Recently, I hosted a potluck party. The party was a hit! I had a lot of food left over, but it was because two people dropped out due to spur-of-the-moment job commitments.
So here are some things that would have been helpful to know!
My dinner party menu was great (for 4 guests total) :
- 30 Prosciutto & Melon & Basil Pops --> Took 10 mins to assemble
- 16 cake pops --> Took 20 mins to make
- 5 Korean bbq Short Ribs --> Took 5 mins to panfry (bought pre-made and marinated already)
- Baked Brie Wedge & Strawberries --> Took 15 min total to prep and bake
- San Pelligrino Blood Orange 6 cans
Guests brought
- Potato Salad
- Garlic Bread
- Fruit Platter
- Have 2 (16 oz) glasses of non-alcoholic drinks per guest.
- Consider that and have 2 pieces of bread or rolls per person
- For side dishes consider 2 cups per guest. So, I could have done 2 dishes for my guests. And know my other guests will bring dishes too as it was a potluck.
- Choose one of your dishes to be a main dish for a potluck. And have 1.5 servings per person for that main dish.
- Bonus: When decorating and cleaning for your party, the morning of, set a timer for how much time you want to clean and decorate separately and stick to that as closely as possible. I focused on deep cleaning and doing the most important parts of my cleaning itinerary: sweeping, wet swiffering with floor cleaner, cleaning kitchen countertops with nontoxic chemicals, and using a dishwasher for food prep cleanup. Put on some music and clean and put in new trash bags. Open windows with screens and tie curtains to look cuter. Add candles and dim lights to set the mood. If you can, get donated decorative pieces and use utensils and plates you have to save on cost. Food and drink should be the only additional expense. Trader Joe's has excellent affordable food options. If I had focused on two dishes, I would have saved less and had fewer leftovers. Either way, guests had containers to take food home in and we all loved eating the food.
Adapted "The Little Book of Life Hacks: How to Make Your Life Happier, Healthier, and More Beautiful by Yumi Sakugawa" to write this article post.
