Be neighborly — organize a progressive dinner

Can you think of neighbors you haven't had a decent conversation with in months? Are there houses on the block you've never stepped foot inside? Sounds like it's time for a progressive dinner.

A movable feast — with each course staged by a different host — is one of our favorite ways to gather the neighborhood. Children and adults alike love to munch their way from house to house. In the midst of the excitement, it's easy to make new friends and strengthen the bonds of community. And because the efforts are spread around and all of the guests bring food, this is an easy way to entertain big groups without anyone getting exhausted.

• Choose another neighbor to help you coordinate, draw up a guest list and pick a date. Friday night after work usually draws a crowd.

• Get a game plan, and keep it simple the first time out. Three courses — appetizer, entree and dessert — work well. Pick three houses and secure those hosts by telephone.

• When sending out invitations, divide the guest list roughly in half. Everyone should be asked to contribute either a main dish, a vegetable side dish or a salad for the "entree house." In addition, half of the guests should be assigned something sweet for the "dessert house," while the other half brings something to nibble on at the "appetizer house." (In theory, each family needs to contribute enough food to equal a meal. The half-and-half plan ensures enough food and spreads expense. An alternative is to assign guests to bring more than one dish, or a large quantity of the same dish, to only one house.)

• Some progressive dinners are purely pot luck, with a hodgepodge of food, while some have a theme, such as Mexican or Italian. The more-relaxed approach works better when the guest list is large. For gatherings of five families or fewer, planning and communication ensure a balanced menu and ample portions.

• Decide how to deal with beverages and paper products. Ideally, the hosts agree to provide the location, beverages and paper products, perhaps in lieu of food.

• Allow 45 minutes to an hour at each house. Ring a bell or some other noise-maker to signal when it's time to move on to the next course.

Today's recipe for Curried Confetti Coleslaw is perfect for a progressive dinner or any potluck gathering you may attend. It's fast, festive and easy to transport.

CURRIED CONFETTI COLESLAW

1/2 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise