Entertaining guests can be lots of fun, but it can also be heavy on the pocket.
This is why I love the idea of potluck: a gathering where everyone comes together with a different meal which is then shared among everyone (not to be confused with a bring and braai).
A few girlfriends and I recently had our second potluck Sunday following the success of our first one.
There wasn’t much planning that went into it, but by the end of the afternoon we were lekker dik gevrie t (and tipsy) and couldn’t believe we managed to pull it off again.
We’re no culinary greats, just a bunch of average cooks who want to eat lekker on a Sunday and no fancy meals are required.
You bring whatever you can make and you’ll be amazed by how well all the offerings come together.
Another reason to love potluck is because there is no pressure on the host to do all the cooking. You make your one meal, and the rest arrive with your guests.
This means the host actually gets a chance to visit with her guests and isn’t bone tired at the end of the day.
There are no rules as to what each person brings and yes, store-bought meals are allowed but it’s a lot more fun to prepare a home-cooked meal because there’s usually a funny story to share.
Just like any gathering, potlucks aren’t limited so as the seasons change, so the menu also changes.
You can also have themed potlucks, and potluck birthday celebrations, like we had at our last lunch, is not unheard of.
In addition to a meal, each guest also had to buy or bake a cake of some sort, not forgetting the compulsory happy juice!
Potlucks are great fun, and I really enjoy the “surprises” on my plate. It proves there is no shame in letting guests bring their own food the next time they come to visit.
At my last potluck, our meals included butter chicken, couscous, roti and curry, pasta, homemade pie and lots of cakes.
Here are a few easy recipes to consider when throwing your own potluck.