POTLUCK.
What just popped in your head?
My first potlucks were at Southern Baptist churches and included casseroles and fried chicken and tables and tables of desserts. In college, the Math Education department had potlucks and I had my first introduction to sushi – big moment in the late 80′s! I went with my husband to upstate New York to visit his relatives and attended a potluck. This one had Italian influences and for the first time ever I had sausage and peppers at a potluck. The other big discovery was fried zucchini flowers. How could my Southern farming relatives never have thought of this? Beautifully delicate splurge.
This salad first showed up at a Unitarian Universalist potluck we attended here in Asheville. It was full of wonderful surprises. The crunchy things in the salad were crushed Ramen noodles – and not even cooked Ramen noodles! It was also BROCCOLI slaw! This was light and sweet with a tangy dressing. Also, with no mayo it is a perfect dish for potlucks and picnics.
Broccoli Slaw with Mandarin Oranges and Ramen
Toast 1/2 cup of slivered almonds either on the stove or in the oven. Watch them carefully as they will burn quickly. Let the almonds cool slightly.
In a large bowl, mix together a 12 ounce bag of broccoli slaw, 3 chopped green onions, 1/3 cup of roasted sunflower kernels and one drained 15 ounce can of mandarin oranges. Crush the noodles of two 3 ounce packages of chicken flavored Ramen noodles and add them to the slaw mixture. Toss completely.
For the dressing, mix 1/4 cup of light oil (I used a canola oil blend but you could also use olive oil) , 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon of the seasoning from the Ramen package and a little sweetener. I used an individual package of Stevia powder but the original recipe called for white sugar. Start with a tablespoon of sugar and then add more to taste. Toss the dressing with the slaw and let it sit a little while if you have time.
You could easily keep this slaw vegetarian by either omitting the chicken seasoning and adding a little salt or buying a vegetarian Ramen choice. I have also stretched this by adding a second bag of the broccoli slaw and just making a little more dressing. The above recipe serves about 6 – 8 but you may need to feed a few more.
So, POTLUCK!! What are some of your favorite recipes? Please share them with us.
~ The Mildly Manic Mom
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