{If you are new to The Schell Cafe and are joining me for 31 Days of Outrageous Hospitality, an extra special welcome! My friend and neighbor Susie and I are hosting a 52 Sunday Suppers challenge. On Sundays, we offer encouragement to make family meals more intentional. We provide recipes, mealtime prayers, and conversation starters. Family meals and outrageous hospitality go hand in hand, so on Sundays this month I’ll keep posting in our 52 Sunday Supper series.Hope you enjoy!}

I’m not sure how outrageous it is, but when I think about hospitality I always think of potluck suppers. It’s fascinating when the organizer of the potluck says, “bring a covered dish, anything you like,” and there is always the perfect amount of everything from salads to desserts. I’ve never been to a potluck where everyone showed up with brownies, have you?

Potluck suppers are such an easy way share a meal. Our neighborhood has an annual Memorial Day potluck and for a while we were gathering informally for Front Yard Friday {anyone in the ‘hood reading this? the weather is finally cooler, let’s bring back FYF!}.

I bet it wouldn’t take you anytime at all to think of a reason to have a potluck supper.

Celebrate the Fall/Harvest
Welome new neighbors
Birthdays
Sporting events

Perhaps the best reason to host a potluck is for no reason at all. When being together as friends, neighbors, and even strangers is the reason a simple potluck can become outrageous hospitality.

This week’s 52 Sunday Suppers recipe is a re-do from one of my grandmother’s church cookbooks. I’ve updated it slightly as the original recipe called for a No. 2 can of beans. And a jar of Miracle Whip. It took me forever to track down an accurate conversion chart for all those odd numbered cans. I mean really, who knows what #1 tall or picnic size cans are these days? The Ambrosia Congealed Salad on the same page calls for a #300 can of pineapple. Good grief.

Fiesta Bean Salad will take you back in time, or at least it does for me. I remember sneaking to the buffet table and picking out the Fritos as a child and being sushed outside to play while Grandma played bridge with the gals. And the Homemade Catalina Dressing? Well, it screams hello 1977!

When was the last time you attended or hosted a potluck supper? What was your favorite dish on the spread?

Week 24 Menu

Potluck Fiesta Bean Salad

with Homemade Catalina Dressing