The members of a class I’m taking are having a pot-luck in a week and a half. Everyone is supposed to bring a food or dish from his home country. What is an easy, buffet-friendly, American dish?
If you have the ability to barbeque, then BBQ. While many other countries cook over fire, the use of smoke to cook is considered uniquely American.
If BBQ is not possible, then how about homemade macoroni and cheese? (I’ve got a killer recipe, e-mail me) Or meatloaf?
Baked beans and cornbread.
Beans and Franks (Sorry, Liberty Sausage)
Chili is the quintiessential American food. It’s assumed to be Mexican but the Mexicans don’t want to claim it. It is made of American food products,Capsiums and Tomatoes,(Tosss ome Turkey in there and it’s even better) and Texans (How much more American do you want than Texans?) will argue till the cows come home about the inclusion of beans.
Mac and Cheese. As American as it gets.
Southern Fried Chicken
Apple Pie
Hot Dogs
How about a midwest specialty: a casserole.
Chocolate chip cookies.
Texans will also argue over the inclusion of tomatos. Chili is red because of the chilis in it not because of some revolting stewed tomatoes.
I would likely bring the quintessential American food: Apple Pie, pumpkin pie, or even Pecan Pie. For a non-dessert type of food I would suggest: Cheeseburgers (I doubt that they are strictly American and pretty much anyplace has them but I can’t imagine America without them), or practically anything else that you would serve for Thanksgiving. Scalloped potatoes perhaps?
Most things Cajun - think blackened fish.
Gonna take issue with Rick on BBQ being uniquely American though. Most Australians, South Africans and New Zealanders might disagree
PB&J? 
Actually, my first thought was mac-n-cheese. Green bean casserole is another possibility. Maybe a jello mold?
Hmmm…
A good old american dish?
I vote for Chop Suey.
Leave it to me to mess up a good thread…
I’ll leave now…
“Freedom” Fries
::d&r::
Beef on Weck!
Chicken Wings!
Tim Horton Do-
no. Wait.
Krispy Kreme Donuts!
Popcorn.
(msgotrocks – you are going to tell us whose suggestion won [er, which indigenous dish you chose], right?)
Pumpkin pie is pretty much uniquely American. Sertainly was not available in UK whilst everything else listed above was commonly available. It also is useful to bring a vegitarian item like this as it should be possible for people of any religious group to eat.
If you know the others coming to the pot luck aren’t mostly vegitarians or Hindus, Beef Brisket in BBQ sauce would be a good savoury possibility. But it would be best, if you are a reasonable cook, to try and chose something the other people coming to the Pot Luck havn’t tried. If they all live in USA you may be in trouble, but there is pickled watermelon rind as a sweet condoment with the burgers, I found many Americans arround here havn’t tried it, and it is supprisingly good and very American (as far as I can tell)
Cheers, Bippy
Of course I will! But I want to see what else people come up with first.
I should note that I am not living in the US so certain things (like pumkin pie, hot dogs, and Krispy Kreme doughnuts) are going to require the kind of effort that would make me not want to share.
P.S. What the heck is “beef on weck”?
Rice Krispie Treats! You can’t get more American that that. And they’re so easy to make. I’ve taken them to a few international potlucks. Yum, yum!
ME
Red Beans and Rice or Dirty Rice with some sausage.
Chicken Jambalaya
Bourbon Chicken
Cornbread - with all the add ons (Onion or Bacon or Sausage, etc.) you want.
Hushpuppies - Brown on the outside, melt away on the inside.
A good mess of greens (Collard, Mustard, Kale) with ham hocks a pinch of vinegar and chopped hard boiled eggs.
Good individually but better if any one of the first three is served with any one of the last three.