Going To A Potluck? Impress Everyone

By Gregory Cartier
Lifestyle Correspondent Every other Friday

Would you rather sit at home in front of the television or be invited to a dinner party where you must bring something? Are you the type of man who is devoid of creative thought or skill in the kitchen and is infamous for bringing the soft drinks and potato chips to social gatherings?

If you fit the description, we're offering the following column with you in mind. If we walk into one more party where the most creative dish on the buffet table is a bowl of pasta salad with canned olives and Miracle Whip dressing, we just might go Martha Stewart on somebody.

The problem with the communal dinner party is that everybody wants to have their cake and eat it too. They want great food but neglect to put in the time and effort required to bring something special themselves. Worse yet are the lazy hosts who organize the dinner party but choose not to suggest a dish for their guests to bring or decline to even prepare something at all.

Is there a limit to the hypocrisy? After another night of generic frozen lasagna and garlic bread, we felt compelled to pen a general guide to help the less fortunate among you. We have now made it a company mission to eliminate the potluck slacker from civilized society.

Potluck recipe: hummus
Whenever we bring the following to a dinner party, everyone marvels at how simple it is to prepare. Rather than specify amounts, my advice is to play with the quantity of each ingredient before attaining the desired taste and texture.

Pour some tahini, or sesame paste, into a large mixing bowl. Add the juice of a few lemons and limes. Stir well and as the mixture coagulates, add a small amount of water until it is liquid and smooth. Add a generous dash of black pepper and salt. In a food processor, add a can or two of chickpeas. Pour the tahini mixture over it and add some fresh minced garlic and a few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Puree until creamy and add more garlic and seasoning if necessary.

Now congratulate yourself. You have just made hummus. All you need to do is buy some fresh pita bread, a container of fine olives and perhaps chop some fresh vegetables to enhance the dipping experience. For a delicious twist, substitute the chickpeas with several roasted eggplants -- just slice in half and broil until charred -- to create baba ghanouj. Nothing to it but to do it.

Potluck recipe: real guacamole
Yeah, we know. Everyone and his mother has a recipe for guacamole. It is a staple of the potluck dinner party but because I have yet to sample an authentic version, we thought we'd add our favorite version to the already long list of recipes. Real guacamole should contain cilantro and never, ever mayonnaise.

The best way to prepare it is with a mortar and pestle but if you lack the equipment, improvise. Start with several ripe avocados. Mash with the juice of a few limes and a lemon. Dice an onion, a clove of garlic, a chili pepper, and two ripe tomatoes, and toss them in. Season with fresh coriander, salt and black pepper, according to your taste.

That is it, people. A wicked guacamole in about 10 minutes. Just arrive at the party with some good organic blue corn chips to go with it, not a bag of Doritos.

Potluck recipe: chili
Our goal is to wean those of you accustomed to bringing a bucket of KFC to your dinner party onto a delectable assortment of homemade alternatives that are simple to prepare. The following chili recipe is a perfect example of a dish tailored to the potluck concept.

It is ideal for a backyard pool party or a Super Bowl gathering. In addition, it requires little maintenance once all of the ingredients are in the pot. You will need quite a large pot to begin with. Pour a few cans of tomato sauce in and set the element to medium heat.

Add a package of lean ground beef or our personal favorite, ground turkey. Pour in two cans of corn niblets, two cans of kidney beans and two cans of black beans. Add several chopped carrots, chopped tomatoes, chopped red peppers, and a large Spanish onion, diced. The beautiful thing about chili is that it is conducive to those who have a creative streak in the kitchen.

Do not restrict yourself to the ingredients above. Throw in a different type of bean if you like, or even a different medley of vegetables. Grate a handful of cheddar or mozzarella and mix it in.

Spice it up
As is the case with all chili recipes, the secret to success is in the spice. We recommend using copious amounts of garlic, paprika, cayenne, cumin, basil, oregano, and salt. For additional fire, toss in a diced jalapeno or two.

It all hinges on your taste buds. One of the best chilis we ever made had a rather unorthodox ingredient. As it simmered on the stove -- all good chili should simmer for a prolonged period of time -- we weren't pleased with the consistency and had run out of tomato paste and other traditional thickening agents. We scoured the refrigerator and noticed a jar of pure almond butter. Two heaping tablespoons later and it was heaven. Best chili we'd ever tasted.

original is impressive
The goal here is to get you thinking about different potluck options. It need not be a chore to prepare something for that upcoming dinner party. Share the shopping and cooking with a friend or settle on a dish that does not require major preparation, like the guacamole.

Even something as elegant as a dish of good smoked salmon, adorned with red onions, capers, black pepper, and lemon wedges is simple to put together but will make a lasting impression.

In the same vein, why not bring a few dozen oysters? If you know how to shuck them, you can show off and place them on ice with lemon, Tabasco and sherry vinegar -- a bold potluck suggestion that could spell redemption to those of you notorious for bringing the soft drinks and sour cream dip.


source: askmen.com