Potlucks: refreshing our spirit of neighboring

Ah, how I do remember the seasonal potlucks of my childhood. The spread of macaroni casseroles, green Jello salads, tomato aspic, twice baked spaghetti, salads, pies, cakes and cookies.

My mom, would always bring a salad she named Eureka Farm salad, which is a deliciously modified Tabouleh. She always added all the various types of chickpeas or lentils my father was growing in the fields at the time to her delicious salads. Here’s a recipe for another one of her salad treasures: Lentil Salad with Smoked Turkey. I remember her salads were often a stand out amongst the traditional Whitman County spread.

There are some annual potlucks in my life now that I wouldn’t miss for the world.

Every summer we host an annual 4th of July party with a potluck feast. At the last 4th there were 200 people, so you can only imagine the spread!

Today, the local ladies gathered at a neighbor's house for a feast to celebrate the holiday season. Everything from chili, corn bread, quiche, turkey and stuffing casserole, to rhubarb pie and cake fulfilled my every potluck craving.

Thank you to the all my neighbor ladies for sharing a wonderful afternoon together and refreshing our spirit of neighboring. Don't let the acres of woods between us keep us apart.