Dad's Cole Slaw and my Lovely Wife's Potato Salad Recipe
I'm looking through some old recipe files I've been saving for years when I came across this yellowed crumpled up piece of notebook paper that has my dad's recipe for homemade cole slaw. I've been looking for this recipe for years, but couldn't remember where I stuck it.
I can vividly remember that hot summer day at the Jersey shore when I bugged him to let me jot down his ingredients to my favorite cole slaw. He liked to serve it with barbecued chicken (usually a little too crispy), fresh Jersey corn , sliced Jersey beef steak tomatoes ( with salt & pepper & mayo, of course), and his homemade potato salad... second only to my wife's'.
Before trying my wife's potato salad, I thought no one could do more with potatoes than my dad. But like my dad, my wife makes it right from her head without measuring. So to get this recipe to you, I had to pester her with kisses until she promised to write down the ingredients. Here are both recipes for you. Hope you enjoy them....RG
Reluctant Gourmet’s Tips
- 1. Use a potato with a high starch content...it makes for a puffier baked potato. Good starchy potatoes are: russet and Idaho.
- 2. Look for potatoes that have a smooth skin and no sprouts. Stay away from those with wrinkly skin or soft spots.
- 3. Store your potatoes in a cool dark spot away from your onions. And don't store them for months on end. A couple of weeks is what you should plan for.
Ken's Homemade "Slaw"
- 1/2 head of cabbage, sliced thin
- 4 Tbs. white vinegar
- 4 Tbs. olive oil
- 2-3 scallions, chopped
- garlic powder, to taste
- 1/2 tea. mustard
- 1 Tbl. fresh parsley, chopped
- dash of Worcestershire sauce
- pepper, to taste
- 2 Tbl. sugar
- juice from 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup raisins
- mayonnaise, just enough
How to Prepare at Home
Mix all the ingredients except for the mayonnaise. Let stand for at least 1/2 hour before adding the mayonnaise.
How much you add depends on your personal taste.
Some folks, like my dad, like to add lots of mayonnaise. My take on it is you don't want it too dry, but at the same time, too much and all you taste is mayonnaise.
My Wife's Potato Salad
Ingredients:
- 8 medium potatoes
- Italian dressing
- 3 eggs, hard-boiled and chopped (note: for efficiency, I cook eggs with the potatoes)
- 4 - 5 stalks celery, finely chopped
- 1/4 Bermuda onion, finely chopped
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tbl. mustard
- 1 Tbl. relish
- salt and pepper
How to Prepare at Home
Peel potatoes and cut into bit sized cubes. Boil until tender, but not mushy.
Drain, toss with Italian dressing (as you would a green salad) and allow to cool (may refrigerate).
When cool, toss with eggs, celery and onion.
In a separate bowl, mix mayonnaise,mustard, and relish.
Combine all ingredients, add salt and pepper to taste, and chill until serving.
May garnish with tomato wedges, sweet gherkin pickles, olives, parsley, and/or paprika. Serves 4 generously.
Enjoy!
More Salad Recipes
Classic Caesar Salad, cole slaw, potato salad,
gazpach, vinaigrettes, dressings and more
