Try having a weekly get together with friends for home cooked meals

Here’s an idea for some of you to try -
Early Sunday Potluck Dinner with Friends

Some of us may not be so rich to be able to afford going out to dinner so frequently – and also some of us adore home cooked meals – I started a trend in my neighborhood which is catching on like a good football game. And so many of us grew up with the traditional Sunday Family Dinner.

Now some of us have grown up and away even from family – but that doesn’t mean you have to stop having this traditional and lovely meal without the help of friends!

How this trend started:

Several of us single people who adore cooking, but dislike having too many leftovers especially when cooking for one, have created a Early Sunday Dinner Ritual whereby we each take turns coming over to the other’s home to share a meal cooked by that week’s host.

The benefits are obvious – you get to have a get together with your friends, you get to share a meal – try something new even such as a new recipe, people can bring something to add to the dinner such as dessert, you can even get help with them cleaning up and washing the dishes. You as that week’s host get to cook, which you already love to do, have your food eaten up, and have less leftovers for any possible waste.

I have been known to roast a small chicken, but that meal turns into 6 dishes – and I will freeze the left over chicken (which is good for up to a month) since I rather not eat chicken every day for one week. This early sunday weekly dinner with your friends can happen as often as once a week or even every two weeks depending upon’s everyone’s schedule.

But if you are smart, which I know you are, you can start with at least 4 or 5 people, this way if one is not able to attend, you still have enough people.

Recently, we have had the pleasure of enjoying the following homemade meals: bodacious baked ham, pineapple chicken (recipe to come), Beef Bourguignon, fennel and sausage homemade pizza with goat cheese, Linguine with meat sauce, amazing tarragon salad dressing, homemade croutons from homemade breads, rosemary and garlic artisan bread and even a tasty Danish dessert.

So save some money, see your friends  – and since they are friends, they are there to eat, not to complain about how your apartment looks – just scurry them into your dining room or kitchen area. It will feel like you are going out to eat but without the expense of the bill.

Would love to hear if any of you pick this trend up – it is certainly fun – and share which recipes you have tried and shared with your friends on your Early Sunday Potluck Dinners!

~Chef Maven – Chow Ciao for Now…