Sometimes cooking is intimidating, especially to those without much practice. So we have found that pot luck dinners are a big hit. Unlike a dinner party where people prepare a big mean, a pot luck dinner just calls for guests to bring a dish. A desert, a salad, a pasta dish, a pie — all of these are easy to pick up or make and they are a nice addition to a community meal. We’ve supplied all of the essentials in our well stocked kitchens: pots and pans, dishes and utensils, bowls and appliances, roasting pans, can openers — all of the little things to bring a dish to life. One good thing is if a member just doesn’t want to cook, there is always plenty to do at the cleanup 🙂
Here are some of our favorite go-to PotLuck recipes.
Shrimp Stir-Fry
All you need are some basic ingredients: sliced fresh mushrooms, red bell pepper, snow peas, shrimp, soy sauce, garlic, and sesame seeds are great in a stir fry. You just heat the oil, saute a little garlic in oil, throw in the red pepper, snow peas and mushrooms and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes. Then just add the shrimp and remaining ingredients and cook until the shrimp is pink (2-4 min) and the veggies are crunchy and you’re good to go. For an extra twist, cook up a little rice or serve with a salad.
Avocado Toast
This is hot right now among dieters and those trying to limit carbs without losing their protein. You will never be disappointed with a plain, no-frills version of this simple dish for breakfast, lunch, dinner, midnight snack or just because you want another excuse to eat avocado. But if you feel like getting creative, we have found 16 recipes to help you take your already amazing meal up a notch or two.
Pizza
The good old stand by and always a hit is homemade pizza. The good thing is, you and your roomies can all put your order in for toppings. You can put toppings for the vegetarian on one side and the meat eaters can still have their pepperoni or sausage without making two dishes. Prepared pizza dough and sauce is easy to find at most grocery stores (or if you really want to channel your inner chef, you can make these from scratch). From there, you just need to pick up your favorite toppings and shredded mozzarella cheese.
Spaghetti or One Dish Pasta Dishes
Spaghetti is always an easy stand by. Make it with or without meat. You can buy prepackaged meatballs and warm those up and serve on the side. Use penne pasta, whole wheat pasta, bow tie pasta and add some fresh veggies like red peppers and broccoli for those cold pasta dishes or for light vegetarian options. There are a variety of good options for prepared sauces and you can add your own magic touch.
Pot luck dinners can especially be fun when there is a mix of cultures. Have everyone make one dish from their home country and explain a bit about it as a way to share the customs and traditions of home.
