Pot-Yuck Mommy

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Who doesn’t love a good potluck?  Me, that’s who! Don’t get me wrong, I love a good party or get together. But let’s just say I’m a little domestically challenged, especially in the cooking area. In my defense, I come by it naturally. I come from a long line of cooking-challenged women. While all of my friends are busy revamping the latest restaurant favorite or creating art on a plate that’s been passed down for generations, I’m thinking “Should I make my mom’s hot-dog boats or my grandma’s roast?” Trust me, you don’t even want to know about my grandma’s roast! So, to ease my potluck anxiety, I have created a list of five go-to potluck recipes that are yummy and oh-so-easy! The best part is your friends will be asking you for the recipes.

1. Potluck Meatballs

Potluck meatballs are my favorite. They are always a hit and gone by the end of the night!
Ingredients:
1 32oz bag frozen fully cooked meatballs (about 50)
1 18oz jar jalapeno jelly (you can also use grape jelly)
1 18oz cocktail sauce
Directions:
Combine sauces in your crock-pot and stir until combined.
Add meatballs and stir until they are coated with the sauce.
Cook on high for 3 hours.
Enjoy as an appetizer or serve over rice for a main dish.

2. Crockpot Chili

Crockpot Chili is great for winter potlucks but can be great for cool summer nights too.
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground meat
3 varieties of canned beans drained (I like black, navy and kidney)
3 cans of Rotel
1 can of Mexican corn
2 tablespoons dry chili powder
1½ teaspoons dry cumin
Directions:
In a 1 ½ inch skillet brown ground meat and spices over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes until brown.
Drain.
Add ground meat and remaining ingredients to to the crockpot.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

3. Texas Caviar

DipTexas Caviar is another yummy easy dish. It was created by a New Yorker in the 1940’s who did not think much of Texas cuisine. She took hum drum black eyed peas and turned them into something yummy!
Ingredients:
3 cups black eyed peas
2 cups corn, fresh or defrosted frozen
2 cups jicama, diced small
1 cup red onion, minced
1 medium red pepper, seeded, stemmed and diced small
1 medium plum tomato, cored, diced
2 medium jalapenos, seeded and minced
5 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup minced cilantro
3 scallions, sliced thin
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
Juice of half a lime
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a large bowl and toss to combine.
Cover and refrigerate an hour or more.
Serve with lots of corn tortilla chips.

4. Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

These are so yummy and a personal favorite of mine. My dad has been making these since I was little and still makes them for me every time I go home. Yum!
 cookies
Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
½ cup cocoa
1 stick butter
½ cup milk
1 tsp. Vanilla
3 cups quick cooking oats
½ cup peanut butter (optional)
Directions:
Combine sugar, cocoa, butter and milk in a saucepan.
On medium heat, bring to a boil for one full minute.
Remove from heat.
Stir in peanut butter (optional), vanilla and oatmeal.
Drop by spoonful onto wax paper.
Let cool for at least 30 minutes.

5. Watermelon Salsa

This is a summertime favorite. It is great on chips or even a great addition to chicken.
Ingredients:
2 cups diced watermelon
2 cups diced fresh pineapple
1/2 cup diced red onion
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper, diced
1/4 cup lemon juice
Hot pepper sauce to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine watermelon, pineapple, onion, cilantro, and jalapeno pepper.
Toss gently.
Add lemon juice and season to taste with hot sauce, salt, and pepper.
If additional sweetness is desired, add a small amount of sugar.
Cover and refrigerate until chilled.

I hope you like these recipes as much as I do! Do you have any go to potluck recipes? Please share your favorite recipes in the comments.

9 COMMENTS

    • I love them too! I have made them twice this week! Thank goodness my family eats them before I get a chance to.

  1. Oh my goodness! I have the same recipe for the chocolate no-bake cookies, it was my mother’s. No one has ever heard of it before, it was so great to see it again. They were one of my very favorites when I was a teenager and starting to bake on my own. To quick and easy to get to the YUM!!!

  2. What? No recipe for Donna’s hot-dog boats? Ha! That’s hilarious. The watermelon salsa sounds awesome!

    • Lol, Jana you probably had my mom’s hotdog boats back in the day! It’s a repressed memory! 😉

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