Elevatesgiving Potluck
Written by Callie Johnson
We had an incredible time at our team potluck this past week, and the dishes were seriously next-level! The spread was a perfect blend of comfort food, fresh salads, seasonal desserts, and drinks. If you’re looking for a new dish to try, here are some of our favorites—straight from our kitchens to yours.
The Main Event, Sides, and Salads
Jessica’s Green Bean Casserole: Not Your Mama’s Version
Jessica brought the ultimate comfort classic, elevated. This isn’t your canned-soup casserole; it’s a homemade masterpiece by Alton Brown.
Key Upgrade: It uses fresh blanched green beans, a creamy scratch-made mushroom sauce (featuring butter, half-and-half, and chicken broth), and a topping of crunchy, baked homemade fried onions (onions, flour, and panko). Sub for Funyons if you’re gluten-free (who knew!)
The Vibe: Rich, savory, and worth every minute of the extra prep!
Hannah’s Fresh Salad
Hannah wowed us with a delicious, vibrant salad!
Blueberry Broccoli Spinach Salad with Poppyseed Ranch: This bright, fresh salad combines baby spinach, chopped broccoli, sweet blueberries, creamy avocado, dried cranberries, and feta cheese. The homemade dressing is a creamy, tangy Poppyseed Ranch made with Greek yogurt and spices.
Megan’s Farro Salad
Megan's side dish was the perfect hearty, healthy counterpoint to the richness of the main courses.
Key Ingredients: This grain salad features chewy, nutty farro tossed with seasonal favorites like peppery greens, crunchy apples, chewy dates, walnuts, and salty Pecorino cheese.
Dressing: Typically finished with a bright and tangy Apple Cider Vinaigrette to bring all the fall flavors together.
Drinks and Dessert
Callie’s Mulled Cider: Crockpot Spiced Apple Cider
Callie kept us warm with this incredibly fragrant, slow-cooked cider. The aroma alone was enough to make the entire office smell festive!
Key Ingredients: Apple cider slow-cooked for four hours with sliced oranges (studded with cloves), cinnamon sticks, and optional star anise.
Megan’s Dessert: Cranberry-Lime Pie
Megan doubled up with this surprisingly tart and sweet dessert that was a refreshing twist on a classic.
Key Ingredients: The crust is a snappy, aromatic mix of crushed gingersnap cookies and pecans (though the nuts can be left out if you have allergies). The filling is a bright, vibrant pink cranberry-lime curd that's both creamy and tart, then chilled until perfectly set.
The Vibe: A beautiful, festive pie that tastes like a citrusy Key Lime Pie with a tart cranberry punch.
