, and the weather this time of year; the food is amazing in its simplicity and fresh flavors.

I will serve cookies and cocoa with warm cider (for adults) to a few hundred people (mostly children) around a bonfire on the beach. Good times, good friends, good food; it must be Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and have a great New Year with friends, family and food.

Happy travels, Will. And happy holidays to all!

Homemade Chicken Spaghetti



Notes: This recipe is great for potlucks or family get togethers. Super quick and easy.



1 boneless chicken

1 large can of cream of mushroom soup

1 tablespoon dried onion flakes

1 can mild or hot Rotel tomatoes

1/2 pound of Velveeta cheese

1 package of thin spaghetti

Salt and pepper to taste



Directions

Simmer the chicken until fully done; remove, reserving the cooking water. Using the water from the chicken, boil pasta until done; drain. Remove meat from chicken, discarding skin and bones; set aside. Cut Velveeta cheese into cubes and put into separate saucepan. Add onion, rotel tomatoes, and mushroom soup; heat until all ingredients are melted together and well-blended; add chicken and stir in pasta.

10-12 servings



Serving Suggestions

Garden salad

Hot biscuits

I have made this one before and it can be easily doubled.

This is an old stand by: I have also made it with veggie sausage or veggie meatball UMMMM!

Italian Sausage and Pepper Heroes

4 lb. sweet or hot Italian sausage links (16 pieces)
4 red bell peppers, stemmed, seeded and sliced into 1/4" strips
4 green bell peppers, stemmed, seeded and sliced into 1/4" strips
2 TB olive oil
6 large sweet onions, peeled and thinly sliced
6 cloves garlic, crushed
Favorite Marinara Sauce on the side
Salt, to taste
Ground black pepper, to taste
16 hero rolls, sliced lengthwise and toasted, if desired

Grill sausages over hot coals, turning occasionally, until done, about 10
minutes total.
Remove from grill and keep warm.

In large skillet, saute peppers in the olive oil until softened, about 5
minutes. Add the onions and
garlic, season with salt and pepper and continue cooking, stirring
frequently, until vegetables are
lightly browned, 10-15 minutes. Pepper mixture can be made ahead; reheat to
serve hot or serve at room temperature.

Place sausage links in hero rolls; generously add sautéed pepper mixture to
each sandwich.

Servings: 16.


Dori

Ok
I posted before I said hello

I am Dori
I live in North Carolina with a large multi-generational family to care for.

I am an admitted foodie and obsessive collector of cookbooks to the point I didn't have enough of others I have stared writing my own.

Dori

http://doriswanderings.wordpress.com