Light Meals for a Potluck
Potlucks are an ideal way to get together with friends and loved ones without taking on the responsibility of preparing all the food yourself. Lessen everyone's workload a little more by keeping the potluck light and asking everyone to prepare meals with fresh ingredients, or entrees in smaller portions that you and your guests are sure to enjoy. Does this Spark an idea?
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Sliders and Veggies
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Mini burgers are great for a potluck, especially one that takes place outdoors, since they don't have to be hot when served, and are easy to carry and eat. And, of course, a smaller sandwich means a lighter meal. Bring small turkey burgers with slices of Swiss cheese and chopped fresh red and yellow peppers to the potluck, or make salmon burger sliders with homemade tartar sauce (mayonnaise, relish, fresh herbs and vinegar) if most of the guests prefer seafood. Keep the meal light but filling by adding a vegetable side dish, like three-bean salad, pickled asparagus or mini cobs of corn.
Pasta Salad
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Pasta salad is a one-pot dish that makes a perfect potluck entree. Pasta noodles like fusilli or macaroni are often used for pasta salad. Add your favorite flavor of vinaigrette, along with vegetables like halved cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, cucumber slices or broccoli florets to give the dish more color and nutritional value. It's also a good idea to add a protein to the salad to make it more filling so that everyone will feel satisfied, but not stuffed. Cubes of cooked and seasoned chicken tastes great in pasta salad, or you can use extra firm seasoned tofu cubes if vegetarian guests are attending the potluck.
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Gazpacho
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Surprise everyone at the potluck with an uncommon treat that's easy to make and transport. Gazpacho, a cold Spanish soup that is often tomato based, is a light meal that is still adequately filling. Season the stewed tomatoes with garlic and onion; use chicken or vegetable broth for added flavor. Vegetables like chopped cucumbers, peppers and olives can be added to the soup to boost its nutritional value; include olive oil and vinegar in the soup mixture before chilling it serving it to guests. Bring along a few baguettes to the potluck, so that everyone can eat a piece of bread with their meal, or cut the bread into cubes, paint with butter and fresh herbs, and place the cubes in the oven for a few minutes to make croutons.
Vegetable Casserole
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Broccoli and rice casserole, or a casserole made of yellow squash or zucchini, is an inventive way to bring vegetables to the potluck. Mix the vegetables with seasoned rice, cream or buttermilk, and onion and garlic for seasoning, before placing the mixture in the oven to bake. You can top the casserole with shredded cheddar or Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs for added flavor, or use instant biscuit mix for the top of the casserole to make the dish a little more filling. Ask someone to bring a light entree that will complement this side dish well, like grilled chicken breasts or sauteed veggie burgers.
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