I need to make a main dish to take to my first Guild Board meeting next month. I love to cook and have lots of favorite dishes. However, I seldom make a main dish because we BBQ so much. Everyone was signing up for salads and desserts so I said I would do a main dish. Okay, totally clueless here. BBQ is not an option. It is really hot here and will be even more so in July. Any ideas out there?

Sloppy joes, pulled pork (very easy to do in crock pot and then shred after cooking) a pork loin is very lean and goes a long way when feeding a bunch. A large sub sandwich sliced in sections. Just a few ideas that I have used for our Project Linus get togethers.

I like the idea of using the crock pot. I could start it in the morning and not worry about it. Would not heat up the house much and easy to transport. Great idea! Thanks.

Some things I've seen that seem to go over well -

Baked beans with hamburger in it - don't know what it's called -

Our version of "goulash" - macaroni, tomatoes, ground beef, onions, green peppers casserole

Our version of Spanish Rice - pretty much the same thing as "goulash" - except with rice instead of macaroni

[quote=jdiane318] pulled pork (very easy to do in crock pot and then shred after cooking)[quote]

:thumbup:

When you need to cook but don't want to heat up the kitchen, the crockpot is your best friend!

I just thought of this - you can make turkey taco meat.

I make BBQ meatballs. make my meatballs like meatloaf and shape them and bake til almost done then drain grease and cover with bbq sauce and bake another 10 or 15 minutes. Very filling and easy to make and looks like you spent all day!

You can never go wrong with a ham roll.
Most everyone likes ham and it goes well with all the other things that may show up at a potluck, whether salads or mains.
And bonus ... does well in the crock too!

Chicken and yellow rice - always a favorite

I make pulled pork in the crock pot all the time in fact that is the only way I cook it. If you have a Sams near you can get the whole loin and use that , much cheaper. I put it in the crock pot and add some small diced onion and season and let it cook for at least 8 hours, then I take out and let it cool enough to handle and then just pick it apart. Put it back in the crockpot with BBQ sauce and set it on warm until meal time. I make my own BBQ sauce ahead of time by the gallon and always have it on hand, it refrigerates for months. I can give you the recipe if you would like.

Sending PM

Good old homemade macaroni and cheese... I got the recipe from Southern Living magazine maybe 30 years ago... I double the recipe and freeze an 8 x 8 aluminum pan for when I need to take food to someone:

8 oz macaroni, cooked and drained
Add: 2 c. cottage cheese
8 oz. sour cream
1 egg, slightly beaten
3/4 t. salt
2 c. sharp cheddar cheese (or a little more of any cheese)

Mix; place mixture in a slightly greased 8 x 8 or 8 x 11 pan. Sprinkle the top with paprika and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

You'll get raves for this one!!

Also think of a spaghetti-type dish, like mustacholi.

Well I need to look that one up. That's a new word for me. :oops:

I quite often make calico beans for pot lucks. Easy and good.

I like to make cold macaroni salad dishes like tuna/mac and or chicken/mac. I use half mayo and half plain yoghurt to reduce the calories and cut up some onion and celery as well. Mix well, season to taste...
I've also started taking deviled eggs to pot lucks, they go really fast, are pretty easy to make if you know the quick shell routine: cook 'em, put 'em in ice water till they are cold, knock 'em against the sink under running water and they peel beautifully.

I always take some version of potatoes because we grow acres of potatoes and plant 21 different varieties. In the winter it is scalloped potatoes and in the summer it is potato salad with old fashioned home made boiled salad dressing (grandma's recipe). I tried taking cake once and I bake really good ones and got complaints about no potatoes!

Do a search of the recipe section of the board and search Italian Beef. This can be cooked in a slow cooker and makes great sandwiches. Easy to cook, easy to carrie with very little mess to clean up.

mltquilt

Heres mine, but you do have to cook it in the oven. It is one that you make and let sit in the fridge, and then bake right before you go. We have used this for years after Thanksgiving, to use some of the turkey meat, but it will work with whatever kind of meat you would like. HERE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART...YOU NEED TO USE A GOOD QUALITY MACARONI WITH DURUM SEMOLINA PASTA FLOUR...I use American Beauty brand. Make this the night before, or in the morning and it will be ready to bake and go!

2 cups uncooked macaroni
2 cups turkey, chicken, ham or your choice meat
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
3 cups milk
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
Combine all ingredients, seasoning as preferred, cover for 8 hours in refrigerator or overnight. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees and enjoy! Sometimes I put chips or bread crumbs on the top. Its always a hit at church potlucks!

You may not want to make it in the heat of summer, but it is a great one to have on hand.

Baked beans w little smokies. EVERYONE loves them and its crock pot all the way. :)

Np3, I have a fantastic Mexican casserole...

1 large bag of tostilla white corn chips
1-1/2 # lean hamburger meat
1 - can of cream of chicken mushroom soup
1 - lg can enchilada sauce .. I use Old El Paso-(I don't like Pace)
1 - lg jar of taco sauce ......" " " "
1 large onion chopped
Grated cheddar cheese

Cut up onion, set aside...
In large skillet.. cook hamburger meat till done ( all crumbly)
Add enchilada sauce
Add taco sauce
Mix chicken mushroom soup with 1/2 can of water and add to meat mixture.. Stir all together good.
Bring up to a simmer
Take a 9 X 13 pan, spray with pam
Take half bag of chips, lay them in the pan and slightly mash with your hands.
Pour mix mixture all over chips
Sprinkle onions over that
Cover with grated cheddar cheese
Bake in over at 350 till cheese is all bubbly and slighty brown. Take out and let sit about 10 minutes.

Delicious, goes a long way, and so easy to fix. Serve with rest of chips..

Pasta salad made with the corkscrew noodles that are yellow, red, green. While they are cooking, I pitch all the other ingredients in a bowl and I'm done. It gets rave reviews everytime!!

Pasta noodles (multi color)
frozen corn & frozen peas (rinsed with cold water)
red kidney beans (1 can drained)
red (purple) onion (chopped small)
Chicken (chop up leftovers or buy a good brand of canned ALL white breast meat - drain)
whatever vinegrette or Italian dressing you have.
toss all in a large bowl & refrigerate.

Very easy and tastes great. We add other things to it depending on what's on hand ... bacon bits, sunflower nuts, almonds, grated cheese, blackeyed peas ...just whatever we can find. It is even better the next day!!

please post your barbecue sauce for us, thanks

Sure !
This is the original
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 tablesoons dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons worcestershire
1 teaspoon liquid smoke ( I found it at Walmart)
1/2 teaspoon salt
OPT: 1/2 teaspoon cayenee pepper.
Simmer for a few hours until it thickens.

I dont think this would make enough for a large amount of meat for a pot luck.
I make the sauce in very large batches at first I used to times the recipe x 5 but as my kids would want some I have since started making it with the vary large cans of ketchup I get at Sams. Its also much cheaper to buy it that way.

1 can ketchup (approx 12 cups)
3 cups apple cider vinegar
2 cups Dark Brown sugar
2 cups worcestershire
12 teaspoons of liquid smoke= 1/4 cup
OPT: 4-6 teaspoons cayenne pepper (to taste)

thanks for the recipe

I've been making pulled pork with a new recipe (for me, at least) with Taco seasoning and cream soup. The recipe called for refried beans added at the end, but so far they haven't made it. It is very good just as it finishes.

And the recipe is????

Crock pot calico beans(Hamburger-3 types of beans-bacon and ketchup sauce) mmmmgood

Wow! Great ideas!

For a cool refreshing main dish, how about a big bowl of chicken salad with little potato rolls or Hawaiian rolls(that you've slit open)? I also make ham salad with a Southwestern flair that works well for a cooling lunch. The ham salad contains no mayo so won't spoil easily.

Indian curry chicken

Purchase a broiled chicken from store (or make fresh)
In casserole dish

Place cut up chicken meat
2 cans crushed tomatoes
Curry powder to taste (2 good TBSP)
Onion
Creme fraiche (or yogurt but it may curdle)

Bake 350 about 45 min or - crock pot it
Serve with rice and crispy bread.

Lasagna

A good cold salad, I use tri-color noodles, and green onions (chopped), tomatoes (the small grape tomatoes), a sliced up cucumber, shredded carrots, you can add sliced pepperoni or salami, I don't like olives, but if you do add them. Add either fat-free or reg Italian dressing and mix well, I do not use the whole bottle. Its very good and filling. Good luck and have fun

Crockpot Fiesta Chicken

Put 5 or 6 chicken tenders in bottom of crockpot. Over this put one can (undiluted) cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup.
Mix together one can corn (drained)
one can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 cup salsa of your choice
2 TBSP. Taco seasoning
Pour on top of soup in crockpot

Cook on high 3-4 hrs. or low for 6 hrs.

Cook some rice and add 2 cups of the cooked rice to the crockpot shortly before serving.

Garnish with sour cream and/or grated cheese when served (if desire).

Very easy and makes the crockpot full (3-1/2 qt. size pot)

This keeps well and reheats well.

Bonnie

I would love your BBQ recipe.

thanks

darlene

Wow guys what a bunch of great receipes & ideas!!! thanks
so much & I am not even cooking for a crowd!!!!

There have been some great ideas here! I specifically need a main dish, but the salad ideas will be good at other times too. I'm pretty sure the crock pot will win out. Not much time involved and won't heat up the house.....or me!

How about a chicken salad. I simmer breasts, cut them into bite size pieces, add halved grapes, celery, and toasted slivered almonds. For dressing I use half mayo and half plain or vanilla yogurt. This is a summer time fav at my house.

chicken enchiladas in the summer, chicken and dumplings in the winter.

Three or four bean salad. Make a day ahead and chill.

We had a church potluck the other day, and my friend Velma brought this vegetable casserole. We talked and we think it would be good with the addition of some chopped chicken/turkey, or possibly browned hamburger or tuna.

Velma also added some cooked carrots the night she brought this.


1 17 ounce can of whole kernel corn
1 10 ounce package frozen cauliflower, cooked
1 10 ounce package frozen cut broccoli, cooked
4 or 5 carrots, cut in 1/2 inch pieces, cooked with other vegetables
1 small can sliced mushrooms
1 17 ounce can cream-style corn
2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
1 10 3/4 ounce can condensed cream of celery soup
2 tablespoons oleo
1 1/2 dup soft rye or white bread crumbs

Drain whole kernel corn, cooked vegetables and mushrooms. Cut any large pieces. Combine cream-style corn, cheese and soup. Fold in drained vegetables. Pour in a greased 9 X 13 inch baking dish. Melt oleo & toss with the crumbs. Sprinkle on top of the mixture. Bake, uncovered, in a 375 degree oven about 30 to 35 minutes or until hot through. Serves 12 to 15.