"True" Potlucks a Thing of the Past?

[Veronica]

We had a potluck luncheon at work yesterday, and I was so disappointed. Just about everyone brought store-bought food. We only had about 3 homemade dishes. The reason I've always enjoyed potlucks is because I like to try everyone's specialties. I just don't find eating store-bought food to be very exciting (or healthy)!!

What about ya'll? Have you seen this trend lately at your potlucks?

[mlou]

Yes, I think most people don't have time or want to cook. Seems odd to us of course but c'mon we wouldn't have all those fast food places. About 15-20 years a go it seemed pot lucks were pot lucks and the men always got to bring plates, chips, or drinks but now its an epidemic....or just plain laziness! Most pot lucks I've been to lately are exactly what you describe and there is nothing worse than grocery store potato salad http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

[HARRYET]

actually, the potlucks i've attended lately have been of the homemade kind. i belong to a bunko group and every month we have appetizers and desserts and everyone always goes all out to make something near and dear to them, (i know this isn't quite the same)but, it's what makes part of the evening fun, we all look forward to new surprises. i hope your luck changes and any future potlucks are of the homemade varity http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by HARRYET (edited 11-01-2000).]

[Ed]

Hi Veronica,

I don't know where you live, that is in a city, or a small town, or in a rural area.

I live in a small town that is surrounded by rural areas, and around here we still have Pot Luck Suppers and the like. They might be held by Churches, Neighborhood groups, 4H, and Lodges, even some family gatherings are Pot Luck affairs.

For the most part the dishes at the Pot Lucks around here are all homemade dishes. Although some will bring someting from the Deli at the super market if they are pressed for time. (I try to stay away from these)

I would think a Pot Luck held at a work place would be where prepared food would be most likely to be brought to even around here.

For instance if you were to bring a purchased food item to work there's no work to prepare it, and nothing to drag home later either.

As I mentioned I live in what is called Rural Minnesota. Pot Lucks are big here in this state. In fact the State Meal is a Hot Dish. But there was a move here by one part of Minnesota state Government that wanted to "OUTLAW" Pot Luck suppers held by groups in this state.

Thankfully that law was defeated.

But the theory was that there was no control by the state health people and that there could be many people made sick by poorly prepared and handled food at a Pot Luck supper. (My personal belief is that, that chance is very slim)

So if people buy prepared food from Deli's & grocery Stores, while it kind of takes away from the nostalgia of a good old fashioned Pot Luck supper, it does lay off some of the liability on to a business instead of an individual. So our litigious society might contribute to some of the demise of the Pot Luck in a metro area.

I may be in the minority on this point, some others here from rural areas & small towns can say if I am. But I always, at a Pot Luck supper, pay attention to who brings what. I want to get some of the stuff the good cooks in the area bring, and stay away from some of the other things. This is getting harder for me to do as I get older, and my memory gets shorter, but I still try to keep track.

One final comment. I belong to a group in the Twin Cities where we get together monthly, and in December it is up to the Board members to furnish the Christmas goodies. Some buy something at the store and some actually bake something. The things that are home made are always the most popular treats and are gone first.

Ed

[lindrusso]

I'm happy to say that a potluck around here almost always means homemade goodies. There are always the few that bring store-bought items, but these are usually those that just didn't have time or don't have faith in their cooking but don't want to show up empty-handed. And so far, our schools still allow homemade goodies too, thank goodness!

[Wendy w]

My sister is a 1st grade teacher and her school doesn't allow for homemade goodies either. I found this out when I wanted to make cookies for her class-stupid rule. Lots of kids are going to grow up without knowing the joy of homemade things.

I haven't been to a pot luck in a long time, but I have found that a lot of people tend to bring store bought things - the most popular being coleslaw, potato salad, fried chicken and the throughly disgusting nachos with this awful cheese sauce http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif.

Whenever I go to a potluck, I always make something home made and usually don't have to take anything home!

Earlier this year, I went to a super bowl party and made 2 hero sandwiches and had leftovers. It seems that people preferred the nasty nachos and some greasy ham instead. Oh well, my boyfriend and I had lunch the next day.

A co worker told me that my department used to have pot lucks in the past but has stopped. She said that it was just as well as the cooking habits of some people are questionable. One of the members in my cooking group hates pot lucks-probably because of the store bought food.

I will shut up now!

Wendy

[This message has been edited by Wendy w (edited 11-02-2000).]

[SueK]

I can definitely (unfortunately) see home-made foods becoming a thing of the past. At my daughter's school, everyone takes a turn bringing in snacks. I made homemade muffins and cookies, and both times, the teachers remarked that it was nice to have someone bring in snacks that weren't prepackaged. I'm teaching my daughter to help me cook and bake and I hope she carries the tradition on!

[debg]

As a 1st grade teacher myself, I RELISH homemade goodies for birthday snacks! When the parents ask if they can bring anything my response is always, "Only if it's chocolate!" Of course, that NOT being the rule, just MY preference. Truly, I'm amazed at the number of parents who store buy their child's birthday cupcakes. For me (and my childhood) homemade just shows how much my mom loved me! I always got to pick my favorite cake and frosting! Those poor kiddos will never know what it's like!

[kentgirl]

There's about 10 people in my work group, and the last potluck we had (which was a breakfast potluck), here's what was brought:
breakfast casserole (my contribtuion)
a quiche (homemade)
zucchini bread (homemade)
Three fruit platters
bagels and cream cheese
juice
store-bought doughnuts (UGH!)
chips & homemade salsa
The salsa was not a hit for breakfast, but it was great later on in the day!

So that's it.....I agree that potlucks are just not what they used to be!

One interesting note....the quiche was made by one of the guys, who decided to start cooking more often. This was his first "homemade" contribution, and it was delicious!

[Shirley Panek]

Speaking of children and homemade goodies ... My son's preschool had a halloween party and parade, and parents signed up for treats. His teacher sent home a note asking if it wasn't too much trouble to try and make something (homemade) as the children just "pick over" store-bought items. It looks like the future generation is smart about good food! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

My son wanted pumpkin pie, so I ended up making "mini" pies (in muffin tins). (I always use fresh pumpkin.) There were none left over!

I always let my 3 1/2-year-old son help me bake and cook (just the adding of ingredients and stirring, no actual cooking, yet!) I hope he continues his love of cooking and doesn't find it a "woman's" job.

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
Shirley

[kendra]

We have a potluck every month here at work. There is about half homemade and half store-bought things, at times it swings even more in the direction of store-bought things. I guess we just have to face that we live in a convenience society and folks just don't cook like they used to. I am sometimes appalled when I see what people are putting in their carts in the grocery store - everything frozen and ready-made - even more appalled when I see that they are feeding their children so much of these things. I have mixed feelings about having "synthetic" potlucks. On one hand, I hate to see our culture depending so much on convenience, packing, and junk. On the other hand, I end up getting a lot of complements from folks for my delicious homemade healthy dishes. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[RunnerKim]

I've noticed more and more store-bought items but still a good percentage of home-made items.

I don't have children yet, but I've heard many schools don't even allow homemade goods to be sent to school. Now that's disturbing! What kind of values is that teaching?

Kim