Cooking Up a Giveaway

Nothing says "church fellowship" in the South like a potluck meal. When I was growing up they were also called Covered Dish Fellowship. I assumed they were known by those monikers everywhere until a woman joined our church from one of those Yankee states the northern USA and started planning a Pitch-In for our Bible Study. I thought I needed to go buy some horseshoes!

But whatever you call them, contributing a meal to a gathering of friends and neighbors is sharing a piece of your heart and your heritage. I'm sure many of us have memories of the quintessential Ambrosia Salad or other staple that the same sweet lady brought every time to one of these events.

However, if you are looking for some new favorites to share with friends - or simply to cook for your own family - The Potluck Club Cookbook is for you. This great cookbook of over 130 tasty recipes is compiled by Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson, authors of The Potluck Club series and The Potluck Club Catering series and was released September 1 in conjunction with A Taste of Fame, which I reviewd yesterday. You'll find long-time favorites, such as the Southern Ambrosia mentioned above, as well as newer, unique recipes, such as Greek Style Mahimahi. Recipes are divided into easy-to-navigate sections, including Crock-Pot Meals, Cooking Light, Casseroles, Desserts, Soups and Stews, and Vegetables, to name a few. Each recipe is accompanied by comments by Linda or Eva. Additionally, there are suggestions for themed potluck meals as well as an interview with the authors about their Potluck series of books.

We enjoyed Forgotten Chicken and Rice last night, and I have the ingredients all ready to go for this one:

Linda’s Chicken Tortilla Casserole
2 ½ Tbsp. chopped onions
¼ cup butter
3 Tbsp. flour
1 ½ cups milk
¾ cup chicken broth
1 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. jalapeno peppers
1 ½ cups chopped canned tomatoes (stewed)
3 cups cubed chicken, cooked
½ cup shredded cheese
12 tortillas, cut into 1-inch strips

Sauté onions in butter, then add flour and cook until mixture is bubbly. Stir in milk and broth gradually. Stir in salt, peppers, and tomatoes.

In casserole dish, layer chicken, cheese, then strips of tortillas. Pour sauce over layers then sprinkle casserole with cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Serve hot.
Serves 6-8.

Linda: “You can’t go wrong with this tasty dish. It’s a potluck crowd favorite.” (Page 130)
Posted by permission.

One of you have an opportunity to win this cookbook! To enter, leave a comment on this post by 6:00 pm CDT Saturday (9/12). US Residents only, please. I'd love to know what you call a potluck, or if you've never even been to one!

You can also order the cookbook directly from the publisher, from Amazon, or Christianbook.com.