Any good ideas for a theme for an office holiday potluck? Please include recipe suggestions.?!
Answers: Each department hosts a christmas potluck for the entire company to attend. There are 8 people in my department. We have done delicacies (chocolates, etc.), Hors d’oeuvres, cold cuts and breads, and build your own breakfast burritos in past years. The various departments are competitive about hosting the best potluck. I need suggestions for themes and corresponding recipe ideas...
you can do ethnic themes like have everybody bring something from a different country you said 8 ppl right? then try dishes from west africa like peanutbarbecue chicken, or south america, australian, french, american, russian, many others countris to choose from. russian try stroganoff delicious and easy to make, french try chicken breast stuffed with broccoli cheese and rice, chinese, simple low mein, i could go on for ever but the real fun is finding the recipes your self that way you can make them your own by twicking them
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Christmas Winter Wonderland
This theme works very well if you want to decorate your office or your classroom. Not only do you recognize our diversity of beliefs but you have decorations that can work for an entire winter season. Start with a Scene Setter . These large rolls are great to create a background. We usually add a border. Then the rest is up to you. Nutcrackers, snowmen or Frosted Windows all work well. Finish off the background with a holiday banner
Snowflakes, icicles and corrugated paper with snowflakes to cover doors and walls are all available and can make your living room into a virtual winter wonderland or North Pole. Add pinecone candles, alpine trees, ice garland and more for a "chilly" Christmas but this time in the warmth of your own home.
Snowflakesare a perfect compliment to a Winter Wonderland theme. Whether you use tissue snowflakes (hang them in classrooms, hallways, or over your banquet table), 3-D snowflake centerpieces, or snowflake Lights (drape these intricate plastic lights around banisters or porches), you really can create a winter wonderland.
Set your table with frosted flute glasses, penguin spreadersand Winter Wonderland table decorations. Add snowball candles and tree votive lanterns and luminaries for a complete look. Seasonal Funtoos (temporary tattoos) are also fun to decorate your guests. You may want to have a lighted reindeer headband around and some reindeer antlers Holiday Antlers for some great pictures (straight from the North Pole).
If you are serving food you can use a seasonal pattern for your paper goods. We like Winter Collage or Snowflakes but pick anything that you are comfortable with, as long as you don’t have to wash any dishes! Winter can be a time of dazzling beauty so why not create your own Winter Wonderland in the middle of your everyday life?
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Bon Bon Cookies
1/2 c. soft butter
3/4 c. sifted confectioners sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla
food coloring if desired
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/8 tsp. salt
Heat oven to 350. Mix butter, sugar, vanilla and food coloring (if using), thoroughly. Measure flour by dip-level-pour method or by sifting. Blend in flour and salt. If dough is dry, add 1 to 2 Tbsp. cream. Wrap a level Tablespoon of dough around filling (candied or well drained maraschino cherry, pitted date, nuts or chocolate pieces). Place 1" apart on un-greased cookie sheet. Bake 12 to 15 min. Cool. Dip tops of cookies in frosting. Makes 20-25 cookies.
Ice box Gingerbread
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup nuts what your chose
1 cup sour milk
2 teaspoons soda
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup molasses
1-1/2 cups raisins
4 cups flour
4 eggs lightly beaten
1 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon allspice
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Instructions:
In a large mix dry ingredients well. In another large bowl, mix the liquid well, add dry ingredients slowly. When well mixed pour in a greased and floured pan that will hold the mix. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until done.
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Christmas Pudding (Carrot Pudding)
1 1/3 cups carrots - grated or put through meat grinder
1 1/3 cups potato - grated or put through meat grinder
1 1/3 cups suet
1 1/3 cups sugar - dark brown
1 1/3 cups raisins
1 1/3 cups currants
1/4 cup peel - glazed
1 1/3 cup flour - all-purpose
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup milk ( sour ) or water
Add the baking powder, cinnamon and cloves to the flour. Stir in the first 7 ingredients. Put soda and Vanilla into the water/milk mix thoroughly combine with the flour mixture. Mix thoroughly.
Put in a greased oven-proof glass bowl, put in steamer. Steam for 4 hours and Keep water boiling.
Top with Pudding sauce.
Pudding Sauce
1 1/3 Cups Sugar - white
3 Heaping tablespoons Cornstarch
Water - cold (1 - 2 Tablespoons)
1/2 teaspoon Butter
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
4 - 5 Cups Water - Boiling
Optional: Dash Cinnamon
Combine sugar and cornstarch. Moisten with cold water just enough to blend. Put on heat and add boiling slowly until desired consistency. Add butter, Vanilla and cinnamon
Note: to make milk sour remove 1 Tbs of milk and add 1 Tbs of lemon Juice or Vinegar. Do not use electric mixer it will chop all the fruit and burn out your mixer!
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Basil Cheese Triangles
Hot tidbits warm up a casual gathering. Make these melt-in-your-mouth appetizers ahead and you'll have more time to enjoy them.
Prep Time:25 min
Start to Finish:40 min
Makes:72 appetizers
1 pound feta cheese
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh or 1 tablespoon dried basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 package (16 ounces) frozen phyllo sheets (18x14 inches), thawed
1/3 cup margarine or butter, melted
1. Heat oven to 400oF. Grease cookie sheet. Crumble cheese into small bowl; mash with fork. Stir in eggs, basil and white pepper until well mixed.
2. Cut phyllo sheets lengthwise into 2-inch strips. Cover with plastic wrap, then with damp towel to keep them from drying out. Place 1 level teaspoon cheese mixture on end of 1 strip. Fold strip over cheese mixture, end over end in triangular shape, to opposite end. Place on cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining strips and cheese mixture. Brush triangles lightly with margarine.
3. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Serve warm.
Grilled Caesar Beef Appetizer Kabobs
Gathering with friends? Try these tantalizing tidbits for starters.
Prep Time:20 min
Start to Finish:1 hr 30 min
Makes:30 kabobs
1 pound beef boneless sirloin steak, 3/4 to 1 inch thick, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium yellow or green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup 1-inch pieces pattypan or yellow summer squash
1 1/2 cups whole mushrooms
1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup Caesar dressing
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
30 wooden skewers (6 to 8 inches)
Romaine leaves
Additional Caesar dressing, if desired
Chopped fresh chives, if desired
1. In large resealablefood-storage plastic bag, place beef, bell pepper, squash, mushrooms and tomatoes. Mix 1/2 cup dressing and the ground pepper. Pour over beef and vegetables; seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate at least 1 hour but no longer than 4 hours, turning bag occasionally. Soak skewers in water about 1 hour to prevent burning.
2. Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat. Remove beef and vegetables from marinade; discard marinade. Remove skewers from water. Thread 1 or 2 pieces beef on each skewer. Add a mushroom, squash, bell pepper piece or tomato to end of each skewer.
3. Cover and grill kabobs 4 to 6 inches from medium heat 6 to 8 minutes for medium beef doneness, turning frequently.
4. Arrange romaine on serving platter. Top with kabobs. Spoon additional dressing into small bowl for dipping; sprinkle with chives.
How about Italian food? Lots of yummy casserole-type foods.... You can do lasagna, chicken Parmesan, fettuccine Alfredo, a nice big salad, chicken cacciatore, vegetarian?maybe eggplant Parmesan, for desserts-maybe tiramisu, bread pudding(YUM!), almost all of it can be made ahead and popped in the oven...good luck!
Hobo Dinner Party
Christmas Paper tablecloths. Candles in cans with lids partially turned up to make reflectors and Christmas ribbon tied around them.. Flowers in bottles to make centerpieces. Rags torn into squares for napkins. Silver wear--spoon only.
Hobo Stew--dip from pot at table with ladle onto foil pie pans. Relishes--celery, carrot sticks, green onions standing red flower pots on table. Long loafs of French bread...Butter in green flour pot saucers for holder. Apples shined and passed in small red wagon, Doughnuts--stacked in gift box. Coffee--served in mugs.
Beans and hamburger stew, corn on cob, corn bread. Fresh Fruit.
Mystery Hobo Meal
Large pots of about three types of soup: Vegetable, beef, chicken soup....(could add rice or noodles) one of each. Mystery sandwich wrapped in waxed and Christmas paper. Serve out of picnic basket.
Do same with wrapped pound cake type of cake.
Down at the Farm--Pine cones, fresh pine and branches, ivy.
Decorated topiary tree.
Red checked tablecloths. Pimento cheese and chicken salad sandwiches, potato chips, cherry tomatoes, pickles, Peach cobbler/pound cake. Homemade ice cream.
Some of the following for Old fashioned Christmas--
Baked ham
Beef tips & rice
Chicken & Dumplings
Mac & Cheese
Slaw
Green Beans and Corn
Creamed Potatoes
Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie, Chess
Persimmon pudding
Banana Pudding
Fruitcake
Gingerbread
Cookies, cookies, cookies
Brownies
Fresh Coconut Cake
Red Velvet Cake
Devils Food Cake
Cold Oven Pound Cake
Peach Cobbler
Ice Cream
Candy canes in small stockings
Nativity, candles
Christmas music
Tree with only homemade decorations--paper chain, popcorn, cranberry chain, paper snowflakes, paper beads, decorated tin can lids, bells from egg cartons, etc.
Paper chain napkin ring.
Colors: white, red, green
Red punch
Coffee
A Jimmy Buffet theme would be ideal since it appeals to several different age groups. The beach type contrast to the cold weather would be welcoming. You could decorate with beach balls and margarita glasses...play games to find the lost shaker of salt...can I come? You can serve finger foods or go traditional depending on whether or not it should be a full meal or more of a cocktail party. Have fun!
1. 7 Layer Dip with tortilla chips (do in glass bowl so layers can be seen)
2. Pineapple salsa
3. 3 bean salad
maybe do a theme of one certain ingredient that has to be used in each recipe. the ethnic thing is good to, label them with little flags of the country it's from, you can call it "tastes from around the world". or do mini everything! mini pickles, mini eclairs, little weenies....