Covered Dish Christmas Party

I have a TON of kiddos as well.

I might consider a crock pot pulled pork...rolls and some BBQ sauce (just giving some consideration to the sheer numbers you are bringing!!).

And, IF you have extra time, some home made slaw!

Pork shoulder or butt is very inexpensive...but cooked well...OH SO tasty!!

Merry merry whatever you bring!

What is a covered dish christmas party? Can you explain? I've never heard of this. Is it a variant of a potluck?

Thanks,
F. B.

Pigs in a blanket (easy)
Little smoked sausages (easy in crockpot w/bbq sauce).
Spinach salad w/sliced almonds, dried cranberries & raspberry
vinagrette dressing.
Big sourdough bread roll that you turn into & bowl & fill w/spinach dip.
Tray of sliced cheeses, sliced baguette of bread & salami. Can add a sm
jar of honey mustard & reg mustard.

(Make sure you bring some food the kids will like. Not all parties have
kid food that they will like and/or eat. Some of their fave snack, too, like
Goldfish, fruit snacks, mini apple juice boxes etc.

Sweet & sour meatballs? You can make your own if you're up for it, or you can buy a package of precooked frozen turkey or beef meatballs. Make a sauce of 1/2 chili sauce and 1/2 currant jelly. Or, you can use plain tomato sauce with some salt and a dash of vinegar, and choose either grape or apple jelly if you can't find currant. Melt the jelly on the stove or in the microwave, then add the chili sauce, and pour over the meatballs. They don't have to be covered with it as you would with a spaghetti sauce, just coat all sides of the meatballs.

Make sure you rotate the meatballs so the frozen ones in the center of the dish cook thoroughly by being moved to the outside. You can also defrost them in the microwave first, then keep hot in a casserole or crockpot.

My go-to "presentation" dish is a fruit kebab "porcupine" - if you can find a seedless watermelon, wash the outside well and cut it in half. Scoop out the fruit in chunks or with a melon baller. Turn it over to drain well. Poke holes in the green rind with a skewer or point of a sharp knife.

Buy cut up fruit or do it yourself, in assorted colors: red or green grapes (halved), peeled kiwi (cut in quarters and sliced) cantaloupe or honeydew, pineapple, mandarin orange or clementine sections (cut in half if necessary) berries if they are affordable at this time of year, apples or pears (unpeeled) if you are willing to dip them in lemon juice to prevent browning. Group them in bowls according to color.

Take the 4 inch long plastic toothpicks that have an arrowhead on them (rather than the pointy regular toothpicks. Alternating colors in any way you want, put 3-4 pieces of fruit on each kebab and then insert in the holes of the watermelon, so the finished product looks like a porcupine. The kebabs don't have to be all the same - mix them up. This is a great job for the kids!!!

Put the whole thing on a platter with a few paper towels underneath to soak up any extra juice, and you can decorate the edge with lettuce or kale leaves, or extra pieces of fruit. A real conversation piece!

How about a dessert ... This makes a ton, is delicious, and can be made in a foil lasagna pan. I use holiday Chessmen cookies this time of year. Just made it tonight for a dessert reception and it was loved by all.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/not-yo-mama...

Does it have to be a main dish? If not, I make cream corn. It's super easy and everyone always wants the recipe. You drain 4-5 cans of whole corn into a crock pot, add a stick of butter, a block of cream cheese, salt, pepper and about 5 splenda packets. Heat on low for a couple hours and stir to melt butter and cheese. Good luck.

Calico Beans. So yummy.

Chili - it makes a lot and people like it.
A soup
A stew
A casserole of some sort
Macaroni and cheese