When going to someone's party for the holidays, when you are supposed to take food or drink, which are your top 3 choices, and what are the reasons, such as easy to transport, holds at room temperature (We all know that some dishes don't hold well, or transport easily.), or you just think that it's one of your best dishes?
There was a lady that we knew, who lived next to my grandmother. She was interesting, but another time for that. Although she had very bad back problems, she loved to have people over for get-togethers.
One of her tricks, in order not to be in the kitchen, or do too much at once, was to make dishes that held well in a slow cooker.
I don't think that they were necessarily made in them, but she could transfer the food into them, then put them on the buffet table...aka her dining room table.
When I take food somewhere, what I take first depends on what the hostess says. Sometimes they specify a dessert or salad, other times, they say to bring what you want to.
Also, it depends if I'm asked to bring something specific. After my parents' 30th wedding anniversary party, people would mention my deviled eggs and chocolate pies specifically. It's as bad as being type-casted, lol!
Then there's when it's just family, and you want to bring something new. I made, for example, a loaf of Italian sweet bread once, just for a change, with deeply colored Easter eggs braided into the loaf.
If it's a crowd that I am not related to, I might go safe but popular, such as lemon bars, or holiday themed like spiced soft cider with cookies shaped like, and colored like Jack 'O Lanterns, etc.
Main dishes could mean a casserole, or, if the people are worth the work ( ) tamales.
For the 12th Night celebrations with our local SCA group every year, I usually sent pumpkin pie or peach upside down cake, cranberry sauce, and herbal holiday spiced tea. Sometimes you take something new, then people who expect certain dishes that only you make are disappointed! Sheesh, lol!
How about you? How do/did you handle taking food to a get-together?
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