ISO: Potluck dish I can prepare two days in advance

[KValley]

Here's the thing: I have a potluck to attend Friday evening. I am headed out of town Wednesday afternoon and won't be back until about an hour before the potluck on Friday.

I'd prefer to make something other than a dessert, although I know this would be the easiest.

Freezing something really won't work either, as DH won't get home from work in time to defrost it, unless he took it out of the freezer in the morning...

At any rate, I'd welcome your suggestions for something simple that would hold up to a couple of days in the fridge.

I was thinking of the Curried Chickpea Salad from May '01...

TIA, Julie

[This message has been edited by KValley (edited 05-21-2001).]

[DmOrtega]

We made Black Bean, Corn and Red Pepper Salad this weekend for a bbq. It's really good. You can put it all together ahead of time and add the herbs and dressing later. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/007456.html

[sneezles]

Julie,
This recipe from the recipe finder is wonderful (tried it after reading all the reviews). You could make the dressing in advance, boil the pasta and chill separately, it would only take a minute to chop the remaining ingredients and assemble just before leaving for the potluck.

Artichoke-and-Pasta Salad

This tangy salad--tossed with spinach, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and feta cheese--is a great alternative to the usual potato salads you normally see at picnics, potlucks, or family reunions.


Ingredients
1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and divided
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
3 cups cooked radiatore (about 5 ounces uncooked short coiled pasta)
2 cups thinly sliced spinach
1 cup chopped seeded tomato
1/4 cup (1 ounce) crumbled feta cheese


Directions
Prep Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes

Combine 2 artichoke hearts, olive oil, and the next 6 ingredients (olive oil through garlic) in a blender or food processor, and process until mixture is smooth.

Chop the remaining artichoke hearts. Combine the chopped artichokes, pasta, spinach, and chopped tomato in a large bowl. Pour pureed artichoke mixture over pasta mixture, and toss well to coat. Cover and chill 2 hours. Sprinkle with feta cheese.





[This message has been edited by sneezles (edited 05-21-2001).]

[goldilocks]

KValley, if your husband can load a crockpot for you on Friday morning, you can do this delicious recipe and it will be ready for Friday night:

Crockpot Tangy Rump Roast
1 rump roast, trimmed -- 3 - 5 lbs
1 package onion soup mix
1 can cranberry sauce -- jellied
2 tablespoons butter -- softened
2 tablespoons flour

Rinse rump roast and pat dry. Sprinkle the onion soup mix in the bottom of the crockpot. Place the rump roast in next. Spoon the cranberry sauce around and over the roast. Cover and cook on low 10 - 12 hours.
Remove roast from crockpot and allow to rest while you thicken the gravy. Turn the crockpot up to High. Blend the softened butter and flour into a paste and whisk it into the gravy. Cover and cook on high for about 10 minutes, until thick.
Slice the roast into 1/4" thick slices and serve with the gravy. The slices may be frozen in the gravy in plastic freezer bags.

You could also use a cut of meat that you can shred and serve in buns with the fixings. This is one of my best recipes and my husband requests it on a weekly basis (although he doesn't always get it!) I have also used it for entertaining and always get rave reviews.

[BlueMoose]

adb...

I would love it if you would post that recipe!

Thanks!

[KValley]

Thank you! These all sound terrific. goldilocks- can you believe that we don't own a crockpot! It's on the "I want" list, right after "new microwave"! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I'm bumping this up because I'd like adb to post the recipe for the Mostaccioli Spinach Bake

For Friday, though, I'm leaning towards one of those salads....It's supposed to be in the upper 80's this week and something cool would be ideal!

[adb]

Not sure when this recipe appeared in CL but I have made it several times over the years. It is very easy - I think it was in a weeknight cooking article.

Mostaccioli-Spinach Bake

8oz Mostaccioli (very similar to penne)
2 tbs butter (divided)
1 c vertically sliced onion
2 tsp minced garlic
1/4 c flour
2.5 c skim milk
1.25 c Parm cheese (divided)
1.5 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp pepper
1 14oz can diced tomatos
1 10ounce frozen spinach
Cooking Spray
1/4c breadcrumbs
2 tbs Parm cheese

Cook pasta without salt and fat according to directions. Melt 1 tbs butter and saute onion and garlic. Add flour and slowly add milk. Cook 4 minutes until bubbly. Stir in 1/4 cup cheese, italian seasoning, and pepper. Combine pasta , sauce, tomatos,1c cheese & spinach. Spoon into 13x9 pan coated with cooking spray. Combine breadcrumbs, 1 tbs butter and 2 tbs Parm cheese and sprinkle on top. Bake 30 minutes at 350.

[adb]

This recipe is from a few years back, but is easy, tasty, and vegetarian - so it should keep well for a few days.

My recommendation would be Mostaccioli-Spinach Bake. If you need the recipe, let me know.