User post: 'Tis the season... for potlucks!

It's November, and I think I've got at least three potlucks to attend in the near future. My crockpot is going to be busy! There seem to be more of them than there used to be. It could be that I just hang out with potluck-prone people and they're all feeling festive at the same time. But I'm wondering if the recession is inspiring more potlucks as opposed to bar or dinner-out gatherings, or other holiday parties?

I think this season I'm doing variations on party meatballs. These look good: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/recipes/cranberry-barbecue-meatballs-536457/

Anyway, I'm a fan! One woman I know always roasts a big turkey, and it's really the only time I ever see ambrosia or other jello-mold inspired desserts. It's like all the relics from holiday cooking of the past return- homemade cheese balls, kugel, everyone's special salad, multiple sheet cakes. And, mysteriously, a big bucket of KFC always appears from somewhere. All aspirations of being foodies are cast aside as we eat our way through mounds and mounds of food we ordinarily wouldn't buy or prepare for ourselves. In a word: yum. Bring it on!