Budget Friendly Holiday Potluck Meals and Ideas

When hosting or attending a potluck get together this holiday season, don’t show up with the same old cheese or vegetable platter that you bring every year. This year make your dish the life of the party, without going over budget.

Hosting a Potluck Dinner

If you are hosting a potluck dinner, it is a good idea to come up with a theme of sorts. For example you may want to have all cold or all hot dishes or perhaps an ethnic theme. Make sure that  your guests all know what the others are bringing so that not everyone is showing up with the same dish.

• If some of the dishes require warming, set steam servers, crock pots and chafing dishes on a separate table.
• Set up tables covered with table cloths, napkins, plates and cutlery for foods and a separate table for punches, cocktails and deserts.
• Label foods that guests may not be able to easily identify and be sure to caution guests about any dishes that may contain nuts or shell fish.
• It is not always a good idea to set out paper plates for guests. Paper plates can be flimsy and often result in food spills. Try to use regular plates as they are easier to clean than carpet stains.

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Whether you are the host or a guest this holiday season these gourmet potluck ideas and recipes will  please even the most discerning guests.

Holiday Soup

(Swiss Chard, White Bean, Tomato and Tortellini Soup)

Wow guests this holiday season with this simple to make soup that even looks festive. This delicious soup is healthy,budget friendly and takes only 15 minutes to prepare to prepare.

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Ingredients

• 2 liters chicken broth
• 1 large or 2 small cans of navy/pea beans-drained
• 1 small pkg of frozen tortellini- cooked and drained
• 2 cups chopped Swiss chard
• 1 large plus one small can of stewed tomatoes- chopped
• 1 smalled sweet onion-finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves- minced
• 1 tsp cooking oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Method

• In a large pan, add cooking oil and saute garlic and onions until onions are translucent ( be careful not to burn the garlic)
• Add the broth, beans, tomatoes and tortellini and bring to a boil
• Add the Swiss chard, cover the pot and let simmer just until the chard has wilted in the broth

       * serves 8

Holiday Turkey and Cranberry Stromboli

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Stromboli is a type of turnover that is filled with meats, cheeses and vegetables that  are rolled jelly roll style in bread dough and then baked until golden bread. Stromboli might sound extravagant, but by incorporating left over turkey and frozen bread dough into the recipe, it becomes gourmet in a flash.

Ingredients

• 3 cups spinach cooked and chopped
• 1.2 lb shredded leftover turkey
• i loaf of frozen bread dough- thawed
• 1 pkg softened cream cheese
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup sauteed red peppers
• 1 can cranberry jelly
• salt and pepper

Method

• Heat oven to 350* F
• In a large bowl combine sauteed peppers, spinach, softened cream cheese, garlic powder and shredded turkey. 
• On a flowered surface, roll out the dough until it is about 9″ by 12″ in size
• Spread a layer of the cranberry jelly on the dough, leaving a 1″ border
• Spread turkey and cheese mixture over the jelly
• Starting at the long end, begin to roll the dough “jelly roll” style, folding in the sides
• Pinch the ends of the dough together to make a seal
• Place the Stromboli seam side down on a well greased cookie sheet
• Cut slits in the top of the dough and bake in a 350* oven for about 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the dough is golden brown

      * This Stromboli recipe is also delicious made with leftover ham. Serves 8-10

Cranberry  Bead Pudding

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Nothing says comfort like old fashioned bread pudding and the cranberry flavor  screams HOLIDAY!!!

Ingredients

• 2 cups light cream
• 1/4 cup butter
  ¼ – 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 eggs- beaten
• 3 cups of day old French bread, torn into small pieces (brioche is a bit pricier than traditional French bread but it works best)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries that have been reconstituted and chopped
• Confectioners sugar
• Cranberry liquor (optional)

Method

• Heat cream in a saucepan until warm.
• Add butter, vanilla, brown sugar, and chopped cranberries and let cool to room temperature
• Add in beaten eggs and combine mixture completely
• Place bread in a greased baking dish and pour mixture over bread making sure that it is evenly distributed
• Bake in a pre-heated 350* oven for 45-60 minutes or until the egg mixture is completely set
• After removing pudding from the oven and while it is still warm, drizzle with a little cranberry liquor (optional) and sprinkle with confectioners sugar

If you are hosting or attending a potluck this holiday season, you may want to double or even triple these recipes, as they are crowd pleasers and will go fast.