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Post by melly on Apr 29, 2016 17:44:14 GMT
BOTH of my childrens' schools decided to have a potluck next Tuesday, teacher appreciation day. Parents bring food, teachers eat it. Personally, I'm one of those people who have a hard time eating at potlucks because of not knowing who prepared it and how clean/safe they were. But I would still like to bring something to share, since that is what the schools are doing this year. What is your favorite quick, easy, inexpensive contribution to bring to things like this? Preferably not requiring a crockpot to keep it warm.  I thought I'd ask here before I decide to just bake a big batch of cookies and call it good, lol. |
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Post by ntsf on Apr 29, 2016 17:58:11 GMT
fresh strawberries...wash, cut off stems..put out. fresh fruit would be a good change from all the the rest.
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Deleted
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Sept 29, 2024 8:24:18 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2016 17:58:48 GMT
I am not a fan of cooking, especially for a group or pot luck.
Safeway here, Vons and or Kroger in other locals, sell a couple dozen really good cookies for around $5.00 a tray. I am known as the cookie lady because I always bring those.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Apr 29, 2016 18:05:29 GMT
For me it really depends. Luckily I do a lot of potlucks for people that love them not the more unknown, do people really want to eat potluck food types I tend to bring a main dish since most people bring treats, cookies, salads or chips. Since mine are for 4-H I usually ask my dd what she wants  So basically I'm no help since I would make some meat or pasta type dish and I would probably use the crockpot! Last time we all brought food in at work, someone brought in Adobe chicken and rice and I brought in a salad. It went perfect with her meal and everyone loved it. I just chopped a bunch of veggies into the salad and we just had two different dressings. |
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Post by bigbundt on Apr 29, 2016 18:05:53 GMT
Most people here just buy things for teacher lunches. I see them when I am dropping off something. I try to stay simple because I find those are more popular than more complicated items. Brownies from a mix or rice crispy treats are cheap and easy. I like the fruit idea too.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Apr 29, 2016 18:26:27 GMT
Cheese and crudite, with mustard & crackers, and a couple of dressings/dips.
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Post by oliquig on Apr 29, 2016 18:41:17 GMT
Buy a watermelon. Cut it up.
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Post by smalltowngirlie on Apr 29, 2016 18:44:07 GMT
A simple meat and cheese platter with crackers is always nice.
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Post by casswithsass on Apr 29, 2016 19:42:19 GMT
Garlic bread--easy, cheap and people love it
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2016 19:46:03 GMT
Crack bread. Recipes are all over Pinterest. They will love it.
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Post by shescrafty on Apr 29, 2016 20:01:36 GMT
I have organized teacher appreciation pot lucks for many years. Actual main dish type entrees are the most popular. Any kind of roll-up sandwich, or pampered chef type recipe is usually eaten first. Some ideas:
Roll-ups (ham, turkey, roast beef, etc.)
Chicken salad with rolls or croissants
Veggie pizza squares (with cream cheese and chopped up veggies)
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Post by kimpossible on Apr 29, 2016 20:03:10 GMT
What about sliced apples with either peanut butter or carmel dipping sauce. There is a woman I work with that brings that to every potluck and it is always gone in a flash!
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Post by leannec on Apr 29, 2016 20:16:14 GMT
At my monthly Book Club the most popular easy items are: Store bought bruschetta with sliced baguettes Store bought 5 layer dip (Mexican) with tortilla chips These require very little prep time and everyone gobbles them up  |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 29, 2016 22:14:23 GMT
Since it's for a school function and since so many teachers on here have said repeatedly that they won't eat anything homemade, I wouldn't waste my time, talent or effort. I'd go get something store bought to drop off and call it good. I'd get a tray of cookies, or pan of brownies, a tub of spinach dip and a round Hawaiian bread, a tray of veggies with dip or a bowl of cut up fruit. That way I'm not wasting my time and they will get something people might actually eat.
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Post by imkat on Apr 30, 2016 0:01:56 GMT
What about sliced apples with either peanut butter or carmel dipping sauce. There is a woman I work with that brings that to every potluck and it is always gone in a flash! I like to do this too.
To keep the apples from browning after sliced, I keep them in a ziplock bag covered with Sprite.
For the dip, I like to use cream cheese, caramel topping, and cinnamon.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2016 0:05:02 GMT
Bagels and cream cheese
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breetheflea
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Post by breetheflea on Apr 30, 2016 0:07:27 GMT
I organized the teacher potluck at our school this past fall. A group of families pitched in and had 5 pizzas delivered, the teachers LOVED it, also anything chocolate, and anything that did not need silverware or plates because no one wanted to sit in the copy machine room to eat...
I am kind of grossed out by potlucks since reading this board but apparently teachers at my kids school did not get that memo and will eat anything.
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Post by imkat on Apr 30, 2016 0:08:18 GMT
Since it's for a school function and since so many teachers on here have said repeatedly that they won't eat anything homemade, I wouldn't waste my time, talent or effort. I'd go get something store bought to drop off and call it good. I'd get a tray of cookies, or pan of brownies, a tub of spinach dip and a round Hawaiian bread, a tray of veggies with dip or a bowl of cut up fruit. That way I'm not wasting my time and they will get something people might actually eat. I have seen similar posts over the years too. I get that there is a slight risk with homemade, but seriously, what is the point of having a potluck of entirely store-bought items? I'm not a teacher, but I have eaten plenty of pot luck dishes at school/work/picnics without knowing who made what. |
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Post by scrapmaven on Apr 30, 2016 0:17:37 GMT
If store bought is preferred the veggie tray is popular. At an event a few years back one mom brought a tray of assorted pepperidge farm cookies w/cut up fruit. That was a huge hit. All store bought and a fun snack.
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moodyblue
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Post by moodyblue on Apr 30, 2016 0:36:15 GMT
Since it's for a school function and since so many teachers on here have said repeatedly that they won't eat anything homemade, I wouldn't waste my time, talent or effort. I'd go get something store bought to drop off and call it good. I'd get a tray of cookies, or pan of brownies, a tub of spinach dip and a round Hawaiian bread, a tray of veggies with dip or a bowl of cut up fruit. That way I'm not wasting my time and they will get something people might actually eat. Teachers at my school don't seem to have a problem with homemade food at potlucks. We will happily scarf down most things, and often ask for the recipes. Now, I'm not usually one who likes to make something for potlucks, so I tend to buy stuff. I took summer sausage and cheese and crackers for a salad potluck at one of my schools on Wednesday. I've also done chicken salad and mini croissants from Aldi, and that went over very well and didn't cost a fortune. |
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Post by bearmom on Apr 30, 2016 0:41:56 GMT
I'm making pulled pork sandwiches for a potluck next week. Cheap and easy.
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TankTop
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Post by TankTop on Apr 30, 2016 1:10:27 GMT
The apples and dip go quickly at my school as well. We usually have a big bowl of apples and one of those slicer things.
Another thing that goes over well is yogurt parfaits.
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Post by mandasue on Apr 30, 2016 1:14:35 GMT
For a potluck like this I would do a veggie tray.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 30, 2016 1:27:56 GMT
Since it's for a school function and since so many teachers on here have said repeatedly that they won't eat anything homemade, I wouldn't waste my time, talent or effort. I'd go get something store bought to drop off and call it good. I'd get a tray of cookies, or pan of brownies, a tub of spinach dip and a round Hawaiian bread, a tray of veggies with dip or a bowl of cut up fruit. That way I'm not wasting my time and they will get something people might actually eat. I have seen similar posts over the years too. I get that there is a slight risk with homemade, but seriously, what is the point of having a potluck of entirely store-bought items? I'm not a teacher, but I have eaten plenty of pot luck dishes at school/work/picnics without knowing who made what.I agree. If it looks good, it's going in my belly! |
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Grom Pea
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Post by Grom Pea on Apr 30, 2016 3:37:42 GMT
I made mini turkey and cheese sandwiches from kings Hawaiian rolls and 32 just disappeared. Even better, you can make them, use toothpicks to good them together and out them back in the tray and bag for easy transport and not have to get a dish back. I just did 1/4 slice of cheese and 1 slice of cold cut but you could do a mayo or add lettuce or make them fancier, my potluck was at a preschool so I made them very basic so kids could enjoy. I think 32 rolls was less than $5 at Costco, I used 8 slices of cheese and less than one package of thinly sliced meat so it was pretty inexpensive.
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Post by nlwilkins on Apr 30, 2016 7:10:38 GMT
Remember that not all the teachers will be eating at the same time, so the food will be out for at least an hour or perhaps an hour and a half. With that in mind, I would try to avoid cream cheese and the like. Finger sandwiches always seemed appitizing to me when I was teaching and there were potlucks. For some reason there were always more desserts than meat dishes. So you might want to reconsider a crock pot dish. You can get second hand crock pots at the thrift store that would work just fine. Just pick it up at the end of the day when picking up your child, or have someone else get it for you. (Possibly, your child's teacher can get it to your child the next day to bring home.)
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