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Hosting a Potluck
by W.Holidays

At a potluck party each guest brings a dish or beverage to the party.  Potlucks are a fun way to get guests involved and take some of the pressure off the host (you).  However, you don't want eight dishes of fruit salad, so be creative on the invitation.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Place conditions like no Jell-O.
• For a smaller party assign the dish or type of dish for each guest to bring.
• Ask guests to bring their food ready to serve in a serving container, suggest a disposable container.
• Have extra serving utensils.
• Have a plastic take home containers or large freezer bags available so you don't end up with all the leftover food.  Send some home with each guest.
• Ask guests to RSVP with their dish.  This will help avoid an overlap.  Be ready with suggestions and recipes for guest who need help.
• Let guests know if they need help coming up with a dish that you'd be happy to help them decide.

Have a theme:

• Finger foods and appetizers
• Just desserts
• The dish they bring must begin with the same letter as their name. Ex: Anna would bring Antipasto Salad; Samuel might bring Stuffed Tom ates.  This is good when you have creative people coming.
• International theme: everyone brings a dish from his or her heritage.  Joe is Italian so he brings the lasagna.  Sarah is Scandinavian so she brings Swedish meatballs.
• Nationwide theme: assign each person a state (or give them a few choices to choose from) and have them bring a regional specialty (i.e. Louisiana Jambalaya, Mississippi Mud Pie, New York Pizza, Texan Chili) 

Looking for potluck dishes?  Go here!

modified April 6, 2008