Potluck Tips            

Dipping ice cream at a party is always so messy and time-consuming.
Before a party try placing single dips of ice cream in paper cupcake liners and pop them back into the freezer until they’re ready to serve.

When taking a dish to a dinner, try removing the hot/cold pad from the casserole carrier and place it under the dish to serve. It keeps the casserole hotter or the salad colder during serving time.

When transporting a covered casserole dish that has side handles, you can keep the lid from coming off with the help of two rubber bands. Put one over the lid knob and stretch it over one of the handles. Stretch the second rubber band from the knob over the opposite handle. You will never lose or break another lid.

It’s always a good idea to arrive at a potluck or picnic with a few extra utensils in hand. Thankful folks will surely appreciate a spatula, spoon or ladle they may have forgotten to bring along

To help pies and tarts travel well to your next picnic or potluck, carefully place an aluminum pie plate upside down over the dessert and secure with a rubber band.

Before heading out for a weekend picnic, I place hot dogs in a thermos and cover them with boiling water. When it’s time to eat, the hot dogs are piping hot. Don’t forget the buns!

Transporting marinated or creamy salads is a snap when you pack them in large re-sealable plastic bags. Just pour the salad into a bowl once you reach your destination. The bags don’t take up much space in the cooler, and they won’t spill.

Disposable baby bottle liners make inexpensive and easy-to-use decorator icing bags when you’re called on to provide cookies for a gathering. Just snip off the bottom corner to fit your tip set, fill with icing and twist the open end shut. Since they’re disposable, there’s no cleanup.

When grating blocks of cheese for a big batch of spaghetti or lasagna, I spray the grater with nonstick cooking spray. The grated cheese seems to flow right off, and there’s a lot less waste. Cleanup is a breeze, too.

It’s easy to serve molded pats of butter with rolls on a buffet—and they look so special! I purchase candy molds in assorted seasonal shapes. I soften some butter, press it into the molds and chill them in the refrigerator. I always get compliments…and these pretty pats are very little fuss.