Covered Dish at the Church

Today we enjoyed a "Covered Dish" meal after church. A "Potluck Party" is also referred to as a "Covered Dish" in the South. 

What's the difference between a "Potluck Party" and a "Covered Dish?" Notsomuch...At a "Potluck Party" each guest brings a dish.  The old-school term "Covered Dish" meals are the same and a staple of church life in the South...I can still hear mama asking friends who would call to invite her for a meal..."Is it covered dish?"

Covered Dish Etiquette:

• Take a dish to share with the congregation.  This is a good time to get to know your fellow parishioners on a more personal level.  Bringing a dish is not optional--it's a requirement.

• Prepare a dish that doesn't need to be cooked at the church...just reheated in the kitchen. Choose a main dish, salad, vegetable, or dessert (pre-cut your dessert into serving pieces).

• Bring a food ID card to identify the dish.

• Allow the elderly to go through the line first.

• Use the serving utensils placed beside the dish to take the food.

• Don't take too much of one dish--sample each item.  Remember, this is not an all-you-can-eat buffet!

• Never make a nasty face or utter a rude comment about a dish. 

• Make sure your dish is clearly marked with your name to avoid confusion after the meal.

• Offer to help with the clean up.

Casseroles (main dish/vegetable) are a staple of the church "Covered Dish" and I decided to take a Chicken Tetrazzini casserole, the recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks--The Blue Willow Inn Cookbook.  I love the Blue Willow Restaurant and it is a must-visit if you are traveling through the state of Georgia on Interstate 20.

"Covered Dish"...not posh, but good home-cooked food!

Recipe for Chicken Tetrazzini:
1/4 cup coarsely chopped onions
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1/8 tblsp garlic powder
1-1/2 cups cooked and deboned chicken
1 small package (8 oz) vermicelli noodles
1/2 cup milk
1 10-3/4 can cream of chicken soup
3/4 cup grated Cheddar cheese (I used parmesan and Swiss cheese)

Cook vermicelli noodles in chicken broth.
Saute onions and mushrooms in butter
Add all ingredients except 1/4 cup grated cheese to noodles.  Mix well.
Pour into a 10 x 13-inch casserole dish.
Cook at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes until bubbly.
Top with remaining grated cheese.
Serves:  6-8


"HERE'S WHAT I WORE" today...
This is a "White Tag" Lilly Pulitzer shift that I bought many years ago and still love it.  I wore a lavender cardigan, carried a Kate Spade wicker tote, and wore my white Revas.