Kiki Vogel – Living Vibrantly!

By Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson.

I remember the Church Potluck Dinners I attended in my youth and when I was newly married.  I actually miss them.  I think it’s something that definitely needs to be brought back.  There is just something about sitting down with all ages and all backgrounds of people and eating a meal.  The meal being just as varied as the people in attendance.

It brings people together, slows everyone down for a little while, and allows you to really get to know them.  The fun of looking (and tasting) all the different foods that people brought was a lot of fun too.

This cookbook actually made me realize it doesn’t have to be done at church – gather your friends together and do potluck.  Eating out is expensive – and most of us have cut back on our dining out.  Potluck actually enables you to enjoy lots of different tastes while saving you money.  The memories you create will be remembered as well.

I still fondly look back at the potlucks I attended, don’t you?

I really like this recipe book due to the fact that they are your traditional types of dishes that you would really bring to a potluck dinner, tasty and EASY!  Nothing obscure – just yummy, wonderful recipes.  Who doesn’t remember Cornbread Casserole, Barbecue Beef, Chicken in a Pot, Layer Salad, English Pea Salad and don’t forget all the desserts such as – Peach Cobbler, Chocolate Fudge, Coconut Chess Pie – YUM!

My daughters love to cook and they are having a blast with this recipe book – lucky me – I just get to taste test everything.  Chicken Salad – we stuffed this in tomatoes – delicious!  Flank Steak with salad and veggies – easy and yummy.

Here are a couple recipes to get your taste buds activated:

Grandmother’s Coconut Chess Pie

2 eggs

1 Tbsp. flour (should be heaping)

1/8 tsp. salt

¼ Cup white sugar

¾ Cup white Karo syrup

1 tsp. vanilla

unbaked pie shell

¼ lb. butter

12-14 oz. coconut (can or bag)

Beat eggs well and set aside. In mixing bowl blend flour, salt, and sugar, then add eggs. Next add syrup and vanilla, beat until well mixed. Pour mixture into unbaked pie shell. Slice butter into thick slices and cover top of pie. Sprinkle coconut on top of pie and bake for about 1 hour in 300 degree oven or until firm and brown.

Serves 8

Linda: “I inherited this recipe from my Grandmother Evans. It’s one of the best pies I’ve ever tasted!” (Page 83)

~*~*~*~*~

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)

If you are reading the book series that goes along with this cookbook, you will love that throughout the cookbook they talk about and introduce you to each of the characters and each recipe has a quote from one of the characters as well.  This makes for a fun read as you search for that perfect recipe to make for your potluck dinner.

This is a great recipe book to have – I highly recommend it.  You just might be inspired to get your own Potluck Club started!

Let’s Eat,

“Available September 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”