Favorite Ideas for Potluck Suppers

One thing I love about summer is the potluck fare which my friends and I share to celebrate not only the Fourth of July but birthdays and other holidays. In fact, we do potluck all year long for special occasions so I have learned a lot about good things to contribute to our bountiful spread.

There are economical ways to treat the gang. A word of caution here ... if potluck dinners are a regular event for you and your friends, it is best not to splurge too much on what you bring. This will avoid awkward moments in the future where your friends may hope for an encore performance and it might be more than you can afford at that time.

Traditionally, the hosts provide the main meat dish and certain other hot side dishes. What these busy cooks really appreciate are things which might require time-consuming chopping, trimming, or detailed preparation such as salads, fresh fruit cocktails, etc. I usually tell what I'm bringing beforehand in the interest of coordinating with others but in our group, we tend to repeat our treats on a routine basis which makes planning easier and adds to the traditional "feel" of the menu. A last bit of advice would be to ask how the hosts' freezer space is holding up before showing up with three gallons of ice cream, etc. Without further ado, here are ten great things to bring for a Potluck dinner:

A favorite dip accompanied by chips, baby carrots or strips of fresh red bell pepper.

A package of Sargento individually wrapped string cheese with seafood cocktail sauce for dipping.

Fresh salad (i.e. potato, three bean, coleslaw). If time is limited, excellent salads can be found at supermarket deli departments.

Fresh tomatoes or cucumbers, sliced and ready to serve, packed in covered plastic bowls.

Warm muffins or biscuits would be a knockout treat everyone would love.

An "Edible Arrangement" centerpiece made of fresh fruit. (Check your phonebook or Internet for locations.)

Plastic bags containing blueberries, raspberries or strawberries washed and ready to serve up for a summer dessert along with a Sara Lee cheesecake.

Either a pie, layer cake or a super sized, festively frosted cookie. Mrs. Field's big cookies are rather expensive but just as nice ones can be found in supermarket bakery departments for a more reasonable price.

A couple 2-liter bottles of soda and a sack of ice from the 7/11. Sounds goofy but that may be just what they didn't have room in their fridge for.

Finally, the most stellar contribution of all, in my book. In our group, it is June who brings an old styrofoam cooler loaded with ice and chilled bottles of beer and wine coolers. We love the beverages but equally important is her gift of extra chilled storage space. Thanks to her (and her faithful cooler), our hosts don't have to try to jam the already crowded fridge with all those bottles!

Don't forget your host's best friend!

We have all fallen into the habit of bringing pet treats for Lady, my friend's Sheltie. She is an important part of our group too, even though she has nothing to share but her faithful love for us.