Cheap and Easy Potluck Pleasers

Potluck dinners are great get-togethers, and they offer affordable ways to feed a large gathering of people. Over the years I've collected some great large volume recipes at our family reunions and work buffets. None of them require a large grocery budget to make, and all of them feed plenty of people.

Coleslaw Crunch Salad

Dressing:

• 1 cup salad oil
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• two packages of seasoning from beef flavored Top Ramen noodles

Other:

• 1 lb. Coleslaw cabbage

Crunchies

• The noodles from the 2 pkgs of Top Ramen
• 1 cup toasted almonds
• 1/2 cup sliced green onions

Combine all dressing ingredients. Add coleslaw cabbage to the dressing. Refrigerate overnight. Meanwhile, mix all of the crunchy ingredients. Add the crunchy mix to the dressing/coleslaw mixture just before serving.

Broccoli Salad

• 1 head broccoli
• 1 head cauliflower
• 1 bag of shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 lb. bacon
• 1 qt. mayo
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup vinegar

Chop the broccoli and the cauliflower heads into small pieces. Then, add all of the ingredients together and refrigerate a few hours before serving chilled.

Creamy Fruit Salad

• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1/3 cup pineapple juice
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 beaten egg
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 cups whipped topping
• 6 diced red apples
• 6 sliced bananas
• 3 cups halved green grapes
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans

Bring to a boil the orange juice, pineapple juice, sugar, egg, and tablespoon of lemon juice. Remove from heat after reaching a boil and cool. Then, fold in the whipped cream. Toss the apples, bananas, and grapes with the 1/4 cup lemon juice. Stir everything together and refrigerate. Add the pecans just before serving.