Also meant to say I'm not someone who really thinks salads work for office parties where there aren't enough seats for everyone to sit and eat. Otherwise, I love salads.

I always make spiked punch and am always invited back. I bring a large punch bowl to work and then assemble the punch there. I make it with either rum or vodka:

1 48 oz cranberry juice or punch
1 frozen 12 oz orange juice can
1 frozen 6 oz lemonade
1 2-liter of ginger ale or zup
8 oz of rum or vodka
ice
cut up slices of orange, limes to top the punch
very festive
very fun
everyone gets a little buzz

* But if you don't want to make punch -- my sister puts frozen meatballs in a crock pot, 1 bottle of chili sauce and 1 can of cranbery sauce...makes yummy leftovers

12:13 again

I also like those rolled up tortillas filled with all kinds of things. Pinwheels.

These are things I only seem to eat at pot lucks.

If you're doing chicken skewers, I would make around 25 skewers. A salad or something would be a normal amount that you would have for a dinner party of 8, since people aren't eating a variety of dishes and not a full serving of salad.

Anonymous wrote:a great salad! I usually bring 1 with nuts, apples, craisins, I put the cheese on the side for those with dairy issues and dress it lightly.

Be sure to make the salad a chopped one. Maybe this is just a personal preference, but I hate trying to walk around eating large leaves of lettuce from a small plate, while having conversations etc.

You can do a lot with a roll of Pillsbury crescent rolls. I sometimes do the following:

Cut each triangle into thirds. Put an olive and a few shreds of mozzarella inside, roll up and bake.

You can get creative and put basically anything you want inside.

IMO they are fine served at room temp. They are always a big hit and go quickly. Easy to feed a big group with.

Anonymous wrote:This is always a huge hit when I make it, although I don't know if you have a way to keep it warm:

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/appetizers-and-snacks/bacon-wrapped-smokies-with-brown-sugar-and-butter/

OP here: ooh, that looks good! I like these suggestions. i was thinking of chicken skewers maybe...

a PP suggested I only need to make enough for 8. What do you all think of that?

This is always a huge hit when I make it, although I don't know if you have a way to keep it warm:

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/appetizers-and-snacks/bacon-wrapped-smokies-with-brown-sugar-and-butter/

a great salad! I usually bring 1 with nuts, apples, craisins, I put the cheese on the side for those with dairy issues and dress it lightly.

I'm always happy to see someone bring the little weiners in bbq sauce (in a crock pot).

Vegetarian chili--you can buy styrofoam cups/plastic spoons to serve it from.

You only have to bring enough for 8 to a potluck!

Any suggestions? preferably not a dessert... but if you have something really good to suggest, I'm open. Thanks!