Christmas Party Time

[come dance with me]

We have the second Christmas party of the year tomorrow night, but at the first one we all took our own food.  At this one it's been requested that we take a plate of food to share, and also there will be fairy floss and a sausage sizzle.

 

Obviously being vegan, even if they got gluten-free sausages my child wouldn't be able to take them.

 

Just wondering what ideas people have for food to take, and also how do you manage these events where everyone takes something to share?  I know the school one will be the same.

[Marilyn R]

Fruit salad maybe?

[come dance with me]

I thought of that, but it's hot here and the party starts in the afternoon so it would probably not last too well.

[cyclinglady]

Put it in an ice chest.  I always bring one to parties when I need to keep something cool.  The host's refrigerator is often stuffed with food, so I can't count on that.  I also drop an ice chest off at the school for parties. 

 

For potluck dinners, I usually bring chili, baked beans, salad, fruit, cheese, cookies, , wine, cupcakes (all gluten free, of course).  I typically set aside a portion for my husband and I to eat and pack a small lunch or dinner for us or eat heartily before the potluck and bring snacks.  Everyone's nice about it.  And everyone takes second on everything, even the gluten-free desserts!

[come dance with me]

Everything is set out on tables once we get there, and it's all outdoors so a fruit salad is probably not going to last all that well for this particular party unfortunately.  We might just make some cupcakes then I'll pack her a cooler pack of food and put the rest on a plate for everyone else.

 

There will be a few more occasions coming up.  Any ideas on what to take along to these Christmas parties that can be easily shared without needing utensils?

[Marilyn R]

Nuts maybe?  I usually don't take nuts to parties because people tend to scoop them up with their possibly contaminated hands, and they're expensive. 

 

Have you checked out any Indian vegetarian recipes on line?  I have a casserole dish that came with a hot/cold pack that keeps hot food hot and cold food cold.  It came with a quilted carrier too... purchased it at one of the big box stores.  You could do coleslaw or broccoli slaw with a vinegar dressing vs mayo, 3 bean salad, quite a few things.

 

Regarding the fruit salad, I've taken fruit salad to events in the dead of summer held outside in the subtropics, just used a cooler as previously suggested.  Packaged back up fruit in zip locks in the cooler to replenish the bowl. 

 

 

Hummus, guacamole or a Roasted Eggplant  dip with gluten-free chips is the only other suggestions I can think of that are vegan and gluten-free,

[LauraTX]

Any baked good can be individually wrapped in those treat bags, so can snacks.  Food you can do little portions in muffin cups and saran wrap them.  People will think it is cute, and you will have a safe barrier around stuff.

[come dance with me]

I ended up getting really busy so just made some beetroot dip and took plain rice crackers.  We also took a little lunch pack with a few things in it.  It's all nut free because of allergies of other children at the dance class so nuts are out.