“Would you mind bringing something?”

If you’re anything like me, those five words are the worst words you could possibly hear. It’s that time of the year, folks: the time for the dreaded holiday potluck. You know the drill. You’re invited over to your best friend’s house, or maybe it’s your crazy aunt’s family get-together that she insists on hosting every holiday season. Either way, you’re forced to cook. You’re panicking because the pressure’s on. You want to wow everyone with your fabulous dish, but the last time you tried to make cookies you set the fire alarm off. Well, panic no more, because I have a list of 5 easy dishes that require little to no effort to make. I guarantee that if you bring any of these dishes to your potluck, even if it’s your weird neighbor’s Christmas party, it’s sure to be a huge hit. People may even suggest that you star in the next season of Bravo’s Top Chef. Maybe.

 

1. Mini Caprese Bites

Because who doesn’t love cheese?

Ingredients:

2 cups of mini mozzarella balls (you can find these at most supermarkets, such as Whole Foods, Shaw’s, Trader Joe’s, etc.)

2 cups of cherry tomatoes

1 cup of fresh basil

Salt and pepper

1 cup of balsamic vinegar

Toothpicks

 

In a small skillet, pour the balsamic vinegar and cook over medium heat to reduce the vinegar. This should only take 5-10 minutes, make sure that you stir occasionally.

Take a toothpick and stick one cherry tomato, a basil leaf, and one mozzarella ball. Season with salt and pepper, and then use a teaspoon to drizzle some of the balsamic reduction onto each appetizer. Sprinkle with salt and/or pepper.

 

2. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic and Parmesan

These are the star of the show every time.

Ingredients:

1 pint of brussels sprouts

4 to 6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

5 cloves of garlic, peeled

Salt and pepper

1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar

Container of parmesan cheese

 

First, heat the oven to 400 degrees. Slice brussels sprouts in half. Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a pan over medium heat until it begins to simmer. Put the sprouts in the pan cut side down, add in the garlic, and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese.

Cook the brussels sprouts over the medium heat until they begin to brown on the bottom. Then, transfer them to the oven. Roast them for about 10-20 minutes, until they’re very brown.

Stir in balsamic vinegar, sprinkle with more salt, pepper, and parmesan. You can serve this hot or warm.

 

3. Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon

This one speaks for itself.

Ingredients:

One box of elbow macaroni

½ cup of butter

½ cup of sifted flour

4 cups of milk

2-3 teaspoons of hot sauce (I recommend Cholula)

2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese

2 cups of crumbled bacon (If you’re lazy, you can buy these pre-packaged at any supermarket)

 

Cook the macaroni using the directions from the box and set aside. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat and then add the flour. Stir until smooth. Turn it up to medium heat and add milk until the mixture is thick. This will take approximately 10 minutes.

Add the hot sauce, cheese, and bacon. Pour the mixture over the pasta and stir together. Pour the macaroni and cheese into a 9x13in baking dish and top with any extra cheese or bacon bits you have left over. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

 

4. No Bake Peppermint Fudge

You don’t even need an oven to make this one!

Ingredients:

3 cups of semisweet chocolate chips

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

Crushed candy canes for topping (Easiest way to do this is to put candy canes in plastic Ziploc bag, and roll with rolling pin)

Cooking spray

 

Line an 8-by-8 inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, and then spray with cooking spray. In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the chocolate chips and the condensed milk and stir together until melted. Pour the mixture into the baking pan, making sure to spread it evenly. Sprinkle on the crushed candy canes, and refrigerate for 2 hours. When ready to serve, cut into small squares.

 

5. Christmas Monster Cookies

These cookies are HUGE and are sure to leave people full for hours.

 Ingredients:

1 ½ cups of peanut butter

1 cup of packed brown sugar

1 cup of granulated white sugar

1 stick of softened butter

3 large eggs

1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

4 ½ cup of oats

2 teaspoons of baking soda

1 cup of chocolate chips

1 cup of holiday M&M’s

Cooking spray

 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray cookie sheets with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter with the sugars and the stick of butter. Mix well, and then put in the eggs and the vanilla. Put in the oats and the baking soda. Then, stir in the chocolate chips and M&Ms. Put large spoonfuls onto the cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes, and then let cool for 5 minutes.

And there you have it! Five foolproof holiday potluck recipes that are sure to impress anyone and everyone. Good luck surviving the actual potlucks, though.

 

Jane Herz can be reached at jherz@wesleyan.edu.