What's Your Pitch In?
 

Pitch In? Pot Luck? Covered Dish? Hot Dish? Tailgate? Pig Roast?

Whatever you may call it. Lots of fun and lots of great food. Nothing elegant. Nothing fancy. Sometimes must go with beer.

So what do you take when you are invited to one of these?

Mr. Boomer makes great deviled eggs. But it's not exactly a recipe. Just Hellman's and mustard and paprika on top. But it absolutely must be mayo and it cannot be just any mayo. It absolutely must be Hellman's. Nothing else darkens our door. And most certainly Miracle Whip is never allowed. I had to convert when we got married.

We sometimes bake homemade cookies to take.

There is an actual recipe for a salad that we take once in awhile. I will add it here when I find it.

I was just wondering what you all take to such an event. And if you have some favorite recipes for such an occasion.

Boomer

Re: What's Your Pitch In?
 

Boomer,

A cheesy potato dish (as in dairy cheese not something gauche)...made with hash browns, lots of cheese, sour cream, mushroom soup, and secret ingredient...cornflakes. Rarely ever get to bring any leftovers home.

"Pot Luck" in my neck of the woods.

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Salad -- potato, pasta or fruit. And if it's a bbq, I usually have to drop by the day before with my bbq sauce.

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I have 2 dishes I make for pot lucks. One is homemade macaroni and cheese....with lots of extra cheese added. The other is sweet and sour baked beans using 4 different types of beans and lots of bacon.

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Pitch-in? That sounds like Hoosier speak for pot luck?

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Those sweet and sour baked beans sound awesome!!!!!!!! You'll definitely have to bring those to our shindigs!!!!

We usually bring something which falls in one of the categories specified by the host e.g. main dish, salad, dessert, etc.

Re: What's Your Pitch In?
 

punkpup,

You are so right. They are just that. That recipe must run the distance from Michigan to Ohio and to Indiana, too. I have had those beans in all three states and they are always wonderful.

But I have never tracked down the recipe.

Bright, when you have time, I hope you will share the recipe. Your neighbor to the south, down I-75, would love it, as would many others here, I'm sure.

Thanks.

Boomer

Re: What's Your Pitch In?
 

In our neck of the woods its called a dish to pass. When I first heard that, I laughed my a** off.

Anyway, I do make great clam Chowda!

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Since I love to bake, I am usually asked to bring homemade cookies, whoopie pies or a chocolate cake roll with homemade cream filling. Unfortunately I can't eat them- I have a wheat (flour) allergy!

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Is a whoopie pie one you would have somebody sit on?

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NEVER BEEN TO A POT LUCK?? I think that is against the law. You are invited to my house in Hadley as soon as I return and as soon as you return and /or we return at the same time!!

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NOOOO Tony, thats a whoopie cushion, What are we gonna do with ya?

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If it does, Im not eatin it!!!!!!!

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I've had several different things that I've taken to pot lucks over the years ranging from fresh bread (machine) to mashed potato casserole to a meatloaf party to a sensational pork 'n beans dish. However, the first neighborhood party we had here, I brought a smoked turkey breast. I injected Italian dressing into the meat and marinated it in same for a time, then rubbed it down with chili powder before smoking. Now I have to bring the damned turkey whenever there's a get together.

Re: What's Your Pitch In?
 

I take Buffalo wings. I season them, put them on the grill, baste with my homemade sauce and cook until a little crisp. I made 10# for one party. I saw a little old man stop by the wings and not leave until they were all gone. Granted, other people stopped and got some also, but he was like an eating machine. I also took along home made blue cheese dip.

Re: What's Your Pitch In?
 

Stuffed Mushrooms and Baked Stuffed Shrimp, I've also made lasagne, chic wings, pulled BBQ pork.

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No offense taken at the pie- obviously a New England thing and its not even a pie! Whoopie Pies are small homemade chocolate cakes with homemade cream filling in the middle of them (kind of like a soft ice cream sandwich but with cream filling rather than ice cream).

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Re: What's Your Pitch In?
 

Holy Smoke, Colleen.

Whoopie pies are no joking matter. Cake. Ice cream. Holy Smoke. Luscious.

And now I see I have to arm wrestle KathieI for the Whoopie Pie. (It deserves to be capitalized.)

Re: What's Your Pitch In?
 

The area of Pa that I come from has a strong Mennonite community. Almost all the local grocery stores make and sell Whoopie pies. They also make Funny cake and Shoofly Pie.
I'm so used to seeing Whoopie Pies that I thought everyone had them.

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Snickerdoodles always seem to make a hit with the crowd.....b

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An area in which I lived in Northern VA was heavy in condos and townhouses. We had lot of singles. Not sure who started it, but someone came up with the idea of having a meatloaf party the first Saturday after the dreaded 15 April --- concept being that meatloaf was all we could afford. About 6-8 people would make meat loaves each with their own unique recipe. One great thing about DC was, like TV, we drew from a wide geographic area. One year one guy did a great Cajun loaf, one gal did a Mexican, and one from NE made one with oysters, of all things. Boy were those meals interesting, and the side dishes were always plentiful, fun and good.

Re: What's Your Pitch In?
 

Punkpup and Boomer

Here's my recipe for the sweet and sour baked beans:

Walnut Valley Beans
1/3 lb. cooked and drained ground beef (I never ever add this)
8 oz. bacon cooked crisp, drained, and crumbled (I always use 12 oz., sometimes 1 lb.)
1 c. raw chopped onion
1 15oz. can pork and beans (I prefer Bush's Brown Sugar Baked Beans)
1 15oz. can drained lima beans
1 15oz. can drained kidney beans (I use red beans instead)
1 15oz. can drained butter beans
1/2 c. brown sugar (I prefer dark brown sugar)
1/2 c. ketchup
1/2 c. white sugar
1 Tbls. cider vinegar
1 tsp. regular yellow mustard
Dash salt

Mix all ingredients together and bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until desired thickness. Makes 10 servings.

Re: What's Your Pitch In?
 

Thank you, Brightspot,

It sounds great. And I think I would like it better without the ground beef, too. Let that bacon rule! I just sent your recipe to print. I am trying it soon.

Boomer

Re: What's Your Pitch In?
 

Hey, Colleen -- remember, I know where you live! Your whoopie pie sounds yummy!!! Can't wait to try it.

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Munc.

You and your damned turkey are on my short list to be invited to a Pitch-In next time we are in TV. Sounds YUMMY!

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Muncle

Don't wait for another pot luck to make that turkey of yours. And don't forget I live just a hop, skip, and a jump! Or should I say not far as the crow (turkey?) flies?

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Boomer-I understand your Miracle Whip vs. Mayonnaise contest that you had in your house. We are a two condiment family still after 23 years! I could never get my husband to switch to real mayonnaise, and I can't stand the taste of Miracle Whip. (it tastes like mayonnaise that has gone bad!)

I usually take my easy to make jello salad to a pot luck. One large container of Cool Whip, one large container of cottage cheese (I usually use the small curd because I like the consistency better), one large package of lime Jello, and two cans of pineapple tidbits drained. Throw it all together in a bowl and mix it up. Voila, you are done. Throw it in the fridge for an hour or the freezer for 10 minutes if you are in a hurry and you are ready to go to the party! You can use sugar free too! Change up the jello and fruit and you get a whole new taste, but I like the lime and pineapple combo the best.

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I make a similar salad with the only difference is that I add chopped walnuts and ch9pped celery. Gives it a chewy texture. Really yummy......b

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Been watching this topic come up for days and had no idea what it was about. Since "In the Kitchen" is not my thing I ignored it. Finally curiosity got the best of me. POT LUCK!!! Now I understand. I usually go to the grocery store and buy something already made ;D. My husband takes cherry tomatos, punctures them with a toothpick, covers them with vodka, adds some tobasco and leaves them in the refrigerator to soak for a day or so. Serve them with a side of celery salt to dab in if desired and toothpicks to pick them up with.
These are called Bloody Marys on a stick.

Re: What's Your Pitch In?
 

ss,

What a perfect description of Miracle Whip. Mr. Boomer converted me to Hellman's long ago and I have never looked back.

I guess I had better be careful. This is such a nice thread. I sure don't want to turn it into one of those awful internet flame wars. Condiment vs. condiment. My, my. Could get ugly. (But, ss, you are so right about which one is best.)

Hope,

Those tomatoes! Whoda thought! What a great idea! And it could not get any easier! And if you use those fancy toothpick to pick them up with, why, my oh my, an elegant presentation, too. I'm trying it. I will try to wait until we are either having company or going to a Pitch In. But, you know what? Maybe I should do a practice run.

Boomer

Re: What's Your Pitch In?
 

Talk about mayonnaise stirs up memories. I remember back to when I was about 4 or 5 years old. Such a long time ago but some memories stick with me no matter how old I get. I would be tucked in bed, prayers said, kisses and hugs given, lights out, and then it would hit...the hankering would get the best of me every night.

I can only imagine how my sisters must have groaned when they heard my plea...coming from this little one tucked in bed. I wanted a mayonnaise sandwich! Nothing else but mayonnaise on bread. Mom would usually delegate my bedtime craving request to one of my older sisters who would make it for me and bring it to me in bed. Today, I think how awful it would be to sleep on crumb covered sheets but it didn't bother me one bit back then.

To this day I savor the memory of how good that simple sandwich tasted. I'm laughing because it wasn't mayonnaise but Miracle Whip and to this day, unless a recipe specifically calls for real mayo, I use Miracle Whip.

Yum!

Re: What's Your Pitch In?
 

I am sooooooooo hungry and this topic is killing me. :) :) ;)

A friend of mine had a craving for mayonnaise sandwiches when she was pregnant with
one of her kids. I'd never heard of them before, but I love mayonnaise.

Re: What's Your Pitch In?
 

njgranny....meeeee toooooo! :) ;)

I grew up in Ohio and a "normal" sandwich in our household was peanut butter and mayonnaise -- and it had to be Hellman's. My dad and I would feast on PB & M sandwiches on grocery shopping day (when the bread was really soft and fresh). My mom didn't much care for PB, so it was a special treat just for the 2 of us.

To this day, whenever I'm feeling under the weather, nothing perks me up like a PB & M! If you love mayonnaise sandwiches you might want to give it a try. It's yummy! :bigthumbsup:

Re: What's Your Pitch In?
 

Judy

Sounds strange but I like PB and I like mayo so it may work for me. I'll try it one of these days.

My daughter had a friend who loved PB and brown sugar sandwiches. I tried it once and I have to admit it was delicious. However, I wouldn't eat PB/brown sugar sandwiches on a regular basis.

My favorite PB/jelly sandwich isn't that odd...add sliced bananas to it.

I think we have hijacked this thread....lol.