Easy Recipes for Your Next Pot Luck

Do you have a graduation party, birthday party, holiday, family reunion, that requires a dish to pass? Are you tired of the same old veggie tray and cupcake routine? Here are several recipes that can help you when you are looking for something different to take to your function. If you are like me, you get tired of the same old thing. These recipes have become some of my favorites and most requested amongst family and friends, depending on the occasion and the rest of the menu. The following recipes are divided into categories, for your convenience.

Appetizers

Bean Dip Served With Frito Scoops or Tortilla Chips

Ingredients

1 Cup Sugar

½ Cup Oil - vegetable

¾ Cup white vinegar

Bring these ingredients to a boil in a sauce pan and then remove from heat.

In a large bowl, add the following ingredients:

1 can pinto beans with jalapeños

1 can black eyed peas with jalapeños

1 small can of corn - drained

1 red pepper - chopped small (or use any pepper of your choosing)

1 Cup chopped celery

Pour the liquid ingredients over the beans and ingredients in large bowl. Mix thoroughly and refrigerate over night. Drain liquid before serving.

Chili-Cheese Dip

(Serve with veggies or tortilla chips)

Ingredients:

2 Cups shredded cheese (your preference)

4 ounces of soft cream cheese

¼ Cup Miracle Whip

½ teaspoon garlic powder

½ - 1 tablespoon chili powder - to taste

2 teaspoons lime juice

½ Cup finely chopped onion

¼ Cup finely chopped chives

**Add salt to taste if you feel it's necessary

In a food processor, blend all ingredients except the onion and chives. Mix in by hand the onion and chives. Transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy with vegetables or chips.

MAIN DISHES

Ingredients

Veggie Pizza

This recipe requires an extra large cookie sheet or jelly roll pan

2 tubes of crescent rolls

16 ounces of soft cream cheese

½ cup of Mayo or Miracle Whip

1 package of Hidden Valley Ranch Dry Mix

Assorted chopped and sliced veggies (mixed peppers, cucumbers, tomato, onion, any of your favorites according to your taste)

Press crescent roll dough into the pan, creating a small ridge for the crust around the perimeter of pan. Cook according to directions on crescent roll dough - until light or golden brown. Watch carefully, as not to over cook.

Mix thoroughly, cream cheese, mayo and dressing mix. Using a large spoon, spread mixture onto cooled pan of crescent rolls. Add veggies and enjoy. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. You can also garnish with thinly sliced kiwi or other fruits.

Sloppy Joe's

(Beef, Chicken, Pork or ground burger work well with this recipe)

Ingredients

2 lbs. ground beef or the meat of your choice

2/3 Cup finely chopped onion

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 1/3 Cup Ketchup

1 1/3 Cup Water

Fully cook meat and drain off grease. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 15-20 minutes while stirring, often. Cook to desired thickness.

***This is also a great recipe to use in a crock pot, once the meat is fully cooked.

Mini Quiches

Ingredients

4 eggs

1 Cup heavy cream

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

2 Cups chicken - finely diced

1 - 8 ounce can of diced green chilies

4 tablespoons cilantro

1 diced red bell pepper

1 Cup shredded cheese - Monterey Jack

60 mini phyllo shells

Place phyllo shells on a lined (parchment) baking sheet. Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, cream, salt and pepper. In another bowl, mix the chicken and remaining ingredients. Spoon the chicken mixture - approximately ½ fill each shell. Spoon in egg mixture almost to the top...pausing to let it settle before continuing to fill. Do not fill shells completely as they will bubble over while baking. Bake in 350 oven for 15 minutes. Serve and enjoy. These mini quiches also freeze well up to 2 weeks...just thaw and reheat 10-15 minutes.

**VARIATIONS:

Vegetarian -

Ham and cheese

Turkey-Club

Salads

Bunches of Broccoli

Ingredients

2 large bunches of uncooked broccoli washed and cut into small bite sized pieces

2 Granny Smith Apples chopped small - skin on(or your favorite)

2 Jonathon Apples chopped small - skin on (our your favorite)

1 pound cooked crispy bacon

¾ cup slivered almonds

1 cup raisins or cranberries (optional)

½ red onion - diced

1 - 1 ½ cups Miracle Whip

½ cup red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon sugar

1 cup shredded cheese (optional)

Mix all ingredients in large bowl and serve.

Taco Salad (an oldie but goodie)

Ingredients

2 pounds browned ground beef

1 package taco seasoning

1 head lettuce (your preference)

1 ½ cups shredded cheese

1 diced tomato

1 bag of Doritos - broken into bite size pieces

Black olives if you choose

Catalina Salad Dressing

Brown the ground beef, drain off grease and add package of taco seasoning...follow directions on package. If you are serving immediately, mix all remaining ingredients including chips and lettuce and meat into a large bowl, stir and serve. Otherwise, I would recommend mixing in Doritos and Dressing just before serving.

Dessert

Berry Cones

Ingredients

2 Cups Raspberries

2 Cups Blueberries

2 Cups sliced Strawberries

4 Tablespoons sugar

24 Ice Cream Cones (Regular, Sugar or Waffle Bowls)

Whipped Cream

Cherries (optional)

Mix berries in bowl and sprinkle with sugar. Scoop berries into your cones and add a spoonful of whipped cream on top with a cherry.

Cinnamon Cheesecake

Ingredients

2 packages Crescent Rolls

2 - 8 ounce packages Cream Cheese - softened

1 Cup of Sugar

1 teaspoon Vanilla

1 stick of Butter - Melted

½ cup of Sugar

3 teaspoons cinnamon

Unroll one package of crescent rolls onto a 9x13 un-greased pan. Mix cream cheese, vanilla and 1 cup sugar. Spread on top of crescent rolls. Unroll the other package of crescent rolls and lay them over the cream cheese. Pour the melted butter over the top. Combine the ½ cup sugar and 3 teaspoons cinnamon and sprinkle over the top. Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Enjoy!- substitute the chicken with turkey and add cooked bacon pieces.- switch the chicken for ham and use any cheese you like, remove the cilantro and chilies for a more milder taste. omit meat and add your favorite veggies like broccoli, peppers, squash, etc.(This is a cold recipe)