potlucks

Potluck takes the stigma out of talking to strangers online

Josh Miller is hosting a house party for the Internet and everyone is invited. The party, called Potluck, starts now and its purpose is to introduce today's generation of social networkers to people beyond their immediate friend circles.

"Most people ... have always known the Internet as a place where you only connect with people you know," Miller told CNET. "So how do we encourage them to connect with new people?"

The answer is Potluck, a social application for meeting strangers in a non-threatening environment. Actually, though, it's just a fun place to hang out … Read more

Patterned slow cookers upgrade potluck potential

It's hard to go wrong with a potluck; chances are something (if not everything) is going to be good to eat. If playing by the rules, you're guaranteed to find something delicious among the table spread. After all, it's a rare occurrence that people bring something they themselves do not find appetizing. So, we bring our favorite dish to share, assured that there will be at least one to our liking--and hopefully others will agree.

One way for certain to make sure your dish stands out is to have the serving device itself stand out. Even if … Read more

The grill that thinks like a briefcase

In a perfect world, etiquette may dictate that when attending a potluck with a dish that requires heating (or reheating), it would be advisable to bring whatever is necessary to prepare it for serving. However, beyond most slow-cooker recipes this simply isn't feasible, so it is often overlooked, and etiquette becomes a phone call to the host beforehand to inquire about cooking logistics. This forethought is usually enough to satisfy for any cooking style that may need to be done on-site, but it never hurts to play it safe.

The Kalorik Indoor/Outdoor Carry Grill with Glass Lid is … Read more