Used last night's leftover pot luck food for appetizers for guests today.
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
March 20, 2011 8:26pm CST
I went to a pot luck last night. We had baked beans, but everyone finished them. We had lotf of other food like mixed fruit bowl, spinach dip, spinach and cheese puff pastry, egg rolls, burritos, mixed veggies, and eclairs. I was encouraged to take home some egg rolls and burritos.
So when I had my brother and his girlfriend over today, we started with those as appetizers. I had bought the mixed veggies (I had called and found out that was about the only thing that no one else was bringing). That was part of our meal as well as pork or chicken plus whole wheat bread from my bread machine. Desert was mixed berry cake. We had spring water to drink.
Have you ever taken food home from pot lucks? Have you used it for another meal, an appetizer, froze it, or used it for something else (dog food)? I usually eat it for lunch with my husband the next day.
13 responses
@ElicBxn (63252)
• United States
21 Mar 11
The new church I've joined has a pot luck last sunday of every month and I haven't stayed to eat because of my diet - and that I haven't brought anything I can eat.
I guess I need to at least pack a lunch one time so I can stay and get to know folks better.
Didn't make it to church today because I woke up with a splitting headache 
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
21 Mar 11
I'm sorry you had a splitting headache.
Might be nice to pack a lunch and get to know people. Might at least be interesting if you do.
1 person likes this
but a friend called and it was worth it to me to go out with her, even if I wasn't feeling my best, by that time at least the headache was gone
@celticeagle (159474)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Mar 11
I can remember many pot luck I have been to. I always took my grandmother's recipe) baked beans. Everyone loved them. they always knew that was what I'd brink. They were lick smackin' good! I don't recall ever having leftovers and taking any home though. Big eaters I guess. But what is more joyous about get togethers than feeding your face?
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
22 Mar 11
Some pot lucks, people do just take their food back. But some, they offer so people don't have to cook the next day and it works for me!
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
21 Mar 11
We always have some lfetover. X # of people say they're coming and then some don't show up. Sometimes people really like what I make and eat a lot of it until it's almost gone and sometimes people don't care for it and then I have a lot leftover. The mixed veggies didn't go over very well. But it's what I had. It's literally pot luck because it's what I had in the house to offer. I'm hoping my gardeninga and my foraging work out so I can offer stuff that isn't out of a can for the summer pot luck.
Glad your beans are sooo well received.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159474)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Mar 11
TO be honest I just never have the nerve to ask if I can take some with me and no one has ever offered that I recall.
@GardenGerty (157665)
• United States
21 Mar 11
I do not go to many pot lucks. Usually the ones I attend what I have taken is gone. I have observed, and support the idea, that most of the left over things get sent home with families that have lots of mouths and have to make the food dollars stretch. It is something easy for us to do and it does not embarrass them.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
23 Mar 11
Yes, there's always some holiday or something to do at the end of every month.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
22 Mar 11
I had a friend who had 7 children to feed. At the end of each month, she always found some reason to feed people for a pot luck. It was so her children would have food at the end of the month. She wasn't eating the last week of each month.
I agree, it's good.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
23 Mar 11
There is this dip that one of my bosses makes for potlucks and I would fight a chainsaw to take that stuff home. I don't share it though..lol..it is all mine. I actually start to theaten people early on in hopes that they will stay away from it.
She always lets me have the rest.
She always lets me have the rest. @writersedge (22563)
• United States
23 Mar 11
You're funny.
The spinach dip the other night was raw spinach which was a pleasant surprise because I like raw greens, but hate cooked. Lots of people use cooked spinach which . . . YUCK! But this was good.
What kind of dip does your boss make?
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
23 Mar 11
Oh so there is something she knows that you don't know or maybe she makes it a day ahead or something.
My Mothere made the best date cookies, layered with oatmeal. But she had dates that no one else used. Unfortunately stores don't seem to sell them any more.
Although to some people like food better if other people make it. Peace and love and thanks for all your responses.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
21 Mar 11
Firstly I am sad because you did not have me over. lol..
Yes just yesterday we had a birthday party with so much food left over that I brought so many of home with me. There was Spanish Puerto Rican Rican rice, baked ham, potato salad, mostacholi, green salad, baked pork sausage, marcaroni salad, and fruit salad.
Today for brunch we had two friends over and we had it and the friends were able to take plates home with them.
I do not waste food and if we not had it right away today I would have frozen most of it. Then later used it in combination with other foods little by little.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
21 Mar 11
Sounds wonderful, what is mostacholi, never hear of it? Sounds like some really good food. Take care.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
21 Mar 11
Pretty similar to baked pasta with cheese. We had a good time and I sort of needed that been indoors for too long.
@staria (2780)
• Philippines
21 Mar 11
I think taking home food from party, pot luck, gathering is just normal. I used to do that too (for as long as I am taking home "extra" food and everyone has eaten already). Store them in the fridge and re-heat them the following day. That will serve as our meal for breakfast or lunch.
There's nothing wrong w/ that, after all there are lots of people who works hard to buy their food and a lot of people who do not get to eat 3x a day.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
21 Mar 11
I don't think there's anything wrong with it either. Throwing food away, that I think there is something wrong with.
That flashing and every changing star is really something.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
23 Mar 11
Thanks for responding and that is cool.
Mine moves on my profile, but not here. At least the last I checked it did.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
22 Mar 11
It was my two brothers and my sister-n-law. She refused because it wasn't anything she could eat. But the rest like egg rolls and burritos. I had invited her to the pot luck the night before. My husband I had also invited on behalf of the hosts, but it's not his thing nor is it my brothers'. Thanks and take care.
@sunny5u (2069)
• India
21 Mar 11
Hi writersedge, i usually don't bring any from potlucks or parties but i eat well there and though people compel i simply hesitate ,don't know why but its tough for me to carry something from, though i like the food in parties or something but i don't bring it..
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
21 Mar 11
I get told they're going to throw it away. I won't allow someone to throw food away. But I took way less than normal. There were other people there whose husbands are also out of work and I felt they should take some of the food. I wouldn't feel right about taking it all away.
@marguicha (215808)
• Chile
24 Mar 11
Many times, when I go for diner at the house of close friends or famint, we take some food and bring back leftovers. I also usually have leftovers at home because I live alone but have unexpented but welcomed guests very often. I always use it for another meal and most of the time I change its appearence as I don´t like to eat the same thing over and over. I use many leftovers as omelettes. Those can even be eaten cold and served as appetizers. Leftover rice omelette (made very thin) can be cut in bit sizes and served with a cheese dip. I make a point never to put dressings over salads. That way you can use it for the next day and many guests thank that as not all of them like the same dressing.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
24 Mar 11
I love omelettes. We take food home during holidays from family for other times. Changing the food each time does make it more appealing. Thanks and take care.
@kukueye (1759)
• Malaysia
21 Mar 11
it ok as long it is not spoilt and healthy for the people to consumer not spoilt and not smelly then it can be consume by the people , better to finish the leftover then throw to and waste food. as long it is ok and not cause stomachache or diarhoea . however certain food like egg cannot over night egg and such, require good freeze .
@sweet_pea (3322)
• Philippines
21 Mar 11
Yeah, I brought home some food on my team's last outing. There were just so many food that we all brought home some food. I think it is better giving it away rather than having it spoiled.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
21 Mar 11
Yeah, so do I.Often there is a lot of food leftover and my husband and I can only eat so much food.
@DragonWarWizard (26)
• United States
27 Mar 11
We don't do lots of left overs in our house.
They never taste right.
But, if I were to do left overs, it would include
some kind of rice.
A very affordable meal option.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
28 Mar 11
I have a Leftover Cookbook. Plus anything made with tomato sauce tastes better the next day. Rice is very affordable. Take care.
@annapplez (208)
• Australia
21 Mar 11
I don't mind leftovers, as long as it's still good, why not? Any way to save money in a busy household is a welcome idea to me.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
21 Mar 11
Yes, I like not having to cook so much. Once in a while, yet it's not food that is full of junk like some places.
