Save Me From Potlucks

I suppose most churches embrace those 'potluck-dinner' social gatherings. I can confirm through a seventy-eight year journey with the John Wesley folks that this Methodist fella has attended his fair share of 'Potlucks.' Let it be known that I am NOT a fan of 'potlucks' and I have never been a fan of 'potlucks.' The initial turn off is anticipating an eating experience anchored to some degree in 'luck!'

I understand that eating foods grown, harvested, packaged and/prepared by others is a crap shoot. Example: I enjoy eating shrimp when wintering in Florida because that fish is fresh from Gulf waters. I cringe when buying shrimp at a mid-west marketplace. That shrimp is a product of some Asian country and I don't know about their shrimp breeding location in reference to their livestock and human waste disposals.

Just so you don't get the impression that I'm picking on Asian countries, I refuse to eat the famous Central Illinois homemade soup known as 'Burgoo.'  My apologies to the Franklin and Arenzville,  Illinois 'Burgoo Boys.' If you're unfamiliar with 'Burgoo,' let me explain as I understand the recipe. The burgoo soup is brewed in large kettles over open fire out-of-doors usually throughout the night by rural fellas who enjoy shooting critters, skinning their prey and tossing meat chunks about with various veggies, spices and God only knows what else. Kettle stirrers are known to enjoy a few beers during their night-long vigil, which likely emboldens Recipe creativity. The next day that Burgoo is sold by the gallons to folks who swear by the deliciousness of the product...I'll pass and take my chances at the Casino buffet.

Folks, there's a bit of Hillbilly background in most of us. I really suspect that back in the early days of immigrants coming to America, they were processed through Ellis Island and then sent to Kentucky and Tennessee before venturing into other parts of America. That said, my Bluegrass State ancestors evolved from outdoor road-kill-kettle-cooking and outhouse rest stops. I now have indoor conveniences and an oven.
(Touch)
Pass The Biscuits