Help me plan a potluck!

[wanderingenough]

So I'm having a fall themed potluck at my house for about 25 people next month. The group turned out a little larger than I was expecting, so I'm a little overwhelmed thinking about what to serve!

I've got about six friends I know will ask for specifics to make sure all needs are covered. Generally I prefer to let people decide what to bring themselves, but I think I'll take advantage of the offers in this case. I'm going to be making chili and some fall desserts. One friend has already offered to make a potato soup. What other kinds of things would you serve?

[Deleted]

Sounds yummy! Maybe someone could bring cornbread or cornbread muffins. A salad with apples or pears, blue cheese, and walnuts. Something pumpkiny?

[HoneySpider]

Mmmmm

I'm trying to think of fall stuff but all of my ideas are desserts which you have covered. So I'm no help.

[wanderingenough]

HoneySpider - I was joking with folks today that it would be one real dish and 20 fall desserts!

[HoneySpider]

Aug 14, 2015 18:22:00 GMT -5 wanderingenough said:

HoneySpider - I was joking with folks today that it would be one real dish and 20 fall desserts!

I am so there

[katiek]

My favourite thing to eat with chili is artichoke Asiago dip and homemade buns! There are lots of other hearty dips that would be awesome with chili, like spinach dip.

Scalloped potatoes? There are no potatoes in chili, so it might compliment well.

Roasted fall veggies? Lots of yummy root vegetables and squash would be good!

[wanderingenough]

Good ideas, katiek! Thanks!!

[awick14]

Potlucks my specialty.

What I usually do:

Choose a main dish, let everyone know what the dish is and if anyone asks what to bring I give some suggestions. Once I run out of suggestions I just ask people to bring an appy. I figure I can put out some appies before dinner starts to keep people from getting grouchy.

With chili I suggest:
-some sort of potato side (potato soup is good)
-a rice dish
-some sort of green salad (not just a plain one though, you don't want people needing different salad dressings)
-some sort of corn bread/muffins (or other sort of bread product)
-some sort of veggie side

Another suggestion with chili is to have a toppings bar on the side so people can add some toppings of they wish. Toppings can include; sour cream, green onion, shredded cheese etc.

Have fun!!

[wanderingenough]

awick14- thanks!! the toppings bar is a great idea!

[amaranth]

I love curry always, but especially in the fall. There is a delicious curried parsnip and apple soup i have served as an appetizer at previous parties. You only need a little bit of it so I pour it into those double tall shot glass with a baguette piece. It's a hit. Let me know if you want the recipe.


You could do a cranberry apple salad with walnuts to add texture variety. Or really any salad with spinach is fall like. That's easy for someone else to bring.

Another appetizer we love in my house is pampered chef turkey cranberry ring. Googling that name yields the recipe.

Could you ask someone to also bring apple cider? Brandy optional

[awick14]

Your welcome.

We love hosting and we do a lot of potlucks. (We couldn't afford to host as much as we do if it weren't for potlucks)

[wanderingenough]

Awesome recs! I'll have to post the final menu