potluck recipes Archives | Happy Wives Club

In a previous life, I was an innkeeper.

My parents, my husband and I ran a family-friendly B&B that routinely hosted 30+ individuals per weekend.

We were regularly trying new recipes for flavor and their ability to be made ahead.

When we found dishes that had a terrific home-style taste and that could be prepared at least a day or more before, we’d put them into the breakfast rotation.

Not surprisingly, this soft and moist-crumbed cake was a regular and popular feature on the buffet.

Even though I have had this recipe for over twenty-five years and feel like I’ve made thousands of them, it still is the one I turn to when I have company, or when I want to bring something to a friend, neighbor, or event.

The recipe makes one bundt cake, but I always double it so I can have one to serve immediately and one to put in the freezer for later.

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Yields 1 bundt coffee cake.

Recipe can be doubled to make two. (I highly recommend doing this!)

Ingredients:

2 c. flour (10 oz)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 lb. butter (1 stick), room temperature
1 c. sugar (7 oz)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 c. light or regular sour cream (If doubling, you can use a 16 oz container)

Topping

1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c. walnuts (optional)

Directions:

Measure flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into bowl. Whisk to combine; set aside.

Mix sugar and cinnamon for topping; set aside.

Beat butter, sugar, vanilla, and eggs with electric mixer until well mixed. Add flour mixture and sour cream to butter/sugar mix. Beat slowly until blended. Stop beaters, and gently stir batter up from bottom of bowl to be sure all the dry ingredients are blended in equally. Batter will be quite thick.

Spread half of batter in well-greased bundt pan. If in doubt, go heavier on the bottom half. Sprinkle half of sugar cinnamon topping on top of batter, then sprinkle half of nuts over sugar. Drop spoonfuls of remaining batter into bundt pan, spread out evenly. Top with remaining sugar cinnamon topping and nuts. Press nuts lightly into top of batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool for about 30 minutes, until pans are cool enough to handle. Run a plastic knife around edges of bundt pan, flip onto plate and then back over onto cooling rack.

Let sit until completely cool. Cut and serve, or wrap whole and put in the freezer.

I cut the cakes into 20 pieces, which gives a nice size slice without being overwhelmingly large.

This cake keeps exceedingly well in the freezer.

May you find happiness wherever you are!

~Kim, your personal Sherpa of Joy at Too Darn Happy

Church potlucks are not known for their healthy fare and there’s a reason. When you’re making a dish that serves 15-20 people, the cost of ingredients quickly add up. Quality produce and meat can be expensive, so we trim those out.

Pasta and rice are inexpensive, so we add those in. Plus, there’s the unwritten tradition that potluck dishes are baked and smothered with cheese.

What we end up with is a very long table, lined up with orange 9″ x 13″ rectangles and everyone playing the “guess what’s inside” game.

I strive to bring a vegetable to every potluck, but I’m often low on frugal ideas that feed the masses. My luck turned one day when I flipped over a bag of kale from Costco.

The recipe on the bag was inspiring, but honestly, it used expensive ingredients: sun-dried tomatoes, bacon and pine nuts? Those are too rich for my potluck budget.

With some easy substitutions and using ingredients I usually have on hand, I’ve created a healthy and frugal salad that is just as tasty with plenty of nutrition!

Spinach is a nutrition powerhouse, can be purchased in bulk and extras can be used at home in smoothies.
Sunflower seeds are a good source of protein and more affordable than many cuts of meat.
Onion adds a bit of crunch and jazz, while sweet, juicy tomatoes add a bit of fun.
A sprinkle of Parmesan cheese adds a touch of class!

Be a rebel with me and break the rules. At the next potluck, let’s bring something that’s completely opposite of tradition: fresh, frugal, green and delicious! This spinach salad is just what every potluck table needs. And who knows – maybe this one will spark a new tradition!

Healthy and Frugal Spinach Salad

4 cups of spinach, washed and dried (use this frugal, all-natural produce wash)
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 red or white onion, sliced thinly
1 cup cooked, chopped bacon (only if the budget allows!)

Dressing
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 Tbsp lemon or orange juice
1/2 cup olive oil (guide for buying/testing quality oil)
salt & pepper

Combine the salad ingredients in a large bowl. Combine the salad dressing ingredients in a glass jar and shake together vigorously, or in a shallow bowl whisk together well. Saturate the salad with the dressing and allow to stand for 15-30 minutes for the dressing to permeate the salad. Toss again before serving.

Have a blessed day! Tiffany @ Don’t Waste the Crumbs