Tis the season for potlucks and parties….

The truth is …..as much as I enjoy cooking and entertaining ….. thinking about what to make and take for picnics, BBQ’s, and potlucks used to stress me out.  Now I don’t have to think about it or stress about it because I take the same things over and over.  Yep….it’s true!  That doesn’t mean that I never switch it up…..it means if I am in the mood to switch it up I do, and if I feel stress coming on over it I rely on my tried and true dishes that I can make quickly and easily and that still have the “wow factor”.  I even have a couple of recipes saved on my computer to print and give out to guests upon request.

In the beginning I felt a bit guilty about rotating the same recipes….

Then….. one day…… I realized this HUGE TRUTH…… musicians, magicians, comedians and motivational speakers do this very same thing!!!!!! They play the same songs, do the same tricks, and tell the same jokes and stories over and over again.  That’s how they get good at it and that’s how this idea saves time and energy!   They play to different audiences so their content is fresh to each new audience.  And yes there might be a bit of overlap from time to time but even that has its place.  Just like they don’t have to learn new songs, tricks, jokes and stories for every new gig…..you don’t have to learn a new recipe every time!!!!!  Repetition is now my friend and I am guilt free!

So….what is a signature dish?

 Wikipedia’s  definition of a signature dish is a recipe that identifies an individual chef. Ideally it should be unique and allow an informed gastronome to name the chef in a blind tasting. It can be thought of as the culinary equivalent of an artist finding their own style, or an author finding their own voice. In practice a chef’s signature dish often changes with time or they may claim several signature dishes.

Suzi’s definition of a signature dish is…any dish that you enjoy making and taking often.  It can be one that people look forward to you bringing because it’s not one of their signature dishes.  Or, it can also be one that you take to new or different groups.    As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t have to be one that you created on your own, though of course it can be. For me it is dishes that have received rave reviews when I’ve taken them and I love rave reviews 🙂

May your Holidays be stress free days!

Here are a two of my signature dishes…..feel free to adopt them as your own.  They are yours now 🙂