Try potluck for an easy bash

With New Year around the corner, parties have become an everyday affair. Planning and attending parties for an entire week can, however, become a little exhausting. Under such circumstances, a potluck comes as a welcome relief.

Swapna Cherukuri, the managing director of a popular resort in Hyderabad, feels that potlucks are ideal for parties thrown by working women. “Organising a party single-handedly is quite difficult, especially for working women, who find it difficult to spare the time,” she says. “Potlucks make it easier. All one has to do is confirm the number of people attending the party and request each person to bring a particular dish. This can be planned even a day in advance. After all, it doesn’t take too much effort to make one dish.”

Potlucks however, are quite inappropriate for formal affairs. “Potlucks certainly would not work for formal parties,” affirms Swapna. “It’s ideal for an informal buffet meal with about 6-7 people. Usually, a theme has to be decided and dishes planned accordingly. For a New year party, it would be ideal to get a lot of cakes, muffins, grilled meats and vegetarian starters.”

For an added cosy effect, a barbecue cookout works likes a charm. “With the nip in the air, nothing beats a warm barbecue cookout with the food hot off the grill,” says Swapna. “It does not require too much effort either. Just make arrangements in advance to set up a barbecue grill and marinate some meat. It’s simple to make, yet can be an instant success.”

However, there are certain etiquettes to be followed even with an informal affair like a potluck. “Even if one cannot make it to the party due to last minute emergencies, etiquette demands that the dish that was allocated still be sent ahead with a note of apology,” says Swapna.

According to Swapna, there are other dos and don’ts to be followed too, to make it easier on the host. “The keyword to a potluck is ‘convenience’,” she says. “Everybody is a host here. So it will be unfair to leave the dirty dishes for the person, at whose house it is being hosted, to clean up. Instead, each person should take back the dish that they brought the food in and to make it even easier on the host, disposable cups and plates may be used.”

By Swapna Cherukuri

Banana
Walnut Cake

Ingredients
1½ cups maida
1 cup mashed banana
1 tsp baking powder
½ baking soda
A pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
75 gms walnuts, chopped
¼ cup oil
2 eggs
1 tsp banana essence

Method
Sieve the flour, baking powder and soda together. Cream oil, bananas, milk, sugar and essence. Add flour and walnuts. Bake in an oven at 180 degrees for 45-50 minutes.