From cheesy pasta bakes to decadent carrot cakes, members of POZabilities are collectively pooling their cooking talents and appetites in monthly potluck dinners that attract new faces each time they’re held on the second Tuesday of every month at an apartment complex clubhouse in Hillcrest. The dinners have become so successful and food-diversified that its organizers recently began gathering recipes for a cookbook they hope to publish.

“We have about 24 recipes that the members have submitted so far,” says Jerry Turner, who sits on the organization’s steering committee. “We’d like to eventually compile them into a book that would be distributed locally, or at least to our membership.”

The food lineup, adds Turner, includes a fair amount of comfort food such as chicken stew, baked beans with sausage and even pork roasts. But as with any potluck, the familiar is often interspersed with gourmet surprises.

“One of the members recently brought a moussaka pizza that was incredible,” he says. “And occasionally another member makes two carrot cakes, one with raisins and the other without. Both are terrific. And I once made chicken breasts stuffed with goat cheese, olives and spices that I adapted from a more complicated recipe that calls for a whole chicken.”

The potluckers are asked to bring dishes that serve five people, although about 18 people lately attend the dinners. Turner adds that, all combined, “We have so much food that we bring to-go boxes because nearly every time members take home leftovers.” And in order to avoid a buffet loaded with only desserts or salads, for example, members adhere to an alphabetical “food rotation” categorized into salads, main courses and desserts.

Says Frank Van Til, who assists Turner each month in setting up the potluck: “I try to sample everything. The dinners have opened my eyes to richer foods, such as a decadent macaroni and cheese that a member once brought or an apple-raspberry homemade pie that another member made. We always end up with more food than we can eat.”

For Jim Hennum, who several months ago secured the clubhouse at his Hillcrest apartment complex for the potlucks, an authentic Hungarian goulash that a member brought is fondly etched in his memory. “It was excellent and the first time I ever had it,” he says. The clubhouse, he adds, has become an appealing venue for the group, which is comprised of HIV-positive men and their supporters. “The guys really love the fireplace and they’re very much looking forward to going swimming in the pool once the weather gets warmer.”

In addition to the monthly potlucks, the members also gather annually for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, hosted at a member’s home. In any event, “we socialize before we eat and there’s a lot of recipe talk and advice shared about cooking,” says Turner.

POZabilities potlucks take place on the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. The organization also meets on Saturdays and Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. at The Other Side Coffeehouse in North Park. For more information, call (619) 282-1866 or visit the Web site www.sandiegopozabilities.org.